Evening star., 1936-04-15
ROOSEVELT GETS
D. c. AIRPORT BILL
House Approves Report of
Conferees-CommiSsion
Choices Awaited.

The first constructive step toward
for the District of Columbia was
taken today after 10 years Of con-
tention, when Congress sent to the
White House the bill providing for
creation of a nine-member commits
sion to select site.
Congressional action on the meas
ure was completed yesterday after
noon, when the House approved
conference report on the frequently
rewritten bill which has been dead
locked in conference nearly year.
In approving the report, the House
receded from its insistence that the
District bear the entire burden of
hiring the experts authorized to aid
the commission in making its selec-
ton. The $4,000 appropriation au-
thorized in the measure will be split
between the Federal and District gov
ernments equally.
The commission is powerless to do
more than select a site for the pro-
posed model airport for the District.
1t may make its choice in the District
or nearby Maryland or Virginia, re-
porting its selection to Congress. The
commission is directed to complete its
work "as soon as practicable" and
there is some hope on the part of
congressional sponsors that the site
may be selected and funds provided
before adjournmsht Of Congress for
the start of construction this year.
Congress is tentatively scheduled to
adjourn about June /.
Three Appointees Awaited.
Chief interest today centered in
the three presidential appointees to
the commission. The House originally
sought to name the members Of the
commission. Senate objection to the
House list, on the ground that it was
stacked" in favor of Washington
Airport, delayed the bill in conference
for many months.
AS now written, the bill provides for
a commission to be composed of three
Senators, three members of the House
and three members to be named by
the President. Senate members may
be Senators King of Utah and Tydings
of Maryland, Democrats, and Austin
of Vermont, Republican. House mem
bers may oe Representatives Norton
of New Jersey and Nichols of Okla
homa, Democrats, and Dirksen of
Illinois or Cole of New York, Repub-
licans.
The commission, although it may
spend $4,000 to employ technical
advisers to aid it in selecting the site,
has been denied, upon insistence of
the House, funds with which to ac-
quire options on property which may
be required for the airport. The
Senate had voted an authorization of
$4,000 for the commissions use in
taking options on any site or sites 1t
might select.
S2,5O0,000 Fund Barred.
The original House bill, passed after
prolonged hearings and the inspection
of a number of sites by a subcom-
mittee of the District Committee, pro-
vided for a commission of named
members to select site, another per-
manent commission to take charge of
the construction and operation of an
airport and authorized an appropria-
tion OF $2,5O0,000 to finance the prof.
ect. The entire cost was to have been
charged to the District.
The Senate eliminated all construc-
ton funds and the permanent COM
mission after more than eight months
of deadlock. Many weeks of bargain
conferees before yesterdays final
agreement.
ing ensued between Senate and House