The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-07-08
BILLS TO
COORDINATE
US. AIR POWER
Program Before Congress
Calls For Army Train
ing of Mail Fliers

WASHINGTON, July s. (UP)
Congressional leaders u rg c
swift enactment of d triple-point
program designed to bolster the
nations military air defenSes
through increasing potential re-
serve officer strength, available
planes and safety devices.
The program was offered by
Chairman James NJ. Mead, d.,
n. Y, of the house postoffice
committee. after several inveSti-
cations over the past four years
growing out of alleged irregular
tiles in handling of air mail, fly
ing of the mail by army pilots,
and calculation of former air
mail contracts with private opera
tors by the postoffice department.
1--WE have all the data we need"
Mead said. "I have introduced a
series of bills that would carry
out the aims. Commercial COM
panies and government depart
ments look with favor upon them.
T intend TO press them to quick
action i'm Congress"
PILOT TRAINING URGED
One of the bills, it was learned,
would provide for two months an
nual training for $50 air mail
pilots at a special air base to be
selected by the war department
so they could be held in readiness
on the active reserve.
Mead said:
"Until now, / have rcfrained
purposely from urging this bills
For military rea-
sons, the war department did not
wish to speak about it publicly. l
do not believe it has any Objec-
tons to it and | intend to press 1t
for quick action"
Mead asserted that he had
conferred with scores of air mail
pilots about the extra training
and "vast preponderance" is IN
favor of it. He said that CONNER
cial air industries also favored 1t
as a step toward developing gen.
eral aviation.
PAY TO REMAIN SAFE
Under terms of the measure,
the pilots would be given a two
months leave of absence by en-
ployers, with the federal govern
ment making up the difference
between army and their regular
pay.
Mead has another measure
pending before his committee
which would authorize an initial
100000 appropriation next year
for the postoffice department to
experiment with stratosphere
flights, pickup service and feed
or" lines for air mail.
"This is purely experimental
and the amount can be increased
later" Maid said. "This bill
would permit also development OF
the latest type of scientific equip
ment. The advantage in safety
and speed for commercial purpos-
es, of course, woul d accrue to the
army in time of warfare"
Mead asserted that the present
air mail service embraces 800 OF
the fastest and most modern
planes available which could be
converted into bombers" by IN
stalling special racks if an emer-
gency defense situation arises.
WANTS COMMUNICATING
AUTHORITY
"All we would have to do is to
pass an act authorizing the com,
Wandering of these planes. and
within a few hours we would nave
if the whole program is adopted,
an almost impregnable air de-
fense," Maid said.
Mead pointed out that the hrst
stratosphere, high speed tests un-
der his bill would be made be-
tween New York and San Fran
cisco on irregular schedules. =,
They would be used for mail
purposes. Until their safety and
feasibility is proved, they would
carry no passengers, Mead ex-
planned.
Mead said that his proposal to
train air mail pilots would apply
only to domestic lnies, which
would not include Pan-American
Airways service to South America
he d.,