Evening star., 1933-03-19

The Second Assistant by law Is
charged with supervision not only of
airmail which in fact Is the smallest
of his divisions. but also of railway ad-
justments, including expenditures for
transportation of mail by railroad, cleo
trio cars, mail messengers. power boats
and the Alaskan star routes; the inter-
national postal service, including both
ocean mail and foreign airmail, and
the railway mail service.
The ranking position In the Post
Office Departments division Of airmail
service is that Of superintendent, the
post now filled by Earl B. Wadsworth.
; 1t is to this post. If Wadsworth is to be
replaced, and those beneath it that the
qualification Of experience is urged
Though, obviously, 1t would not be de-
sirable to appoint to this post a man
directly connected with an air trans
lations with the service. it Is held there
are many experienced, capable men
available
The greatest number Of appointive
aviation posts in the Federal service is
concentrated in the Aeronautics Branch
of the Department Of Commerce. which
is under direct supervision Of the As
sistant Secretary of Commerce for aero
nautics. the post now capably filled by
Clarence M. Young. This branch since
its creation in 1926 has been as nearly
free from political appointments as any
in the Federal service, and it has won
glowing name for capable and honest
service to the growing air transportation
of the country and to civil aeronautics
as a whole. Every effort should be made
to maintain the high traditions OF this
new service, and aviation leaders
fhrn1Inhny1f that
appointments be made solely on the
basis of experience and ability.
Around the post Of Assistant Secretary
of War for aviation storm Is brewing.
The Army general staff IS attempting to
have the post left vacant, in spite OF
the earnest recommendation of the
Morrow board that the post be main
tanned to protect the interests Of the
youngest and, in the opinion of many
observers, one of the most vital arms in
the Army.
The companion post Of Assistant Sec
retary of the Navy for aeronaut1cs has
been left vacant since the resignation
of David S. ingalls, to conduct his un-
ship of Ohio. It Is the hope OF the
aviation industry that this post will be
filled by strong and capable man.
Secretaryship kec0mmenoeo.
Creation and maintenance Of the
civilian posts of Assistant Secretaries
of War and Navy for aviation was the
major recommendation Of the MorroW
board to overcome weaknesses winch
were sitting the growth Of air arms OF
the services. 1t is the contention OF
those in aviation that the condluons
which caused the powerful and aole
board headed by the late Dwight W.
Morrow so strongly to recommend the
establishment of these posts still exist
and that to abandon the positions
would seriously injure military av1a-
ton.
In recommending creation OF these
posts the board said: In suggesting
remedies we rest upon the sound pr1n-
ciple that no solution proposed at this
time can be lasting. It Is therefore
of the first importance to lay the en-
phasis upon the best method OF achlev-
ing the desired results. To that END
we rely upon the appointment OF an
Assistant Secretary Of War, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy and Assistant
Secretary of Commerce to devote them
selves, under the direction of their re-
spective heads, primarily to aviation
and jointly to coordinate so far as may
De pTdCUlCdDl6 IIlc dCLlVltltS VI tAiCA
three departments with respect to av1a-
tion.''
Later in the report, dealing with the
Army situation, the board said:
I'm order that the Air Corps (A1r
Service) should receive constant SYM
pathetic supervision and counsel we
recommend that Congress be asked to
create an additional Secretary Of War
who shall perform such duties with
reference to aviation as may be as
signed to him by the Secretary Of War.
I'VE foresee that such an official,
properly used, could be the means Of
promoting close cooperation between
aviation and the other parts Of the
Army. In the matter of procurement
he could be especially useful. II the
expenditures not only for new planes
but for experimentation and operation
were under the scrutiny Of civilian
head. much of the feeling on the part
of Congress that there was extrava-
gance, and on the part Of the Air
Service that there was parsimony,
might be avoided"
Pursuit Progress Outlined.
Though handicapped by the neces-
sity for economies, which have blocked
completion of the five-year program
and Curtailed experimental work, the