Evening star., 1934-03-10
PRESIDENT ORDERS
MAIL DEATHS END
CurtaiIs Army Carrying Air.
mail After 10 Lose
Lives.
Continued From First Page.)

New York, offered a resolution direct
ing the Speaker to appoint a special
committee Of five members to !nvesti-
gate Girmail carrying by the Army, as
well as equipment used by Army pilots
and their training Speaker Rainey
declined to recognize him for the pur-
pose.
Details of the Presidents order were
not Immediately given out but. it was
understood to include a command for
complete check-up of the planes
and personnel of the air service and a
consolidation of the airmail service
into the most necessary routes.
Lindbergh accepted an invitation
from Secretary of War Dern to confer
at the latter's Office in midmorning.
II desire to have as accurate first
hand information on all aviation ques-
tions as possible" the cabinet member
told reporters before the meeting,
land so I requested Col. Lindbergh to
come to Washington and give me the
benefit Of his long experience in avia-
ton.
Will Discuss Mail.
II consider him one of the greatest
living aeronautical authorities and
know that he will be able to give us
great amount Of information on
many pertinent questions We are now
considering"
Asked whether Lindbergh's visit
had an connection with mail, Dern
replied:
Col. Linbergh and I will discuss
the Army's carrying the airmail in
this emergency but his visit Is not
primarily in that connection"
AS to whether Lindberghs talk
would have an effect on the organlza-
ton Of the Army airmail, he said
that he did not think it would be re-
sponsible for any immediate changes.
Bareheaded and without a topcoat,
Lindbergh went alone from the Hay
Adams House to the War Department
by taxicab.
He conferred with Dern over the
big round table in the general staff
conference room.
Secretary Dern was asked by news
paper men If Lindbergh would visit
the White House and replied: Il shall
take him to see the President If he
asks me"
The impression prevailed that Lind
bergh would visit the White House
later in the day.
Some business was suspended tenn
porarily at the department upon
spread of word that Lindbergh was
in Derns Office.
Scrub women, janitors and clerks
grouped about the corridors COM
manding a view to the entrance to
the office.
Meanwhile crashes that brought
death to four more Army armen STIR
red white-hot political fires in
Congress.
Majority leaders marshaled plans
to keep the flames from breaking into
the Senate and House chambers, but
Republican opponents of Army mail
handling. who brought turbulent dis
ruption Of Senate proceedings and
hastened an adjournment Of the
House. were just as determined to
gain the floor again.
Cries of "legaliZed murder" and
useless sacrifice Of life" were shouted
lican whip. Democrats charged he
spoke for political purposes"
In the ranks of both parties, how
ever, there we're expressions of regret
over the Wyoming crash that killed
Lieuts F. L. Howard of Shreveport,
La. and A. R. Kerwin of March
Field, Calf, last night.
Only 2 Carried Mail.
The same was true of yesterdays
earlier accidents in which Pvt. Ernest
Fla, and Lieut.. Otto Wienecke lost
his life at Chardon, Ohio. Only the
two latter were actually engaged in
transporting mail at the time of their
death.
Democratic supporters of the ad-
ministration's cancellation of airmail
contracts have pointed out that of 10
Army flyers who perished, only three
were killed while actually transport
ing the mail.
Observers watched closely to see
whether Lindbergh would pay a visit
to the White House Mutual friends
of the aviator and President Roosevelt
have been trying for weeks to have
them meet. Presidential aides said
he would be received If an appoint
ment is requested.
Planned Debate Restriction.
N6apy cow II oe on opport,,pitv to
smooth over a recent episode when
the White House labeled "for publicity
purposes" criticism by Lindbergh of
the contract cancellation. The White
House said the letter had reached the
press before it did Mr.. Roosevelt.
At the Capitol, meanwhile, majority
leaders planned if possible to restrict
debate to the subjects up for consid-
Grafton in the two chambers.
An emergency airmail bill. designed
to facilitate Army transportation of
the mails, was on the Senate calen-
dar, but leaders doubted whether it
would be reached
They pointed out that first consid-
Grafton had to be given to bill to
aid cattlemen, and that a debate
limiting rule had been agreed upon
beforehand.
In the House yesterday a quick ad-
journment was taken just as Repre-
sentative Edith Nourse Rogers, Massa-
chusetts, Republican. sought oppor-
tunity to speak on the airmail.
Recognition Refused.
Another Army flyer has just been
killed." she called toward the rostrum
as she arose
She sought immediate consideration
of a resolution that would have re-
corded the House against Army air