Evening star., 1934-03-11
Letter to Dern Says He Was
Assured Army Could Do
Job-0fficiaIs Tackle
Slash in Routes.
PRESIDENTIAL ORDER
NIPS CONGRESS FIGHT
Resolutions Demanding Air Corps
Be Removed From Service
Ready When White House
Acts, Demanding Halt as
Deaths Reach Ten.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Drastic curtailment of the airmail
service was projected last night in a
conference of War and Post Office
Department officials as a result of an
order from President Roosevelt to cur
tail the system to a basis which the
Army could maintain without con
slant recurrence of fatal accidents ~
In view of 10 airmail casualties
in the 20 days since private airmail
contracts were Cancelled and the Army
began flying the mails on an emer-
gency basis, the War Department was
under presidential instructions to
stop all carrying of airmail, except
OH such routes, under such weather
conditions and under such equipment
and personnel conditions" as would
reasonably assure the safety of the
pilots.
With Army officials hopeful of pre-
serving as much as possible of the
temporary airmail system, indications
we're that only a severely skeleton
lied segment of the normal system
of 27,OOO miles would continue to be
flown
The President issued the order after
calling in Gen. Douglas Macarthur,
Army chief of staff, and Maj. Gen
Benjamin D. Foulois, Air Corps chief.
President RooseveIt's order came in
the nick of time yesterday to halt
another onslaught on the administra-
ton from the floor of the Senate,
because of the deaths of the Army
air pilots in the mail service.
Attacks on the administration,
planned from the floor of the House,
were choked off by the Democratic
leadership in that body.
But while these attacks on the ad-
ministration in both Houses were halt
ed. temporarily, several members of
Congress issued statements criticizing
the handling of the airmail.
Resolutions Prepared.
Resolutions prepared by Senator
Fess of Ohio and Mrs. Edith Nourse
Rogers of Massachusetts,, calling upon
the President to discontinue the flying
of the mails by the Army until proper
equipment was provided and the men
had had proper training were offered
in Senate and House
1t is clear that had not the Chief
Executive acted as he did yesterday,
the demand would have been pressed
for action on one or the other of these
resolutions, and the Democratic ma
Jority would have been in most en-
barrassing position if it had opposed
adoption.
The Presidents order, contained in
his letter to Secretary Dern of the War
Department, was approved generally
by members of Congress, Republican
and Democrat alike The Republicans
insisted, however, there should be a
complete cessation of airmail service
until proper equipment and properly
trained men had been provided for
carrying the mail Some of the criti-
cism was sharply worded
A part of the Presidents letter to
Secretary Dern which caused particu-
lar comment on Capitol Hill was the
statement that this action (the as
signment of carrying the airmail to
the Air Corps was taken on the def
mite assurance given me that the Army
Air Corps could carry the mail"
The question asked at the Capitol
was-and it is question that is likely
1Cop+ip,,od ~, pooa CoI,,rop ~