Evening star., 1935-12-15

Splitting up of the Aeronautical
Chamber of Commerce of America by
the withdrawal during the past week
of all its member air transport opera
tors is being followed by the setting
up of a new airline trade organiza-
ton which probably will function
under the leadership Of a single di-
rector with almost dictatorial powers.
There are sharp differences of opin-
ion within the air transport industry
as to the division of airmail contracts,
competitive services, operating terri
tories and other vital questions and
it is apparent that a strong hand will
be required to bring about anything
like unanimity of action.
1t is understood that the post of
air transport "czar" has been offered
to Edward P. Warner, former Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy for Aero
nautics. member of the National Ad-
visory Committee for AeronauticS and
aeronautical magazine editor.
In view of the efforts which are
certain to be made during the coming
session of Congress to bring about
the enactment of new airmail and air
transport legislation, the organization
of the air transport industry and the
selection Of its leader is regarded as
of outstanding Importance.
The withdrawal from the chamber
of the operators is the result in part
of enactment of the present airmail
law which prohibits Interlocking air
transportation and aviation manu-
featuring companies. With the sepa-
ration of the operators from its ranks
the chamber has become a service
organization for the aeronautical
manufacturing industry, the servicing
companies and the instrument and
accessory groups.
Fowler W. Sam" Barker, director
of the air transport division of the
aeronautical chamber, recently re-
moved his Offices from Washington
headquarters of the chamber, to Chi
cago, where many of the air trans
port companies have their main Off
ceS and where the National Airline
Pilots Associations has its headquar-
ters.
Division of the chamber was
effected at a meeting in Washington
during the past week, at which Leigh
ton W. Rogers, executive vice presi-
dent of the body, was elected presi-
dent to succeed Thomas A. Morgan,
resigned because of the pressure of his
duties as chairman Of the boards OF
Curtiss- Wright Corp. and the Sperry
Corp.
Mr.. Rogers. who served as an Army
officer in England and France during
the World War and as United States
trade commissioner IN Russia and
other parts of Europe, was here for
about six years as chief of the aero
nautics trade division of the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
before leaving three years ago to join
the aeronautical chamber. He was
injured in an airplane crash in China
last May while serving as a member
of the American Economic Mission to
the Orient. He has established his
headquarters In Washington.
While Pan-American Airways is
blazing the airmail trail across the
Pacific. its leaders already are busy
with the problems of transatlantic
air transportation. The second clipper
flight across the Pacific with mail
began while Juan Trippe, youthful
president of the great American for
eign air transport system. was busy in
Washington discussing the details OF
the Atlantic service which will COM
plete the establishment of direct air
transport service around the world.
Trippe and C. E. Woods Humphrey,
managing director Of Imperial Airways'
the British equivalent of the Pam
American system, have been in close
conferences here during the past week
and have spent much time with Fed