Evening star., 1937-07-14
KING DRAFTS BILL
To MAKE j. s. BEAR
COST OF AIRPORT
hnposal Will Recommend
Model Development at
Camp Springs Site.
COST IS ESTIMATED
AT $3,286,250 TOTAL
Court Bill Debate Makes Date of
Introduction Uncertain,
He Says.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Construction OF governmental
airport TOR the District OF Column
hn has been blocked for II years
chiefly because OF controversies as
10 the relntire merits OF Washing
ton Airport and GrdDelly Point. APP
pointed II months ago. the District
Airport Commission has cut the
Gordinn knot by recommending a
sfte at Camp Springs, Md.
The Federal Government would pay
the entire cost of development of the
proposed model airport at Camp
Springs. Nd. under the terms OF q
bill now being drafted by Senator
King OF Utah. chairman of the Dis.
trict Airport Commission.
The bill will carry out in its pro-
visions the recommendation of the
commission. calling for the develop
ment OF l,900-acre airport site al
Camp Springs, 1912 miles southeast
Of the downtown Washington business
section, at an estimated cost of So
7s6250. This would include con-
struction of an express highway con-
Meeting the airport with the Ana
costa Bridge
Senator King said late yesterday
that he does not know when he vii
b. able to introduce the bill in the
Senate because of the restrictions
imposed upon ordinary business Of
the Senate by the Supreme Court
heht. He pointed out that under pres
ant conditions it is necessary to OBJ.
tAin unanimous consent of the Sen.
ate for even SO routine a matter a.
the introduction Of bill.
A Bill Also to Go to House.
King said that the measure woulc
Be whipped into shape as rapidly a!
possible, however, so that considera.
eion may be given it at the earlies
possible moment. Since the bill viii
Assess the cost against the Fedora
Government, the measure probabl,
will be referred to the Senate Com.
merce Committee rather than to the
District Committee The chairman
At the Commerce Committee is Sena-
Tar Copeland Of New York, a member
q the Airport Commission.
An Identical bill also is expected
10 be introduced in the House at
once. 1t probably will 90 to the House
Interstate Commerce Committee.
Decision to assess the entire cost
OF hA :.
expected to eliminate virtually all OF
Me hostility to the measure which
had been brewing locally, except for
come opposition on the ground that
the site Is too far out to be of value
b Washington as an air transport
terminal.
Since the King proposal would call
lbr development Of Federal airport
which would serve as national
model for air transport terminals
however, 1t is not expected this op-
position will be serious enough to
block action on the bill, it was be-
heved.
Opposes Making d. c. Pay.
10 any proposal to saddle even 4 part
m the cost OF development OF the
airport upon the District in view OF
the fact that the site is nearly miles
outside the District boundaries.
1t Ia regarded as probable, however
that when the bill comes up for COM
mittee consideration efforts will be
made by members of Congress to as
sess at least a part of the costs
against the District.
In the meantime airline pilots who
precipitated a crisis in the 1l-year-
old local airport fight last week with
their ultimatum that they will not
continue to operate big, high-speed
transport planes at Washington Air
port except under conditions which
make the 420O-foot main runway
available for use. are negotiating for
emergency facilities pending compile
zion OF a new airport or improve
nent OF safety factors at the old.
1t is believed that they will be per-
mitted to use the new Boiling Field
Under continuing emergency
status until the situation is worked
out. The Army In the past ha.
granted use Of It's new Army fielc
for this purpose. especially durins
flood periods. when Washington Air.
port was under water. The new fiele
probably will not be used by the Arm,
for regular flying operations for a
least another year because Of the lacl
q hangers and other technical build
lnex
David L. Behncke, president of tn,
National Air Line Pilots Association
Who delivered the pilots ultima tum
= 10 meet with Director Of Air Com
nsrce Fred D. Fagg. jr., at pm. to
Day. They were expected to discus
provision of temporary facilities pend
ing completion OF a permanent air
port for Washington.