Evening star., 1937-07-31
Airport Fight Keener With
Demand Field Be Kept
Taxable Property.
HOUSE GROUP SEEKING
EMERGENCY COMPROMISE
Board of Trade Aviation Commit.
tee Drops Gravelly Point
to Support Proposals.

local air terminal,
While the House Military Affairs
Committee was preparing to amend
its emergency bill in an effort to
placate rival interests and yet pro-
duce workable plan for improving
safety standards at the airport. the
Arlington County Board went on
record in opposition to closing of
Military road or removal Of the air.
port from taxable properties of the
county.
The Washington Board of Trade
Aviation Committee yesterday after
noon voted to support the airport
IN its struggle to obtain from Con-
gress safety legislation, including the
closing of Military road and the use
OF adjoining Federally owned land to
increase the size of the airport.
After 4 prolonged discussion, the
committee agreed to shelve temporarily
Its 1o-year-old fight for a municipal
airport at Gravellv Point so that
unlf1ed support might be given to
the fight for emergency improve
nent Of Washington Airport. The
committee expressed the view that
the District is financially unable at
present to put any money into an
airport.
After conference yesterday after
noon between members of the Airing
ton County Board, county officials and
Representative Smith of Virginia, in
Smiths ofiice at the Capitol, it was
announced that the county was op-
posed to pending emergency legis-
lation for Washington Airport and
that Smith would fight such lesisla-
ton in Congress.
Oppose q. S. Development.
The board also voiced its opposition
70 the Federal Government taking
over the airport and developing it
m an e1ort to seek safety for air
transport passengers and crews. The
county, 1t was indicated, wants the
airport left In private hands so that
the county will not lose its tax in
come from the property, now the
largest single taxpayer in the county.
AL the same time, the county is op-
posed to the closing of Military road
TO improve safety conditions at the
airport unless the airport builds A
satisfactory substitute road, it was
pointed out.
Attending the conference were
William A. E. McShea, chairman of the
Arlington County Board; County Man
aeef Frank c. Hanrahan, County Enei-
heer G. L. Kinnier, and w. P. Ames,
+. FreelAnd Chew, Mrs. Elizabeth Ma
gruder and George Yeatman OF the
county board
The Aviation Committee of the
Board Of Trade. meeting in the Har
rington Hotel. adopted a resolution, in
which 1t was pointed out that recent
developments have again brought the
subject OF a suitable commercial air
port for the District of Columbia
before the citizens of Washington and
the Congress of the United States AS
an important issue" The board, it
was pointed out, has for many years
been advocating an adequate centrally
located municipal airport for the Dis
trict OF Columbia, worthy of the Ma
tion's Capital"
Meeting At the Harrington Hotel,
the Trade Boards Aviation Committee
adopted a resolution declaring:
1T is well-known fact that the
municipal finances at the present time
are in such precarious condition as
to make It not only improvident but
impossible for the District of Columbia
to allocate or obligate any municipal
funds during the present fiscal year
3or airport purposes"
Favor Auxiliary Airport.
The committee took the attitude
In its resolution that the Camp Springs,
Md, site or some other large but
equally remote site" would be yalu-
able "as an auxiliary airport suitable
also for emergency blind landings. =
but that such a site would not meet
the real needs of the District Of Co.
lumbia for an adequate central air
port"
1t was resolved that the committee
recommend TO the board of directors
that the Board Of Trade oppose ANY
and all measures that provide for ex-
penditures from municipal funds dur
ing the fiscal year 1888 to purchase
construct, improve, or maintain ar
airport"
Chairman Clarence A. Miller, in
opening the meeting, pointed out tina,
the May bill. providing for improve.
ment OF the Washington Airport situa-
ton, lis of great immediate impor.
tAnce TO us"
Solomon Blames Controversies.
Samuel j. Solomon. manager Of
Washington Airport, said Washington
would have had an adequate airport
long ago but for controversies among
local organizations. He pointed ou
that the only local airport project!
now before Congress are Camy
Springs and Washington Airport ane
that to inject any other issue woult
jeopArdi7e any chance for improve
1nent Of the existing situation.
He said that he is not satisfied Will
the May bill, rs amended. but believe
the Copeland bill, similar to the orig
tnal May bill, would solve the situa
tion. The amended May bill. requir
ing the airport to pay $25,0O0 dow
in return for q 25-year lease to g.
acres OF Military road property,
Impractical, he said.
1T is more than the road is wortl
and more than We can afford" h
said. We would have to borrow tn
money at S per cent and it would cos
LIS $4,000 in the end. Furthermore
this expense would not be justifie
unless We can get the lagoon area
The lagoon feature was left out of tn
bill on objection Of the National Capt
tai Park and Planning Commission
On m argument entirely withou
merit"
solomon pointed out that under tn
Ansnded May BILL the Secretary {
Agriculture " permitted to nx . rents
foe 1se Of the Arlington Farm are
and Indicated his belief that the II