The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
NEW AIR MAIL
CRASHES STIR
c. 0. P. RANKS
President Responsible for
Army FIierS' Deaths,
Says FeSS.

~ tNNfn PffSS
WASHINGTON, March 10.-Tht
air mail controversy was at its
greatest height of bitterness today
with Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh
Americas greatest air hero, a silent
and mysterious figure in the back
ground. The deaths of four more
military pilots added new fuel tC
congressional debate which has
ragged Sporadically since the army
took over the air mail Feb. 10. The
new deaths brought the army's all
mail toll to ten.
The fatalities occurred as an adj
miniStration bill to restore the mail
service to private hands was intro
duced for speedy congressional act
ion. An early vote was expected, but
Republican critics grew more vocif-
erous in their attacks on the ad-
ministration'S cancellation of the
air mail contracts, characterizing it
as "legalized murder"
Colonel Lindbergh arrived by
plane last night accompanied by
Mrs. Lindbergh. He Immediately
went into secluSiOn, refusing to talk
to any one. Reports and rumors
flooded the capital and it was gen.
orally accepted that his unexpected
visit was connected in some way
with the air mail situation. Govern
ment officials and offices, including
the White House, expressed ignor-
ance Of the purpOs eof his visit.
Four Filters Killed
The army deaths yesterday:
Sergeant Ernest B. Sell, Indiana
Pa, was killed when a plane cracked
UP at DaytOna Beach, Fla, with a
mail cargo.
Lieutenant Otto Wienecke was
killed with mail cargo in a snow
storm near Burton, o.
Lieutenants F. L. Howard and A
R. KerWin were killed shortly after
taking off from Cheyenne, Wyo., on
a night practice flight preparatory
to entering the mail service.
Fess Attacks Roosevelt
Meantime administration leaders
made it plain they expected to
waste no time in passing the Nc
Keller-Black bill. However, it was
pointed out, private mail flying
could not be resumed before June
at the earliest due to strict provi-
sions of the new act.
The first two of the four new
army fatalities was the direct cause
of the bitterest congressional debate
the issue has yet produced.
Senator Simeon o. Fess rep, o.
arising to call attention to the
fatalities. became embroiled in a
debate which lasted for hours He
charged that the President was re-
SponSible for the deaths. Previous
~ an effort by Representative Edith
Nourse Rogers rep, Mass TO in
troduce a resolution in the house
calling for immediate termination
of army air mail flying forced the
house to adjourn when she objected
to all matters brought up after
Democratic objections had blocked
her resolutions.
Charges Wire Tapping
Wire-tapping charges were made
by Senator Tess, coupled with a de-
Tense of his son, Lehr. who NaS
named in testimony before the SEN
ate air mail committee as having
received several thousand dollars
from the United Aircraft and
Transport Company in 1890 to
expedite" passage of the McNary-
WatreS air mail act.
Senator Fess said there was ''in-
terefernce" during a long-distance
telephone conversation he had with
former Postmaster General Walter
F. Brown.
He charged also that a letter he
sent to Mr.. Brown in New York re-
Gently, was tempered with"
Black Denies Acts
Chairman Hugo L. Black of the
air mail committee denied knowl-
edge or sanction of the alleged
acts. and told Mr. FesS he would
wholly diSapprove" such practices
by his investigators
Mr.. Black said hearings on the
new air mail bill probably would
start Monday.
The postofice committee hopes to
report the measure to the senate by
the end of next week.