Evening star., 1936-01-05
TWO-A|RPORT PLAN
APPROVAL ASKED
Randolph to Present Propo-
sal to House Com.
mittee.
Representative Randolph, Demo-

Representative Randolph, Demo-
crat. of West Virginia. announced
yesterday he would seek approval
by the House District Committee
Wednesday for the plan proposed by
the Commerce Department for solv-
ing Washington's airport problem
through establishment of two ade-
quate air fields with Federal funds.
The departments proposal, it was
pointed out, does not need congress
sional sanction, but there is said to
be feeling among those concerned
that Endorsements of the House and
Senate District Committees would ia
cilitate carrying out the project.
At the same time, Senator Gibson,
Republican, of Vermont, long an ad-
vocate of adequate airport facilities
for the Capital, made known he also
would bring the subject to the atten-
ton of the Senate District Committee
at this session.
He already has pending in the
committee from last session a bill to
authorize development of the Gravelly
Point site by a commission, which
also would have power to lend as
sistance to or lease the Washington
Hoover Airport while Gravelly Point
is being developed.
Would Repay District.
The Gibson bill would authorize
appropriation of Federal funds not
exceeding $2,500,000, the District to
repay half Of whatever was spent.
over a period of years. Gibson said
he had not had time since returning
to the city to study the plan recently
suggested to Randolph by Commerce
Department officials.
The plan for two airports was re-
vealed by Assistant Secretary OF
Commerce Draper in a letter to
Randolph about a month ago. Ran
dolph is chairman of the airport sub
committee of the District Committee,
and has taken leading part in
District airport legislation efforts
Draper suggested that either w. P.
A. or P. w. A. funds be used to ex-
pand the Washington and Hoover air
ports within six months and in the
meantime steps be taken to establish
another air field probably at Gravelly
Point.
Randolph endorsed the proposition
Immediately but Chairman Norton of
the District Committee is understood
to have urged the Commerce Depart
ment TO delay further action until her
committee had an opportunity to con- 1
slider it.
No Opposition Expected.
No opposition is expected by Ran
dolph to develop in the committee or
in other important sources. II feel"
he said, 'it will only be matter of
few years until one air field will be
wholly inadequate to handle the in
creased air traffic in Washington.
The four commercial lines here
have 81 planes landing and taking off
each day now, which means that every
"a hours some 500 passengers are
either taking off or landing in Wash
ington. A tragedy at the Nations
Capital in aviation, which is liable to
occur at any time, would certainly be
black eye to Federal as well as local
aviation officials.
THE national administration,
through w. P. A. and p. w. A., is now
carrying out a large scale airport con-
struction and improvement program
throughout the United States and 1t
is inconceivable that Washington is
to lag behind the other cities"
Representative Nichols, Democrat,
of Oklahoma, who, like Randolph, has
taken an active part in the fight for
an airport, favors the Commerce De-
partment plan. He is member of the
District Committee.
"If any Government department
takes the initiative of getting money
for one or more District airports,"
Nichols declared, "it will be doing the
Nation as well as the National Capital
great favor. The District is In dire