Evening star., 1936-03-03
PRESIDENT SIGNS.
AIRPORT TRAFFIC
EMERGENCY BILL
Military Road to Be Policed
by Deputies Under U. S.
Supervision.
LAW PROVIDES $500
FINE FOR VIOLATORS
Regulations Will Eliminate
Hazard of Collision Between
Planes and Automobiles.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
Policing under Federal supervision,
of Military road at the Washington
Airport crossing was authorized today
when President Roosevelt signed the
emergency bill to eliminate the danger
of collision between airplanes and au-
tomobiles at the air terminal. for years
regarded as one of the most dangerous
in the country.
The new law provides rigid penalties
for violation of the traffic regulations
which are to be established with the
approval of the Commerce Depart
nent to end the. Military road hazard,
which for a time threatened to result
in the closing of Washington Airport.
Commerce Department officials an
nounced today that arrangement OF
the details for policing the road will
be left to airport and Virginia police
authorities.
1T is our understanding" explained
Eugene L. Vidal. director of air COM
merce, that Washington Airport Is
to submit to the Department of Com
merce its plan for policing Military
road. The plan will be approved or
modified by the department. That
probably will be the extent Of the de-
partment's participation in the prob
lem The actual policing, We under
stand, will be in the hands of Virginia
authorities"
Control Lights to Be Left.
Vidal said that, on the basis of dis
cussions between Bureau of Air Com
merce officials and Samuel j. Solomon,
manager of Washington Airport, it is
his understanding that the present
airport traffic control lights will be
continued in operation. The present
guards, now merely employees Of the
airport. without police power. prob
ably will be replaced by deputy mar.
shals or other guards with the power
Of arrest.
It also is expected that chains will
be stretched across the road to act as
. positive barrier to motor vehicle
traffic when airplanes are crossing
the road. Signs probably will be
erected to warn motorists that they
will be subject to a $500 fine or i'm
prisonment not to exceed six months,
or both, If they disregard signals while
an airplane is crossing the highway.
Solomon was in Richmond today
and it was said at the airport that he
has not yet been notified of the sign
ing of the measure. He probably will
return late today and is expected to
get in touch with Virginia authorities
at once to arrange for deputizing of
his guards or for assignment of State
or county guards who will have the
power of enforcing the new law.
The bill which became law today
relieves the War Department of re-
sponsibility for any accidents which
may occur at the Military road cross
ing. The War Department has OBJ
Jected to being saddled any longer
with responsibility for conditions on
the road, which it said no longer is
needed for military purposes, and also
objected to a previous draft of the
bill which would have made the Army
responsible for policing of the road.
Title Remains With U. S.
Under the new law, title to Military
road remains in the Federal Govern
ment. It gives the sanction of law to
the use OF the portion of Military road
crossing the airport as part of the
landing field and legalizes the landing
OF aircraft on or across the road.
Armed with the power of rigid traf-
nc control, it is believed officials of
Washington Airport will undertake
improvement of the runway across
Military road. This would involve
some grading. since Military road now
Is slightly below the field level and
there is slight difference in level be-
tween portions of the field on opposite
sides of the road. Arrangements for
this improvement of the airport will
depend on the outcome of conferences
between Solomon and officials of Ma
tional Airport Corporation, the New
York organization which owns the
local airport.
A meeting of Senate and House con-
ferees on permanent local airport leg
tslation was postponed today pending
completion of drafting of new bill
providing for appointment of a COM
mission to select site and acquire
options on the property. The bill, now
being drafted by House conference
managers, was put into the hands of
legislative counsel for approval of
legal details, and probably will be con-
sidered at conference meeting to-
morrow morning.
Engineers Complete Survey.
Meanwhile, the United States Engi-
neer Ofice for the local district COM
pleted survey for the Aero Club Of
Washington Of local food conditions
In event Of the construction of an air.
port at Gravelly Point.
The engineers found that there
would be no increase Of the food
danger due to filing OF Gravelly Point
and that an airport there would be
in less danger Of flooding than the
present Washington Airport.
. Plans which have been submitted
TO Congress for the Gravelly Point
project call for the taking of large
part Of the fill material from the
bed Of the Potomac River In front
Of the airport.
Man Under Sea 18 Hours.
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