Evening star., 1934-03-16
Stands Firm in Contention
Charges Should Have
Been Definitely Establish.
ed Before Cancellation.
CHEERED AT HEARING
BEFORE SENATE GROUP
Condemns as "Unjust' Section
of Bill to Ban Future Bids by
Past Operators Unless All
Claims Against the Government
Are Waived.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
In polite but firm tones. Col. Charles
A. Lindbergh told Senate committee
today that the bill to return airmail
transportation to private hands was
unjust: that the private contracts
should not have been Cancelled with
out a trial of the operators" and that
the Army had not been so efficient as
private concerns in flying the mails.
Testifying in the large Senate
caucus room, jammed with hundreds
of spectators, the aviator who previ-
ously had criticized the annullment
action and turned down an invitation
to serve on the Dern committee study
ing Army aviation-emphatically op-
posed as unjust" section of the bill
placing limitations on the right of
private companies to bid on new
contracts.
This disputed clause would bar COM
panies whose contracts were Cancelled
from bidding unless they waived all
claims against the Government In
connection with the annulments.
As Lindbergh concluded two hours
many thanks" by the chairman, loud
handclapping greeted him and COM
mittee members were profuse in the
congratulations.
Under questioning. he told of re-
ceiving $4,000 a year up to the first
Of this month" from Transcontinental
d Western Air, who lost a contract,
and $40 900 year from Pan-American
Always.
He said he had participated in none
OF the conferences leading to the con-
tracts and repeatedly asserted his con-
nection with aviation was mostly
technical, such as laying out routes
and advising on equipment.
Agrees to Return Of Contracts.
Unless the old companies were per-
mitted to rebid on new contracts, he
said, it would take two or three years
for new companies to restore normal
service.
Lindbergh agreed with a suggestion
by Senator Logan, Democrat, of Ken
tucky that the airmail contracts be
returned to private companies ptnd-
ing a furthe- hearing to determine
whether the Cancelled agreements we're
obtained through fraud. as charged
by the administration.
In favoring large company organi-
zation rather than small units. the
aviator gave better service as the rea-
son and said he expected that soon
passengers will be able. to cross the
continent without stop"
At the same time, pleas that the
for in the new airmail set-up were be-
ing made to a House Post Office Com
mittee today as it neared conclusion
of hearings on the permanent airmail
bill that Lindbergh opposed.
Why prevent the smaller COM
panies," asked Carlton Putnam of the
Pacific Seaboard Airlines, California,
who are trying to pioneer in feeder
and short-haul lines, from qualifying
and obtaining help the same as the
big concerns?"
Denies knowledge Of C0llusion.
Il believe you are connected with
Transcontinental and Western Air
Chairman McKellar told Lindbergh.
Before another committee there was
introduced evidence that that concern
entered into a collusive agreement to
buy off Earl Halliburton so that he
would not bid on an airmail contract"
L don't know about that" Lind
bergh rejoined.
But you wouldn't approve that if
1t was done?" McKellar asked.
Il have no knowledge of the Incl
dent" the flyer returned crisply. Il
feel that these charges should have
been definitely established before
these contracts were Cancelled. I feel
it was the right of the companies, the
public and my own right to have
them definitely established. I say this
only in the interests of what I most
deeply believe to be right
Clarence Chamberlin. who like
Lindbergh, has hoped the Atlantic.
was to be called later by the COM
mittee. He Is a member of the
Dern committee.
Applauded by Crowd.
Lindbergb was loudly applauded by
the crowd when he arrived in the
committee room at 10:30 am. Most
of the spectators were women.
Wearing a gray suit and with his
hands in his pockets, the flyer shook
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