The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-15
.LINDBERGH TO
TESTIFY IN AIR
MAIL INQUIRY
Colonel Refuses Aviation
Study Post; Accepts
Postal Offer.
DERN REGRETS MOVE
'MisCOnCeption of Purposes
Blamed by War Chief
for Action.
BvTrtted Prose

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WASHINGTON. March Is. -
Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh today
accepted the invitation Of the SEN
ate postOffice committee to testify
in its hearings on permanent air
mail legislati ton. He viii appear
before the committee tomorrow.
Colonel Lindberg telegraphed his
acceptance to committee chairman
Kenneth Mcclellan Dem, Tenn,
shortly after he had declined an
invitation TO serve on a war depart
ment aviation board Of inquiry and
had again criticised the adminlStra-
tion'S cancellation OF air mail con-
tracts.
Lindbergh's telegram to Mcclellan
merely stated.
Will be glad to appear Friday
The committee also will hear
other famous filters, including Clar-
ence Chamberlin, transatlantic
aviator. Eddie Rickenbacker, and
Bripadier- BGeneral William Mitch
ell. one-time army air corps chief.
Wright Also Declines
War Secretary George Dern,
meantime, prepared to appoint
other civilians to replace Lindbergh
and Orville Wright on the army
borad which is to survey all air
CORPS operations phases in cOnnec-
ton with administration plans for
notification of ederal aviation
Mr.. Wright declined to serve be-
cause O i'll health. Colonel Lind
bergh refused the post last night in
telegram in which he again criti-
cised cancellation of air mail con-
tracts as a blow to aviation.
Secretary Dern's consideration Of
other names indicated he had no
hope that Colonel Lindbergh would
reverse his decision. Jimmy Doc
little, former army ace. was among
those discussed for the air board.
Telegraphs His Refusal
Colonel Iindbergh telegraphsd
George H. Dern, secretary OF war,
his refusal to serve on a committee
Of inquiry on aviation matters. The
committees findings are expected 10
be part of the ground work OF "rcSl-
dent Roosevelt'S endeavor to unity
American land aviation under a
single directing agency.
Lindbergh said.
I do not feel that ] can serve on
A committee whose function Is to
assist following out an executive
order to the army to take over the
commercial air mail system Of the
United States"
Regret at the f1ier'S attitude was
expressed bv Mr. Dern. who claimed
it on 'miSconception of the pur-
poses OF the committee on which !
asked YOU to serve. He said the
armv's air mail experience was only
incidental to a broad study + army
air forces and their relation TO ma
tional defense.
1t was Lindbergh'S second brush
with the administration over the
holly disputed air mail situation.
Given to Press First
Previously he criticised the can
collation. of private mail contracts
in a telegram to President Roose-
Welt. The action drew criticism in
turn from the White House secre-
tariat which pointed out the tele-
gram were released for publication
before it had been delivered to the
President.
In the case of the telegram ad-
dressed to Mr.. Dern last night the
secretary of war received his first
word of it from the United Press
after the message was released to
the press in New York by Colonel
Henry Breckenridge. Colonel Lind
bergh's legal advisor.
The administration plans for re-
organization of the land air systems
proceeded rapidly.
A Sl0.000.000 fund with which il
was believed that the President
would finance the reorganization
and unifCation Of the air services
was voted by the senate late yes
terday in approving the war de-
partment supply bill
The fund was inserted in the
measure at the last moment at the
special request Of President ROoSe-
welt. who told Senator Royal S
Copeland Dem. n. " in a letter
that the sum was needed for i'm
provement. development and aug
mentation of military air personnel.