Evening star., 1936-02-29
DELAY IN SIGNING.
AIRPORT ROAD BILL.
WORRIES AIR LINES.
Conferees Draft Compro-
mise for Commission to
Determine Site.
MUD FORCES PLANES
TO USE BOILING FIELD
Traffic Problem on Military Road
Still Acute-Authority of 8.
Man Committee in Dispute.
BY J. s. EDGERTON.

BY J. S. EDGERTON.
While congressional conferees went
to work today on the draft OF the
new bill authorized yesterday to break
the long deadlock over local airport
legislation, local aviation officials were
expressing concern over the delay
Of President Roosevelt in signing tn,
bill passed by Congress February %,
providing for Federal traffic control
on the Military road crossing at Wash
ington Airport.
The Military road bill, passed as an
emergency measure to end traffic
hazards which for a time threatened
to result in closing of the airport,
has been before the President seven
days awaiting signature.
In the meantime, airport officials
are continuing their attempts to con.
troll traffic by means of the traffic
lights and guards which have been
banded as illegal by the War Depart
ment. The fact that the guards possess
no police power and that motorists as
a result occasionally ignore lights and
guards is held partially responsible
for the closing of air transport opera
tions out of Washington Airport since
Thursday afternoon.
Take-Off Problem Hazardous.
The airport has been so muddy that
planes have begged down. It has
been futile for them to attempt to
take of without rolling across Mill
tary road and, until ironclad control
of motor vehicle traffic across the rum
way is guaranteed, the take-of prob
lem is regarded as exceedingly hazard
GUS. Thursday afternoon thawing Of
the airport landing area progressed
to such point that an Eastern Air
Lines plane became mired and was
unable to get off the ground even
without passengers.
Yesterday all operations of three
of the four airlines operating out of
Washington were moved to Boiling
Field, except local schedules between
Washington and New York, which
were Cancelled. It was doubtful
whether full operations would be re-
sumed at Washington Airport today.
Airport officials said that because Of
the Military road situation and the
uncertainty of the airport situation
here, they have been unable to con-
struct the paved runways found at
most large air terminals.
Senate and House conferees today
are awaiting the draft now being
prepared by legislative counsel of a
new bill, which will embody the plan
agreed upon unanimously at yester-
days conference meeting. The bill
provides for a commission of nine
members, three from the Senate, three
from the House and three to be
appointed by the President to select
a permanent airport site for Washing
ton. The commission also must decide
whether the airport is to be Federal
project, constructed and maintained
by the United States. Whether it is
to be a local air terminal to be paid
for by the District, or whether 1t Is
to combine local and national fea-
lures.
= There was speculation today over
the extent of the commissions powers.
Senator King, of Utah, chairman Of
the Senate District Committee. an
nouncing the conference agreement,
said the commission would be in
structed to report back to Congress
as soon as possible" This was taken
as an indication that Congress ILL
tended to reserve to itself the final
decision as to the site.
100000 Authorization in Bill.
Senator King, however, announced
that the bill was to coatain an
authorization for an appropriation of
$100, 900, $4,000 of which would be
available for taking up of options on
the site, or for preliminary purchase
of land. This would indicate that
the commission is to be free not only
to exercise final decision on the site.
but also to initiate the purchase of
property.
This apparent conflict. it was indi-
Gated, would be cleared up in the
drafting Of the till OF in its con-
sideration, probably early next week,
by the Senate and House Coi1ferees
before it is reported to the two
houses of Congress.
Another point so far not cleared
up is the source Of the 100000 to be
authorized in the biz. The conferees
made no decision whether the funds
would come from Federal or from Dis
trict revenues, or po3h. 1t was be-
lieved in some quarters however, that
it was intended the Federal Govern
ment would shoulder the COST. pend
ing a decision by the commission as
to whether the proposed airport will
be Federal or local in character.
Washington Airport ofncials said
today that until the Military road
bill Is signed by the President they
can do nothing about establishing
more rigid form If traffic control or
about surfacing of runways to over
come the muddy coi,dition Of the field,
which twice this month has forced
q transfer Of airline operations to
Boiling Field. N...
The bill now pending before the
President authorizes control Of traffic
under supervision If the Department
of Commerce and prescribes heavy
penalties for violation of whatever
traffic rules may be put into effect.
SOAP MAKERS JOIN SUIT
200 Seek to Prevent Payment OF
sec, 600, 900 to Philippines.