Evening star., 1933-01-22
CONGRESS RELIEF
HOPE FOR AIRPORT
Doom Faces Terminal If Leg.
isIation Fails at Present
Session.
BY JOSEPH 8. EDGERroN.

01 JVOkTn y. EDOE61UN.
Washington Hoover Airport. the Capt.
tails only air transport terminal, is
facing financial failure. confronting the
Capital with its most serious airport
crisis since 1928, when the Army, by
granting temporary use OF Boiling Field,
made possible the Inauguration of an
airmail service which otherwise would
have been denied by the city.
The Inauguration Of that initial mail
line proved to be the entering wedge
for what is now the heaviest air trans
port business enjoyed by any world
capital.
Unless aid is granted operators of the
airport. they admit. Washington is
faced with the propect Of losing what
Is said to be the most conveniently To-
Gated airport site possessed by any large
city. With the loss Of the field it faces
also the loss Of all or q part Of the air
tai one OF the most important points on
the country's airline network.
The only prospect for relief rests with
Congress, 1t is claimed. Financial
straits Of the airport operators are due
In part to the threat Of q Federal claim
to part Of the airport land. Because of
this threat the airport has been unable
to construct improvements necessary to
attract additional business, which might
enable it TO continue.
Dependence for Safety.
The airport also must look to Con-
gress for Improvement Of safety factors
The landing area available at the site
is cut In two by Military road. Although
the importance of this road has been re-
moved BY completion Of the parallel
Mount Vernon Boulevard, Military road
cannot be closed without congressionaI al
authorization.
Three bills now are pending in Con-
gress dealing with the airport situation.
TWO. In the Senate, were introduced by
Senator Bingham, president of the Ma
tional Aeronautic Association and
chairman of joint congressional COM
mittee created three years ago to deal
with the local airport problem The
third, by Representative Mcmillan, Is
identical with the first Of the Bingham
bills
Hearings on the Bingham bills, SINH
lar except for methods of administra-
tion. were completed during the last
week by the Senate District Committee.
The House Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds began hearings on
the Mcmillan bill during the last week.
and will resume the hearings at 10 am
Wednesday. One of these bills must
pass during the present session of Con-
gress If the safety Of the Capitals po-
sition in the air transport world is to
be assured, witnesses have testified be-
fore both committees.
The original Bingham bill and the
Mcmillan bill authorize the Secretary
of Commerce to lease for a period of
from to 10 years the properties COM
posing Washington Hoover Airport,
with an option to purchase at q price
not in excess Of 50 900. The airport
would be developed and maintained by
the Department of Commerce. The
priation Of 100000 for the leasing of
the property.
Provision for Lease.
The second Bingham bill provides
| that the airport shall be developed and
, maintained by the Office of Public
Buildings and Public Parks by leasing,
| with option to purchase. An appropria-
| tion Of 100000 Is carried for leasing
during the first fiscal year.
Another alternative, which IS re-
garded as an emergency plan only. Is
being considered. This plan is for leas-
Under this plan the Government would
lease the field for . rate which may
go as low as $4,000 a year. and would
operate the airport for a period of five
or more years, without facing any obi
CATION to purchase the property. This
would assure the Capital of an airport
| at the least possible expense, and at the
same time would give the Government
time to arrive at q decision as to per-
manent airport plans for the Capital.
Air transport officials and members of
| Congress who are backing the plan for
emergency legislation point out that
trafi1c at the local air terminal is too
heavy to be neglected any longer. Dur
ing the past year, they point out, more
than 100.0 900 persons used the airport as
passengers or private flyers. OF this
number the vast majority were sched-
uled air transport passengers. Approx
imately 1000 made sightseeing flights
over the Capital from the airport. Dur
| ing the year 750, 900 pounds of airmail
were handled at the local airport. The
passenger trafic at the field in the
course Of the past year, they empha-
sized. was more than one-fifth the en-
tire population Of the National Capital
Hub Of Five Routes.
!, Washington Hoover Aairport is the
hub Of five air transport routes, and this
number will be increased to six tomor-
row when the first passenger flight is
made over the Washington Nashville
route. opening to the Capital a large
Southern territory which hitherto has
not been served by air transportation.
From the local airport Eastern Air