Evening star., 1934-03-21
MITCHELL FLAyS
AVIATION GANG" !"
American Development
HopeIessIy Behind World,
Committee Told.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell told
the House Post Office Committee to-
day American aviation was "hope-
less" compared with that OF the rest
of the world because 1t is in the
hands OF this gang that had control
of the airmail"
Mitchell, testifying on the admin
istration's new airmail bill. denied
vigorously that assigning the Army to
carry the mails was ''legaliZed mur-
der" He attributed deaths to poor
equipment, no flying experience, bad
weather" reduced appropriations and
"boneheadedness."
In Commercial Hands.
Since 1926" he testified. the de-
velopment of aviation has fallen
largely into the hands of the COM
mercial interests. Our aircraft today
is hopeless so far as war is concerned.
IF the military flyers with the
equipment they have can't fly the
mail. our Air Corps might as well dis
band. That mail flying is primer
stuff"
Mitchell said unless aviation was
put under one agency 1T will again
fall into the hands of these money
fellows. and they will continue to do
what they have done"
Meanwhile the controversial sub
ject was aired on the floor of both
Senate and House yesterday. with a
charge made in the former that men,
bers of President Hoovers cabinet
had given their services to an un-
lawful and fraudulent airmail COM
binstion"
The accusation was hurled by SEN
ator Robinson of Arkansas, the ma
Jorlty leader, in warm exchange on
cancellation of private contracts, and
brought a speedy defense from Sem
ator FeSs, Republican, of Ohio.
Proof Declared Lacking.
Fess shouted back at Robinson that
proof Of illegality about the airmail
awards under Walter F. Brown. for
mer Postmaster General, was entirely
lacking.
Senator Robinson, who has stoutly
asserted the administration did its
DUTY in cancelllng the mail contracts,
began the tilt with FeSs by announc-
ing on the floor that Andrew w. Mel
lon took exception to a statement in
my address of last Thursday
He quoted from letter he had re-
ceived from the former Secretary of
the Treasury:
In your speech you refer to
the Pittsburgh Aviation Industries,
Inc, as a strong political factor in
Pennsylvania and stated that the
MELONS were prominent stockholders
and officers in that company"
Mellon said his family owned only
inconsequential amounts of stock in
the Pittsburgh Aviation Co.
i hereby present evidence" Robin
son replied. which in my Judgment
conclusively establishes the accuracy
of both the statements of which Mr.
Mellon complains"
But FeSs was far from convinced
He said the Mellon family owned only
2,400 Of the $4,000 shares issued by
the aviation concern.
If per cent of the stock would
be regarded as controlling infiu-
ence," FesS said, then l don't know
what controlling influence is. When
the Mellon family desires to control
anything, it doesn't stop at 5 per
cent"
Declared "Pitiable."
1T is pitiable," he told Robinson.
TO what lengths some public men
Will go to denounce those who dis
agree with them on matters of public
policy"
Robinson retorted that "the record
shows that masterful forces were or
ganized in Pittsburgh and members
OF the cabinet gave their services to
combination that was unlawful. to
collusion that was fraudulent"
Later Fess reiterated his charge
that President Roosevelt had been
misled in the airmail situation and
said the Democratic speeches on the
Senate floor defending his policy were
AN effort to cushion" the mistake
In the House, Representative Wearin,
Democrat of Iowa, said that some
comments have been made in an effort
to cover up the theftS of the aircraft
trust"
Branded as "Dastardly."
"An organized effort to discredit the
Postmaster General and the President
was launched with aid of a ballyhoo
campaign that it was hoped would
drive Mr.. Roosevelt and his lieu
tenants out on limb" he asserted.
THE deal was one of the most
dastardly efforts to cover up the thefts
of the aircraft trust that was ever
attempted"