The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-13
LINDBERGH TO
AID ARMY AIR
MAIL INQUIRY
Filler to Join Wright and
Chamberlain in u. S.
Investigation.
By Omitted Press


WASHINGTON, March 13.-
Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, Or
Vile Wright and Clarence Chamber
lin-three of the nations greatest
civilian fliers-were called upon by
the administration today to help it
fix responsibility for the armys
tragic difficulties in flying the mail.
George H. Dern, secretary of war,
announced he was asking these
three to sit with an army board to
make a thorough study OF air corps
equipment, training and personnel.
It has been charged that the army's
equipment is obsolete and training
not up to date.
1t was understood the formal in
vitations to join the committee had
not yet gone out, but acceptances
were expected from all three.
Prepare Service Resumption
Army and postoffice officials
meantime still were preparing
schedules for limited resumption of
army air mail flights on safety
first" basis.
Although Postmaster General
James A. Farley yesterday said he
hoped flights could be resumed on
nine routes today, no planes had
taken the air up to 1870 a. M, SO
far as could be learned here. Nor
could any detailed data be obtained
regarding the temporary routes.
Congressional committees contin-
ued work on legislation to permit
return of the mail to private air
lines within the next several months.
Plan Two New Routes
Harllee Branch, second assistant
postmaster general, told the house
postoffices committee, that the de-
partment in its plans for revamping
the air mail system preparatory to
seeking new private contracts, was
making tentative provisions Tor two
new through routes-one from Chi
cago to Spokane, Wash, and the
other from Billings, Mont, to Ell
PaSo, Texas.
1t was pointed out that nothing
definite has been decided on these
routes.
C. A. Cisler, superintendent OF
mails. also appeared before the COM
mittee to continue his defense of the
space rate payment plan included
in the new air mail bill drawn up
bv postoffice department experts.
The space rate plan was vigorously
opposed by Representative Clyde
Kelly (Rep., Pa, who advocates a
flat rate of two-tenths of one cent
per pound per mile.
Contract Method Defended
Brigadier-Genera1 Oscar West
over, assistant chief of the army
air corps, testifying before house
war department investigating COM
mittee, defended the negotiated
contract method of buying planes,
which has been criticised as weak
ening the efficiency of army ships.
General Westover denied asser-
tons of committee members that
negotiated contracts for planes
were illegal under the 1926 defense
law.
Representative william N. Rogers
Dem, N. H, chairman of the spe-
cial military affairs subcommittee,
questioned General Westover as to
a letter he wrote on Dec. to Briga-
der General H. Conger Pratt, pro-
curement head of the air corps.
The letter made public last week
included a paragraph which said
"Burdette Wright apparently has
placed the entering wedge which
may further complicate the plan of
procurement under the PWA pro-
gram"
General Westover asserted that
he was not discussing a change in
procurement methods for the
S7,500000 fund for plane purchases,
but simply sought to inform Cen
eral Pratt that Wrights activities
as representative of the Curtiss-
Wright Airplane Company appar-
emily had forced a delay in the
plane contracts.