Evening star., 1937-09-15
FEDERAL AIRPORT
URGED BY ROPER
McCarran Declares Con.
gress Must Consider Its
Obligation to Capital.

The Federal Government should
provide an air terminal for Washing
ton, in the opinion of Secretary of
Commerce Roper. At the same time,
Senator McCarran, Democrat, of Ne
vada said on his sick bed in the Naval
Hospital that Congress must consider
its obligation to give the Capital the
greatest airport in the world.
Roper said that, although he be-
HeveS the local airport should be fed
orally owned, there are no funds or
authority at present for the Com
merce Department to establish such an
airport here
The Bureau of Air Commerce, un-
der the law, lacks even the authority
to promote any airport project for
Washington or to decide on the loca-
ton for an airport, Roper said.
Lack Funds for Work.
He pointed out that, although the
Bureau of Air Commerce has been
granted an appropriation of $70OO,-
600 for aeronautical construction dur
ing the current fiscal year, it is i'm
possible under the law to allocate any
Of this amount for local airport work.
ALLEGATION Of this amount for airways
improvement has been virtually COM
pleted, he said.
Roper also said he has no knowledge
OF any plan for ALLEGATION of Works
Progress Administration funds for
airport work in the District of Co.
lumbia.
Senator McCarran based his argu-
ment for a model airport here on
wide experience in flying to and from
Washington. He admitted that for
a long time he has been conscious of
the great hazard in taking off and
landing here.
I have not made up my mind as to
the best location among the various
sites suggested for the Capital airport"
the Nevada Senator said, 'but I am
absolutely certain on this point-that
wish and will work to give Washing
ton the best airport facilities"
During the last two years Senator
McCarran has identified himself with
aviation legislation from a national
viewpoint, but during his period of re-
cuperation in Naval Hospital he has
been considering more intensively the
District airport problem and its en-
tanglements.
Will Work for Airport.
He has definitely decided that in the
next session Of Congress he will focus
his efforts on getting for Washington
the best possible airport and, in the
meantime. he will endeavor to get
pledges Of cooperation from leaders
in both House and Senate toward that
end He has read carefully the argu-
ment OF those sponsoring the various
airport sites, but has not yet made I'D
his own mind as to which is best.
II any.
McCarran said he expects to visit all
OF the sites and to confer with experts
OF the War, Navy, Commerce and
Post Office Departments, as well as
with commercial aviation engineers
and flyers. Besides going into the
present needs OF the Capital, the Sem
ator is shrewdly looking toward the
future needs and probable develop
ments.
1T will not be long before aviation
advances far beyond the facilities now
onered by the fields now in use," he
pointed out. Transatlantic aviation
VIII become increasingly popular and
1t is inevitable that the Capital must
be prepared properly, adequately and
safely to accommodate that impor-
tant new air-trafic load"
Delay Must End.
Announcing that safety for the
rapidly increasing number of those
who will demand airport facilities in
Washington is his principle aim, the
Nevada Senator said:
The time has come for Congress
to stop delaying the building of an
adequate airport for the Capital.
There has already been too much de-
lay. Washington needs, merits and
should have the greatest airport in the
world and the site should be selected
now-and should be in every way COM
mensurate with prospective develop
ments In the field of air trafic. It is
the duty OF Congress promptly to pick
the site that should be developed into
the biggest, safest and best airport in
the world"