Evening star., 1934-02-27
PACT ON A|RMA|L
AWARDS CHARGED
Postal Solicitor Asserts
Certain Firms Were to
Be Favored.
BY the Associated Press.

The charge that there was a def
mite, positive agreement" by which
Walter F. Brown, former Postmaster
General was to award mail contracts
to favored aviation companies, was
made before Senate investigators to-
day by Karl Crowley. Post Office De-
partment solicitor
Closely questioned by Senator
Austin Republican, Vermont), Crow
ley declined 20 concede that Browns
actions were "in the public interest"
although he asserted the authority
to cancel contracts fell in that
classification
More Questioning Expected.
Not one contract was made on
competitive bidding" he asserted en-
phatically. Not one"
Austin suggested that Crowley's
criticism was properly of the laws
provisions rather than Browns sd-
ministration, but Crowley would not
agree.
Crowley, on the other hand. de-
Tended the cancellation of airmall
contracts by Postmaster General Far
ley. and declined to agree TO Austins
suggestion that there was a close
similarity between the 1888 operators
contract reduction meeting and the
1890 ALLEGATION conference
Meanwhile, the House Post Office
Committee completed preliminary re-
bill, approving general provisions un-
der which carriers whose contracts
nave been Cancelled may obtain new
contracts.
Bill Would Cut Postage.
AS approved tentatively, the bill
would establish maximum 2-mill per
poundmile rate for all airmail, but
permit competitive bidding for con-
tracts at that figure or less as against
the present average contract of AZ
mills.
1t likewise would reduce airmal
postage from to 5 cents, and pro-
vide that no contractor, no matter
how much mail he carried, should
receive payment totaling more than
OO cents a mile, as against the pres
ent average of 40 to 30 cents
Brown was expected 10 undergo
questioning before the Senate COM
mlttee again today.
Chairman Black. with whom the
former Postmaster General dueled
verbally for most of last week, was
ready to take up the questioning
again He did not disclose imme-
diately, however, the line to be fol-
lowed
The airmail controversy broke on
the Senate floor yesterday with Sen
ator Robinson, Republican, of In
diana, charging the administration
with responsibility for the deaths of
Army aviators.
The President OF the United
States" Robinson shouted. sent these
aviators to their deaths flying the
airmail"
His words brought a half dozen
Senators to their feet.
The Senator speaks of the deaths
that have occurred-and which, Of
course. we're deplorable-as murder,
and states that they are ineXcusable.'
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of Ten
nessee. replied. Does not exactly
the same thing apply to the passenger
ship that went down out in the Rocky
Mountains several days ago in this
horrible weather when eight lives were
lost, more than we're lost in the Army
alrplanes?"
Back and forth the passages few.
Before II was over other Republican
- -f
Ohio and Reed of Pennsylvania, joined
Robinson. McKellar had aid from
Senators McCarren of Nevada and
Tydings of Maryland and Chairman
Black of the Senate Airmail Com
mittee.
Before the Senate committee earlier
yesterday Clifford Ball denied testi-
mony given by Brown in his appear
ances last week in defense of his
conduct in awarding mail contracts
Ball. who formerly operated an air
mail line from Pittsburgh TO Cleve-
land. said it was untrue that he had
promoted ventures to increase airmail
volume and thus increase his Gov
ernment subsidy payments.
From the hearing Chairman Black
nurrleQ 10 the SENATE IlOOr 10 enter
the debate there. He Immediately
denied statements by Senators Reed
and Fess that only three contracts
were awarded during Browns regime.
The Alabama Senator said Brown
had changed every contract
Robinson urged the defeat of the
emergency bill passed a few days
ago by the House which would pro-
vide funds for the Army to carry the
mail.
He charged also that Capt Eddie
Rickenbacker, critic of airmail can
collation., had been prevented from
broadcasting his views on orders
from Washington"
The fact is that Capt. Ricken-
backer completed his transcontinental
flight two hours before the time he
was expected to arrive" Senator
Clark. Democrat. of Missouri replied.
L have that statement from Capt.
Rickenbacker himself 1t would
naturally have been sufficient to upset
any arrangement which had been
made for a broadcast at a specific
time"