The Washington times., 1934-03-31
BRANCH SCORES
MAIL FOES IN
CONGRESS
Farley Aide Answers Attacks
Made by Sen. Robinson
and Rep. Kelly on Hill


Unleashing q bitter counter
attask on Congressional critics
of the temporary air mail con-
tracts, Postoffice officials today
stated charges levelled at them
were made for political purposes.
Harllee Branch, second assist
ant postmaster general in charge
of air mail contracts, asserted
charges made yesterday by avia-
ton officials and members of
Congress were ridiculous and
wholly without foundation"
Senator Robinson, (R0 of In
diana, and Representative Kelly,
(R.) of Pennsylvania, charged
yesterday the temporary air mail
contracts were so set-up as to
benefit only the American Air
ways Co., a subsidiary of the Cord
Corporation.
Cord Benefit Seen.
Both members of congress said
Mr.. Cord was favored through
high maximum rates of pay on
lines he could operate under the
new program and that the Cord
Company would benefit through
the eollipment specifications,
Mr.. Branch said:
Charges that the Post Office
Department have favored or
said to favor any individual or
corporation in setting up the
temporary air mail service are
ridiculous on their face. 1t
would >ppear these charges are
made for political purposes"
Mr.. Branch stated that the
charge that the Post Office De-
'partment specified high maxi
mum rtaes of pay on the routes
heretofore flown by the American
AirWays in order to favor that
corporation is without any foun-
udClOu IN 1dCC.
Followed the Law
He added:
"The American Airways Com
pany is in the same position as
all Of the former contractors,
In determining the maximum
rate of pay to be allowed on
each temporary air mail route,
the POStOffice Department fol-
lowed the law which says that
the Postmaster General shall
not employ temporary service
on any route at a higher price
than that paid to the con-
tractor who shall have per-
formed the service during the
last preceding contract term"
In no case is the maximum rate
OF pay in excess of the actual
amount that was paid for the
same service at the time of the
annulment of the previous con-
tracts, Mr.. Branch asserted.
The Passenger Angle
He continued:
"The charge that the specifi-
cations tend to the abandon
ment Of air passenger service is
equally unfOunded.
"The specifications for air
plane equipment ON all but
three routes expressly provide
for passenger service.
"On these three rOutets it is
provided that passengers may
be carried if specified equip
ment is used"
Answering Senator Robinson's
charge that the temporary set
up favored Mr.. Cord by reason
of the speed limit imposed in
the specifications, Mr.. Branch
stated:
The minimum cruising
speed of Ito mile per hour
makes it possible for the. So
called Independent companies
to participate in the bidding.
LINE BROKEN UP
"If a higher rate of speed
were required the probability
is that only <.lree or four of
the companies would be in a
position to bid.
"The Righteousness of the
charge that the temporary air
mail Set-up favOrS the Amer
lean Always is obvious when
one considers the temporary
air mail map. 1t so happens
that the former system of the
American Always is very
largely diSmemb -ed more, per-
haps, than any other company.