Evening star., 1934-01-09
POST OFFICE DATA
ORDERED BURNED
Walter Brown Ordered De-
struction of Records,
Witness Declares.
(Continued From First Page. }


with members Of the committee seated
behind cOurtlike bench. y
Presiding was Senator Black, and at
his side were Senators Austin, Republic
can. of Vermont, and McCarran, Demo-
crat, of Nevada.
Hearing Draws Crowd.
The small room was almost filled with
spectators, listening in manner remi-
niscent of famous Senate investigations.
The next witness, Thomas H. Mckee,
former employe of the Wedell-Williams
Air Service Corporation. told Of efforts
to eet an airmail contract for that
company's lines between New Orleans
and Fort Worth and Houston. H.
He recounted vain efforts to negotiate
with postal officials for a contract and
being told the department was not in
terested in routes Of less than 700 miles
because they were uneconomical.
Finally the Wedell-Williams line
folded up" In December, 1881, Mckee
testified. as 1t was never granted an air
mail contract.
The only contract for that section was
awarded to the American Airways.
Mckee testified the mail contracts
were "sewed up body and soul SO the
young but growing aviation trust could
get all the gravy"
Crashed Meeting. He Says.
F Mckee testified that after he had
been in Washington for some time he
was tipped of" to "clandestine meet
ings" OF air mail contractors at the
Post Office Department.
He said he finally found out the meet
ing place of one and crashed the gate"
but was virtually invited to leave by w.
2. MacCraCken. former Assistant Secre-
tary Of Commerce for Aviation, who
seemed to be the presiding officer.
Henderson then was called to tell of
the meeting Mckee had described.
He said MacCracken, then repre-
sentative of Western Air Express, acted
as chairman. Invitations were extepd-
ed by the Postmaster General. he said,
to those who were then airmail con-
tractors and those representing size
able" air transport lines.
Senator Black asked If any OF those
at the meeting represented any conf
pany not affiliated with the Aviation
Corporation Of Delaware. United Air
craft or North American Airways.
Henderson replied in the affirmative,
naming the Northwest Airways and the
National Parks Airways.
Virtually this same group. Henderson
said, participated in drawing up the
McNary- -WatreS bill regulating the
award Of airmail contracts.
Held by Small Group.
Black asked if, in 1880. all the airmail
contracts were not held by q small
group Of large companies or companies
owned by them.
Henderson agreed with the state
ment, excepting one or two contracts,
The contracts were listed by Black as
follows:
Aviation Corporation, IL; Transcon-
tinental Air Transport, 4; North Amer
lean Aviation. Inc. 4; Western Air Ex-
press. 2: National Parks Airways, !.
Henderson said the National Parks
Always was and still is independent.
The committee chairman listed some
Of the directors of these large COM
panies. noting that many OF them were
prominent Republicans.
Questioned by committeeman, Hen
| dersOn said the McNary-Watres bill.
changing the rate system, was drawn
in Postmaster General Browns ofiiee.
Submitted TO Companies.
Brown submitted the bill to the air
mail contractors, he said. and 1t was
then introduced as = committee bill In
Congress.
Henderson agreed Brown insisted
upon elimination Of the competitive bid
provision Of the old law.
The bill gave the Postmaster General
authority to make extensions and con-
solidations" OF routes.
Black asked If Henderson understood
at the time the bill would permit Brown
to make extensions longer than the
original line extended.
MY opinion was that extensions
would be q modest thing Of a few
miles" Henderson replied.
He agreed he did not understand the
dill would permit the Postmaster Gen
eral to remake the air mail map and
let out contracts to any one he chose.
That is what was done, isn't it?"
Black asked.
Indirectly, yes" Henderson agreed.