The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-06-03

merce by the bureau of air COM
merce. This body now approves
some planes which could not, with
its approval, land at many airports.
So there is serious discussion of
an idea to regulate for two or three
years the size and design of GER
tain classes Of airplanes while the
airports catch UP to requirements.
Naturally this results IN loud
walls from the airplane manufac-
turers. Also from many operating
companies. The proposed action,
both say. would place them IN
strait-jacket, arrest their develop
ment, hold America back while the
rest Of the world marches on to
new efficiency in aviation.
So Fred Fagg. new director OF
the recognized bureau OF air COM
merce, discovers that his prede-
cessor, Gene Vida, did not have
such bed of roses.
Airport Needs
Most airports need longer rum
ways for heavy ships that fly faster
and at f1atter angles in the approach
and takeoff. They need hard sur
faces for increasing loads, especial
ly as all weather schedules increase
with better aids to fight. And equal
ly costly is the purchase OF addi-
tional land to clear obstacles around
the edges of the fields, and to pro-
vide radio beam approach lanes.
The American Municipal associa-
ton has taken up the cudgels IN
defense Of the 200 odd cities which
maintain established air route ter
minals, claiming the expense Tor
the needed Improvements is moi
justified, for the traffic is mostly
interstate commerce.
The operators not only resent the
proposed limitation on airplane de
sign, but state emphatically thai
they will not pay for airport i'm.
provements. Their mail income has
been cut, they point out, and then
passenger rates have been forcee
down.
So Uncle Sam is to be called or
to foot the bill, Secretary of the
| Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., t
| the contrary Notwithstanding. Al
ready two bills are in the hopes
providing for just that.
Already about $4,000, 900 h
come out OF the federal treasury
as a contribution to the country!
2,700 airports, through c. W. A.
| F. E. r. A., w. P A. and a littl'
through P. w. A. But that is onl,
fraction OF the investment by TIL
Individual cities, which the air Blu
reau calculates at nearly half
billion dollars. Halt a dozen cite
have spent more than 100000
each for their airports. Wherea
/ much OF the federal contribution
due to the fact that the chief goa
was job making, was very inefti
GENTLY expended.
President Wins
/ If President Roosevelt wins on hi
idea of having congress grant III
Chief Executive the right to cut fl
teen per cent from any appropris
tion--instead OF the ten per Ger
horizontal cut favored by many ser
ators-his hold on congress throug
the remainder of this session an
for the next year will not only b
continued, but strengthened.
The point is that the Presider
will then have the discretion
airy power to cut or pare appropr
atoms which vitality affect ever
state and every congressional di'
trict in the United States-in shor
to help or hurt every individui
senator and representative in tn
one argument each likes most
make-that he brings home tt
bacon" for his constituents.
This is vital in view OF the prob
bility that the President will SUITE
severe reverses in two OF his III
portant fghts-for Supreme cou
enlargement and for government r
organization.
The tide OF battle GIBBS and flow
on the court proposition. but it
almost certainty as this is write
that the President will not get Il
six additional justices he has asks
for, and which he has repeated
indicated he will insist upon.
J it looks now he will be lucky to 6
two additional justices. It is lu
possible he viii not get any.
This does not mean that his ma
objective will not be achieved, I
there is practically no doubt tn
the majority of the high court W
be liberal within year. But
: will be ''liberalized" in part by I
tirements. 1t will not be liberaliz
by enlargement to as many as
teen justices.
Would Mean Loss of Face
But the question Of president
prestige is something else again
the President does not get six adj