Imperial Valley press., 1934-03-15
[|NDbERCH To
Be WITNESS
FOR A|RMA|[
Flyer Accepts Senate Commit
tees Invitation To Testify Al
Hearing.
ARMY REVISES AIR ROUTES
approximately Is Per Cent Of
Former Lines Preparing To
Carry Mail.
By RONALD G. VAN TINE
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 15-Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh today accept
ed the invitation of the senate post
offices committee to testify in its
hearings on permanent air mail le-
gislation. He will appear before the
committee tomorrow.
Lindbergh telegraphed his ac-
ceptance to committee chairman
Kenneth McKellar. Dem, Tenn,
shortly after he had declined an
invitation TO serve ON war depart
men aviation board of inquiry and
had again criticized the admins
trations cancellation of air mail
contracts.
Lindbergh's telegram to McKellar
merely stated:
will be glad to appear Friday
The committee yesterday invited
Lindbergh, Clarence ChRmberlin,
Eddie Rickenbacker and Brig Gen.
William Mitchell to testify in its
hearings on permanent legislation
under which the administration
plans eventually to return the air
mail to private lines under strict
regulations. Lindbergh is the only
cne who has replied so far.
1t will be the first time that the
famous flyer has appeared before
a congressional committee. When
the Black committee investigating
airmail contracts brought out that
he had received Sizeable amount
of air line securities, he offered to
testify but he never was called.
Rickenbacker also notified the
committee he would appear either
Saturday or some day next week.
Chamberlin, only civilian SO far
to accept membership on the spe-
cial committe to investigate the
army flying corps, expressed deep
regret upon learning that Lind
bergh had refused to serve on the
committee.
Il am sorry that we will not have
his help" Chamberlin said. He in
tends TO remain in Washington un-
til tomorrow to appear before the
senate post office and roads COM
mittee to testify concerning airmail
Seek Other Names
Secretary of War George H. Dern,
meantime, prepared to appoint
other civilians to replace Lindbergh
and Orville Wright on the army
board which is to survey all air
corps operations phases in connec-
ton with administration plans for
unification of federal aviation.
Wright declined to serve because
of i'll health. Lindbergh refused the
post last night in a telegram IN
which he again criticized cancella-
ton of airmail contracts as blow
to aviation.
Derns consideration of other
names indicated he had no hope
that Lindbergh would reverse his de-
cision. Jimmy Dooiittle, former army
ace, was among those discussed for
the air board.
Harllee Branch, assistant post
master general, said he expected or
ders from the army ANY moment
to resume flights on some of the sky
lines which have been empty OF
mail planes since Sunday.
The post office made public nine
proposed routes, covering about 25
per cent of the air mail service in
effect under the old private con-
tracts.
Democrats and Republicans on
the senate poStoffice committee re-
belled against a provision in the
new bill which would prevent award
of contracts to air lines which made
any claim against the government
on account of cancellation of the
old contracts.