Evening star., 1934-02-16
Drastic Action on AirmaiI
is Given General Approval

Cancellation Of airmail contracts by
the Government met with quite gen.
eral approval in the countyy's editorial
columns, although there was a strong
minority insisting that the action was
too drastic, meaning an unnecessarily
sweeping blow at American aviation
and the punishment of innocent COM
panies with the guilty.
President Roosevelt has again
taken the bull by the horns and acted
with decisiveness In canceling air
mail contracts, which, we feel. has full
public support" declares the Scranton
Times, while the Akron Beacon Jour
nal calls the order decisive action
which the country will approve" The
New York Times says, however, 'for
action so sweeping and so far in ad-
vance OF the present stage of the
Senates investigation only one ex-
PLANTATION would be justified: that the
President is in possession Of facts not
yet revealed to the public" The
Bloomington Daily Paragraph re-
grets that in pursuing his purpose of
keeping Government agencies free
from scandals and frauds the Presi-
dent has apparently thought it
necessary TO strike a body blow at
the great national industry of avia-
tion.'
Again the President has demon
Strated that the Government is the
biggest thing in this country, that 1t
can. and under the present admins
tration will. kick out the corruption
that has existed, and use the facilities
and the power of the Government to
that end" says the Newport News
Times Herald. and the Miami Herald
praises Mr. Roosevelts ability "to act
instantly and effectively when evil
conditions are disclosed"
The Altoona Mirror thinks the can
collation. of contracts was to be ex-
pected in view Of the testimony be-
fore q Senate Investigating Commit
tee" but the Connellsville Daily
Courier is OF the opinion that Ito
disrupt the airmail service by an order
annulling all contracts condemns
many companies without q Just trial, 4"
and the Roanoke Times also urges
that heads of air lines "be given a
hearing before they are deprived of
their contracts" The jamestown IN.
" Post feels that "even a President
has not the rightful privilege of deny
ing defense TO them"
1t seems to the Springfield (Mass.)
Daily Republican that "the growing
scandal Of the airmail contracts has
been SO thoroughly advertised in re-
cent weeks by the disclosures of the
Senate Investigating Committee that
public sympathy cannot be looked for
at this time by the officials of the
commercial airlines involved" and the
Philadelphia Record is convinced that
enough evidence has been brought
before the Senate not only to war
rant the Presidents step, but to war
rant, in addition, criminal action to
put those responsible in JAIL" The
Danbury News Times admits that the
Presidents action is drastic but says
that "evil is the occasion which brings
forth the penalty" and the Spring.
field (Mass) Daily News holds that
''the airline group has had its day and
hasn't given the Government a fair
deal"
When the future operation OF the
airmail service is considered the San
Antonio Express feels that the Gov
eminent should call for fresh bids
to carry the airmail as speedily as
possible" The Duluth News s-Tribune
sees mo point in the American tax
payer being assessed additional mil
lions to pay subsidies which have no
constructive value, but which merely
encourage the greed and swell the
fortunes of crafty and unscrupulous
officials and promoters"
The San Francisco Chronicle Is
satisfied that IF and when the United
States boldly faces the subsidy issue
and pays subsidies - such, there viii