Evening star., 1935-02-19

The report Of the Federal Aviation
Commission is regarded by the press
as distinct step toward a solution
Of the vexing problem of subsidies to
commercial air services. Opinion is
divided as to the wisdom of estab-
fishing an independent regulating
body. but there is complete agree
ment that some change in the control
of aviation is necessary.
"The commission recommends an
outright subsidy of $7.00O,0o0, to be
distributed to air services according
to need" points out the Los Angeles
Times. This Is a different form Of
the airmail subsidy and may help to
save the face of Postmaster General
Farley and other administration lights
who inveighed against airmail sub
sides. 1t is a tacit admission that
such subsidies were and are necessary
in the present state of aviation. The
administration seems to be retracing
its steps in air matters, by devious
route, back to the principles of the
Hoover administration
The Charleston Evening Post is in
clihed to agree and declares that "the
most interesting feature of the report
is the very plainly implied disapproval
of the summary course taken last year
by the Post Office Department in
cancelling the airmail contracts with
commercial lines and the recommen-
dation for immediate repair of a
situation which it is stated has
wrought havoc in the aviation in
duStry." The same paper, however,
calls attention to the fact that while
recognizing the need for some form
of Government subsidy to commercial
air service, the President warns against
unreasonable profits by any private
carrier which is a very proper cau-
tion."
The Sacramento Bee feels that "the
one disappointing feature of the Presi-
dents program is that it takes it for
granted that the operation of the air.
mail planes should be continued in
private hands. That" the Bee adds,
''is difficult to reconcile with the gen.
eral administration policy in the utili-
ty field"
"All Americans will concur" be-
lieveS the Buffalo Evening News, ''in
the expressed hope of the President
that the current recommendations of
the Aviation Commission will be trans
lated into action, so that the Nation
may maintain the position of world
leadership which was threatened when
Postmaster General Farley started his
vendetta against the commercial COM
panies." The Oswego (N.Y) Palla-
dium-Times finds the report forward
looking, helpful and not critical"
Significant" is the term applied by
the Danville CIll) Commercial-News
to "the recommendation that control
Of such subsidies be taken from the
Post Office Department and lodged in
a permanent air commerce commits
sion, with full power to regulate the
entire field, in the effort to bring
American aviation to a position of
world leadership" The Wall Street
Journal holds that justification of an
independent aviation commission, in
theory at least, is more convincing
than the argument Of the Presidents
special message that we should avoid
the multiplication Of separate regula-
tory agencies in the field Of transpor-
tation.'"
On the other hand, the Newark Eve
ming News declares: There is much
to be said for the Presidents opposi-
ton to the idea of multiplying govern
mental agencies in the field of trans
portation. The regulation Of COM
merce among the States is constitu-
tional function Of Congress and one
that should be exercised as a whole.
If only because Of the frequent over