The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-19
ARMY FL|ERS
RESUME AIR
MAIL SERVICE
Safety First New Motto as
Flights Are Started
on Eight Routes.
eleventh PILOT KILLED
Radio to Aid Experienced
Men: Congress RedraftS
Postal Bill.
BIZ United Press

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WASHINGTON, March 19.-The
army tackled the words safety
first" on to the cherished slogan
that the mail must go through and
today resumed the service on eight
routes interrupted after ten young
men had given their lives in sacri-
flee to the original creed.
An eleventh flier was killed Sat-
urday near Cheyenne while seek
ing to familiarize himself with a
route to which he was assigned.
As the first planes roared to their
takeoffs, administration advisers
were busy redrafting the bill which
Will retire the army from its emer-
gency mail-carrying services and
restore the function to private
hands
In most parts of the country the
weather was favorable.
Experienced Pilots Chosen
The army ships, withdrawn from
air mail service at President RoOse-
velt'S insistence that tie wave OF
fliers deaths cease, have been
equipped with additional flying in
Struments and two-way radio.
Only the most experienced pilots
were assigned to the first runs.
Major-General Benjamin D. FOuloiS,
army air chief, today completed a
tour of inspection of the eastern
flight zone and was assured that
every precaution against new deaths
had been taken.
This, coupled with cessation of
the hazardous weather which was
blamed for many of the first fatali-
ties, was hoped to insure as high a
degree of safety as was possible in
civilian operation of the air mail.
Roosevelt Offers Help
The revision of the new air mail
bill, which were being undertaken,
followed a Sunday conference at
the White House called by Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Congressional lead
ers met with him and were believed
to have discussed the bill in the
light of testimony at the air mail
hearings.
The revision was not expected, as
it had been known for several days
that the measure must be rewritten
to meet such objections as these
brought out at hearings by Colonel
Charles A. Lindbergh, and aviators
Clarence Chamberlin and Eddie
Rickenbacker.
These men all criticised a feature
of the measure which would deny
transport concerns with claims
against the government from bid
ding on new contracts.
Complete Hearing Today
Hearings on the bills are ex-
pected to be completed today The
bill itself may not be ready for a
week or more. How soon the serv-
ice might be returned to private
operation was uncertain.
If the army succeeds in restoring
mail service without resumption of
casualties. it was believed the adj
ministration would not hurry to
negotiate new private contracts.
New fatalities, however, would be
almost certain to hasten the return
of the mail to the private handlers.
Those sitting in with Mr.. Roose-
welt in the White House meeting in
cluded Chairman Kenneth D. Nc
Kellar of the senate postoffice COM
mittee. Senate Majority Leader
Joseph T. Robinson and Chairman
Hugo L. Black of the special senate
air mail committee.
Mail routes ordered resumed today
were: Boston-New York, New York
Jacksonville. New York Chicago,
ChicagO-DallaS. Chicago-San Fran
cisco. Salt Lake City-San Diego, Salt
Lake City-Seattle and Cheyenne
DonVer