Evening star., 1934-03-11

been pu: forward for the guldanC
cropping about for enlightenment
early conclusion of an intolerabl
has paralyzed American aviation
Objections Raised.
The Presidents program is objected
to in some important respects, but
there is every likelihood that serious
defects will be disclosed and remedied
during the course of legislative action.
Vigorous opposition has been voiced,
for example, to the proposal that
contracts shall run for a period OF
only three years. on the ground that
this would prevent program Of de-
velopment of airlines on the scale
necessary for proper expansion.
Equally strong opposition has de-
veloped to the Presidents recommen-
dation that there be full, open and
fair competitive bidding" for new
contracts. Representative Clyde Kelly,
Of Pennsylvania. father of the early
airmail legislation under which air
transportation in this country was
established, fears competitive bidding
will result in attempts by unqualified.
stock -jobbing companies to enter into
cut.throat competition with respon-
sible pioneer airlines. Kelly, whose
views always have been respected as
fundamentally sound, was bitterly op-
posed to the McNary- -Watres act un-
der which grew up the practices
which resulted in the Presidents
smashing of the former airmail
system.
New Set-Up Forseen.
Should the Presidents plan be fol-
lowed by Congress in framing its new
airmail legislation, this country before
the end of 1884 will find itself pos
sessed of a far different air transport
set-up than it has known. 1t will be
a system of private ownership, oper-
ating under the most rigid Federal
regulation. Passenger and express
rates, hitherto fixed by the lines
themselves in accordance with the
pressure Of economic necessity. would
be established by the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Routes flown,
competitive activities, operations rules
Of all kinds would be subject to the
closest Government supervision.
Under the Presidents plan the air
transport lines which carry the mail
would be airlines pure and simple
They would not be affiliated in any
way with big financial interests whose
interests lie in profits rather than
service or with aircraft manufacture
ing concerns whose sole concern is
the market for their products. They
would be forced to develop with a
singleness of purpose as transporta-
ton companies devoted to serving the
public needs for fast, adequate COM
munications facilities, succeeding or
failing as they serve or fail to serve
the public This is the thought be-
hind the Presidents program as it
has been interpreted.
It Is the hope of the President that
his plan will stimulate inventive
genius, and should give to our people
safer and better equipment both for
commercial and military purposes"
Scavenger Hunt Today.
There should be plenty Of excite
ment around some of the local air
ports this afternoon when weather
permitting, contestants in Washington
first airplane- automobile scavenger
hunt begin scrambling around for
articles listed in an amazing variety
Of prescribed loot"
Loot must be collected at seven
different airports in the local area
within time limit of two hours. The
hunt will start from College Park Air
port, College Park, Md. at 80 o'clock
this afternoon and will end there at
$3.50 pm.
Each contestant is allowed one asso-
ciate, preferably of the opposite sex.
Either airplanes or automobiles may
be used to collect the loot, but con-
testants must actually check in at
all seven airports and, what is more,
must be prepared ito explain fully
all Of the circumstances under which
each article OF loot was obtained"
The winner will be the contestant
first to report back before expiration
of the time limit, with the greatest
number Of the most difficult troph-
les. Three prizes have been offered.
The hunt is sponsored by the Wash
ington Air Derby Association and is
the first of a series of monthly aerial
competitions to be held through the
Spring, Summer and Fall.
Combat Flight Scheduled.
Flying Of battle problem by the
squadron is expected to be feature
Of the annual inspection by the Naval
Reserve Inspection Board of VN-6R,
local naval aviation reserve squad
ron, at the Anacostia Naval Air Sta
ton April 81.
The Inspection Board, composed of
high ranking officers of the Regular
Navy, will include in its inspection
not only squadron flying but also
airplanes, training quar-
ters, hangar, grounds, shop, office.
training equipment, supply store
rooms, administration, overhaul, en-
cheering, shop practice, recruiting
and recruit training and ground in
gtruction for officers and enlisted men.
The flight demonstration will take
the form of a battle problem rep
resenting q co-ordinated attack of
light and heavy bombardment planes
on an aircraft carrier deck marked
out on the landing field with flags.
Defending airplanes and anti-aircraft
machine guns will attempt to drive
of the attack. Blank machine-gun
ammunition and light practice bombs
will be used to simulate actual con-
ditions as closely as possible. The
public will be invited to witness the
flight inspection.
VN-6R now has strength Of 10
officers and "a enlisted men, who are
residents of Washington and vicinity.
Several vacancies exist in the en-
listed mems quota of the squadron.
for enlistment to fill these
vacancies must be high school seniors
or graduates, between the ages Of 18
Ut I~s~ 49,