Evening star., 1933-02-11

While the Senate eliminated from
the Treasury Post Office appropriation
bill an item of s19,000,o00 for air trans
port of domestic mails, there are sug-
gestions that the provision may be re-
stored. The importance Of this fund
to the development Of aviation in the
United States is asserted, and 1t Is
pointed out that there will be further
opportunity for the item to be consid-
cred as a feature of national policy:
IF the Senate attack on subsidies
does nothing else," thinks the Baltt-
more Sun, ''it will at least help to
check the mood Of reckless spending,
and will put the aviation industry on
notice that subventions will be more
carefully scrutinized in the future than
they have been in the past" The Sun
also comments on the situation: 1T
may be doubted whether subsidy pay
ments can be withdrawn completely
without violating contractual rights
which the courts will require Federal
agencies to observe. But something
might be done by way OF revising the
payments, and in view OF the state OF
the Federal finances the possibilities in
this direction are decidedly worth ex-
ploring. The Post once deficit, which
has attained unprecedented proportions
these last two years, might be sub
stantially reduced by a curtailment OF
the sums that department Is now pay
ing out with a lavish hand on the
subsidy contracts. The Post ONCE De-
partment itself might have done some
thing in the direction Of economy with
the subsidy contracts. It Is allowed a
considerable discretion. But its policy
has been one Of expansion and ex-
trayagance."
"It is questionable" in the opinion
of the New York Sun, whether the
Senate leaders actually intend to put
an end to what Senator Robinson of
Arkansas described as luxury. 1t Is
more likely that, the House willing,
they intend to defer until after the
expiration of the present session the
whole subject of air mail subsidies. The
best indication of this course of action
Is the fact that what the Senate voted
for was, In effect, the outright viola
ton of contracts. There is DISPOSE
tion, in both Senate and House, to
examine the particulars of subsidies Of
air mail and ship mail with greater
care than was the custom few years
ago. That disposition ought to be
encouraged, but the Senate took an
Improbable course in voting as 1t did
unless the. postponement OF issues to
the next administration is held by
leaders of that body to be the great
desideratum"
"The striking of the 10 millions from
the bill, thus leaving the air mail un-
provided for" as viewed by the Salt
Lake Dessert News, sis the Democratic
answer to Postmaster General Brotn's
proposed new contracts. There will
still be time after March AfoY Mr.
James A. Farleys award of air mail
contracts. Mr.. Farley is very likely
to occupy Mr.. Browns place after the
| Inauguration"
The Senate action, in the opinion OF
| the San Antonio Express, aims a
heavy blow at the American aeronau-
tical industry" described by that paper
| as "a vital factor in business activity
| and essential to national defense" The
Express also comments as to other de-
tails: In 1882 pilots carried eight
million pounds Of mail over routes
which are indispensable to the Ma
tions business and, social concerns
| Those aviators generally would be
available for instant military duty In
event of war, and their commercial
service has been commended at home
! and abroad No authority or
aviation will dispute the Postmaster
| Generals assertion that the discon-
tinuance or crippling of air mail serv-
ice at this time practically would de-
stroy the aeronautical industry, with
| a gross annual turnover of SO million
dollars The enterprises which carry
air mail disburse about 25 million dol
lars year. They form the nucleus
of many other interests, which woulo
suffer with them. 1t is estimated that
Federal, State and municipal govern
ments. corporations and individuals
have invested at least 800 million dol
lars in improved airways. airports anc
| other landing fields, factories. lahora.