The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-03
DRASTIC ACTION FOR
NORTHERN AIR ROUTE
TAKEN BY SENATORS
Knock Air-Mail Subsidy From
Postoffice Bill Leaving
Brown PoWerIess

6rOWn pOWefIeSS
Drastic action toward extension o
the air-mail line from Bismarck to tn
Pacific coast has been taken by tn
bloc Of senators from the Northwest
according to information reaching
here from Washington.
After fighting vainly for the west
ward extension for two years, tn
Northwest bloc has turned on thu
postoffice department and knocked
the entire sl9,0oo,ooo air-mail subsid!
out of the departments appropria'
tons BILL
This development has cleared the
way for a sweeping investigation OF
air-mail contract awards under Post
master General Brown, it is under
stood.
The blow will take the air-mail
contract situation from control OF
Postmaster General Brown, leaving It
to the Roosevelt administration, pro-
viding the house conferces accept the
senate dUleIlCIIlelll
Democrats and insurgents from the
Northwest combined TO vote down the
air-mail provision in 80 to 80 vote
On the heels of this action came
announcement from Senator Robin
son. Democratic leader, that senate
Democrats are determined to get the
truth about air-mail contracts.
Will Be Called Soon
Senator Mcclellan. Democrat OF
Tennessee, asserted that his resolu-
ton for special senate investigation
of air and ocean mail contracts prob
ably will be called up in the senate
rostoffice committee soon after the
Democrats get control March 4.
The emphatic senate action today
represented a sudden victory for Sen
ator Nye, Republican of North Da-
kota, who for more than year has
led the fight for extension OF the
northern tranS-continental route
westward from Bismarck to Seattle.
Nye for days has been telling SEN
ator Robinson that the airmail fund
should be stricken out entirely. pre-
venting the postoffice department
under Postmaster General Browns
direction. from making ALLEGATIONS
from new appropriations. Robinson
assented today.
POSTMASTER General Brown can
take his staff and move out before
March 1, leaving the airmail alloca-
tons for later settlement Senator
Robinson said.
Seeks Congress Inquiry
The Democratic leader said he hop
I'd q formal congressional investiga-
ton can be avoided but if so other
means to get complete information
will have to be found. He said the
vote does not at all mean the end Of
federal assistance in developing avia-
ton but merely postponement Of allo-
cations Of funds.
An investigation of these contracts
is certainly in order Mcclellan said.
I'VE ought to 60 to the bottom OF
them to learn the truth about Whis-
pers of scandal and discrimination"
ITO have deprived the present post
office administration of the oppor-
tunity to allocate the nineteen-mil-
lion dollar appropriations for the year
beginning 1888" Senator Nye said,
sis a great victory. The present adj
ADMINISTRATION has been so adverse to
the Northwest that it was impossible
to get the extension to the Pacific.
AL We got was a series of broken
promises. We have reason to expect
fair play for the Northwest in dis
tribution of airmail facilities from the
incoming administration"
Nye said any Investigation prob
ably would cover charges that the
postoffice department has been aid
ing monopoly of aviation by awards
and extensions to favorite air lines.
He said that three assistants III the
postoffice department have sons or
brothers employed by favorte airmail
contractors.
This ought to be investigated. too, "
Nye said.
Although the Northwest senators
and representatives long have been
fighting for the extension, today's up
in the entire controversy.
Victory for Northwest Seen
The Northwest senator's considered
the action a victory for their region
on the ground that the airmall ex-
tension will have chance under the
Roosevelt administration, whereas
they say it has none under the Brown
regime.
Except for Senator Schall. Repub-
hcan Of Minnesota, practically all
Northwest senators joined Robinson
ard Mcclellan in their move to strike
cut the whole fund
Senators Shipstead of Minnesota,
Blaine and LaFollette of Wisconsin,
Nye and Frazier of North Dakota. Blu
low Of South Dakota, Wheeler and
Walsh Of Montana, Borah Of Idaho
end Dill Of Washington. all represent
ing states along Northwest Always
territory, joined in supplying the votes
to kill an appropriation in which they
felt the Northwest would not share.
The Northwest vote was interpreted
by Democrats as partly vote Of pref
ence for James A. Farley, who Is
expected to become Democratic post
master general after March 4.
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