Evening star., 1933-01-18
HOPES FOR AIRPORT
Project DW|NDLE.
Chairman Lanham, at House
Hearing, Warns Against
Increased Expense.

Possibility Of congressional action on
the District airport problem dwindled
today as the House Committee on Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds began hear
ings on the Mcmillan bill providing for
Federal acquisition and leasing for pri-
vate operation Of Westinghouse
Airport.
Chairman Lanham made it clear that
Congress would not look favorably on
any legislation likely to add to Federal
expenses.
1--WE have heard most frequently that
The Federal Government has been lavish
in its expenditures for the District OF
Columbia" Representative Ianham said,
"and we have had word from the Pres
ident no later than yesterday that
economy must be practiced and that no
increase in appropriations SnaH De
made"
Representative Underhill Of Massa-
chusetts, who took part in the original
airport investigation several years ago,
also expressed the belief that this was
no time for increasing expenses. He
declared emphatically that If any air
port legislation is. enacted, the ex-
penses should be borne by the District
rather than by the Federal Gov
ernment.
Urges Road Closing.
Mr. IJnderhill advocated that the
Federal Government aid the present
airport operators by closing the portion
of military road now dividing the fields
and possibly by permitting use OF
portion of the Arlington Experimental
Farms.
THE Federal Government should
not go into the airport business In
competition with private activity, or
even as a side line" Mr.. Underhll
said. Operation of an adequate air
port for the National Capital, however
is very necessary, and am Wllilng 10
sponsor legislation which would permit
the use of such Federal land as may
be necessary to provide Tor sale
operation"
The committee heard testimony by
aviation leaders from all parts Of the
country as to the necessity for proper
airport facilities for the National Capt.
tai Among the witnesses were Mrs.
Amelia Earhart Putnam, famous woman
flyer and former air transport officer;
Col. r. w. Robbins. president of Trans
continental and Western Air; Maj. II.
S. Martin, president of Pennsylvania
Air Lines; Lowell Harding, Eastern Air
Transport; Col Paul Henderson, form
er Second Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral, and vice president of National
Air Transport, and Harris M. Hanshue,
president of Western Air Express.
The committee will resume the hear
ings at 10 am. next wednesday, at
which time representatives of local
civic organizations are to be heard.
The Senate District Committee had
completed its hearings yesterday on
the two Bingham bills, providing slight
ly different methods of acquiring and
operating a District airport on the
Washington Hoover site. The views OF
Army and Naval aviation leaders on the
airport situation here were presented
at the closing session.
Brig. Gen Oscar Westover, assistant
chief Of the Army Air Corps, testified
that, In his opinion, the Gravelly Point
site, which has been designated as the
permanent airport site for the Capital,
is too close to Boiling Field. The two
sites, he pointed out, are separated
only by the width of the Potomac River.
r. Trubee Dawson, Assistant Secre-
try Of War for Aviation, declared the
War Department lis very definitely
opposed to the development of Grayelly
Point" because of the hazard of con-
hicting operations. The hazard will
increase as a1rplane speed increases,
he said.
The Navy, though its operations at
the Anacostia Naval Air Station are
closer to the Gravelly Point site, is not
so greatly concerned over the hazard,
Rear Admiral william A. Moffett. chief
of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics,
testified He said Gravelly Point, while
not desirable from the Navy stand
point, is mot hazardous" The Wash
ington- Hoover site, because of its great
er distance, is more desirable, he said.
He pointed out, however, that Gravelly
Point would have good approaches and
would have seaplane facilities, which
would be very desirable"
at Is important to keep Washington
Hoover going some way Admiral
Moffett said. cit Is unthinkable not
to have an airport in the Capital"
Clarence A. Miller, representing the
Washington Board Of Trade, presented
a report prepared by the boards avia-
ton committee endorsing the Bingham
bills and calling for development Of
Gravelly Point for future use.