Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-02

committee bill on the floor of tn
In view of the threatened contro-
versy, the committee bill was not
called up for consideration on the
last District day and the House ad-
iourned after a session of only / hour
and 80 minutes, leaving the measure
on the calendar.
Even less progress has been made
in the Senate. The Gibson Gravelly
Point airport bill. introduced last
January, has gathered dust in the
District Committee files for nearly five
months. Pressed for action on the
bill by local aeronautical and civic
organizations. Senator King, COM
mittee chairman. replied that he could
see no reason for haste. He said he
favored the Gravelly Point site. but
did not think there was need for
legislation this year. He finally ap-
pointed a subcommittee Of three, with
himself as chairman. to consider the
bill. but so far the subcommittee has
not met.
Painstaking research by Clarence A.
Miller, chairman Of the Aviation Com
mittee of the Washington Board OF
Trade. shows that since early 1927 a
total of 81 bills and resolutions deal
ing with the subject of an airport for
Washington have been introduced IN
the Senate and House. an average OF
three a year. Repeated hearings have
been held and Volumes Of transcripts
of testimony are available.
The first local airport bill was in
troduced by Representative Gasque
February II, 1927, and the first con-
eressional hearing was held in 1923
bv the House District Committee on
C,ravellv Point bill introduced by
Representative Stalker of New York.
The bill was reported favorably to the
House, but no further action was
taken.
The only legislation dealing with the
local airport which ever has been en-
acted was a Senate resolution, intro
duced in February, 1929, providing for
a Joint congressional commission 10
study the problem. The commission
vas established with Senator Bingham
of Connecticut as chairman and held
exhaustive hearings. The commits
sion's final report, recommending i'm
mediate development of the Washing
ton Airport Hoover Field site ana the
ultimate Development of Gravelly
Point. was submitted on March 8,
1880, two years after introduction OF
n 1nOfClofIIP QHIi0n
followed, though several bills emoody-
ing the commissions commentators
we're introduced in that and subse-
ouent years.
On June 8. 1929, the President sent
to Congress a supplemental estimate
of an appropriation of 100000 for the
acquisition of local airport site. NO
action was taken on the estimate.
Hearings on the local airport Sit
nation have been held by the Senate
and House District Committees. by the
Joint commission, by the House COM
mittee on Public Buildings ana
Grounds and by the House Committee
on Military Affairs. Many days OF the
time of members of Congress, District
officials. Federal aviation officials, rep
resentatives of local civic and busl-
ness organizations and representatives
of the aviation industry have oeen
consumed. Many of the Nations
most famous flyers have testified be-
fore congressional committees on the
subject. The local airport situation
still remains a disgrace to the Capital
and to the Nation.
Aviation insurance rates, positive
index of the increasing safety OF ny
ing. TODAY are below many ordinary
mercantile risks. according to a sur
vey completed by Aero Insurance I'm
derwrlters. Aviation insurance rates
are shown to be far below the levels
of 1926. when the Federal Air Com
merce Act was put into effect.
Fire rates on airplanes, on the
ground or in the air. today are only
3 to 3l2 per cent. as compared with
the 1926 rate of as high as per cent.
Published fire rates on buildings OF
combustible construction often run as
high as 4 and per cent today.
The average rate for windstorm
and theft insurance on an airplane
now is | per cent. Rates for wind
storm and theft on automobiles in II
of the largest cities in the United
States range from 2l2 to 6l2 per cent.
Crash or collision insurance rates on
automobiles in large cities through
out the United States range from to
"a per cent, the underwriters an
nounced, Crash insurance rates on
airplanes throughout the country run
from 10 to 18 per cent. In 1926 crash
rates on aircraft ranged from Is to
Is per cent.
Liability and property damage in
surance rates on airplanes used in
making charter trips and carrying
passengers for hire. analogous to taxi
cab operation, show a decided advan-
tage in favor of the airplane. For
public liability, including passengers,
in amounts from $4,000 to $4,000
the taxicab premium averages $507.59,
while the airplane rate is only S297.75.
In 1925 the airplane rate was S740.
For property damage. in an amount
of $4,000, the taxicab rate is quoted
as Sl15.45. while the airplane rate is
$3.50 and was 500 in 1926.
The average rate for workmen's
compensa ton insurance for an air.
plane pilot is 10 per cent. The rate
for building wrecking employees is
1888 per cent, for steel erection
workers, 2345 per cent: for bridge
builders, l725 per cent.