Evening star., 1937-07-18
i. s. BARS SOUGHT
ON STUNT FLIGHTS
House Move Begun Against
Federal Aid in Hunts for
Lost Flyers.

A move for legislation calculated
to discourage flights such as that of
Amelia Earhart, by prohibiting use
of Federal facilities in searching for
lost aviators engaged in non- Official
missions. was launched yesterday
among members Of the House Naval,
Military Affairs and Appropriations
Committees.
Representative Scott, Democrat, OF
California, member OF the Naval
Affairs Committee, sought information
from the Navy, Coast Guard and Bu-
reau OF Air Commerce as to the cost
OF the search for Miss Earhart and
the extent 10 which it may have in
terfered with normal duties in those
services
The Californian's move to obtain
this information was supported bv
Representative Faddis, Democrat, aof
Pennsylvania, member OF the Mill
tary Affairs Committee, and Repre-
sentative Collins, Democrat of Mis-
sissippi, Of the Appropriations Com
mittee. Scott explained that he de-
sired the information in preparation
for legislation to restrict EMPLOYMENT
of Government facilities in searching
for flyers.
Informal Reports" Asked.
In identical letters to Rear Admiral
Adolphus Andrews, chief OF the Bu-
reau OF Navigation, and Rear Admiral
Russell r. Waesche, commandant OF
the Coast Guard. Scott requested lin
formal reports detailing the activities
OF both services in connection with
the Earhart flight. Both, it is re-
called, stationed ships with radio and
fuel equipment at strategic points
along the route mapped out for the
flight across the Pacific and have
participated in the search which has
followed since the plane was lost in
the vicinity of HoWland Island. Ac-
cording to Faddis' estimate. this has
been costing the Government $780,
900 day.
To round out the picture BY dis
closing the Official status of the fight.
If any, Scott asked Fred Fagg. jr.,
director OF the Bureau OF Air Com
merce, to inform him "on what
grounds it granted permits for the
flight. In connection with all three
requests, Scott made it plain that if
the information is not furnished in
formally he would demand it through
a formal resolution.
When 1 receive the full and COM
plete reports" ne announced. Il shall
lay it before the Naval Affairs Com
mittee for legisla tive action to curb
future private and publicity flights"
Lines Being Drawn Tighter.
Air Commerce Officials. it is re-
called. have been drawing the lines
tightly against hazardous stunt"
flights in recent months. They refused
TO issue permits for starting the pro-
jected transatlantic race to Paris
from the United States in an effort
to halt that undertaking. At the time
they explained that the permits for
the Earhart round -the-world" at
tempt had been granted before adop-
ton OF the policy of discouraging
flights likely to retard commercial
aviation developments by shaking
public confidence in this means of
transportation.
Representative Collins. remarking
that the Navy was spending sl6o,ooo
each for patrol planes having 300
to 400 mile cruising radius, de-
scribed the Navy's part in the search
as more gloomy and disastrous"
than the miserable failure of the
Army in its ill-starred attempt to
maintain armail schedules after the
cancellation OF the previous admins
tration's contracts early in the New
Deal
While officials have estimated that
the operations in connection with the
Earhart search were costing $3.50. 900
day. they pointed out that much
OF that money would have been spent
in any event in the pursuit OF normal
activities.
(Copyrisht 1887. by the New York Herald
Tribune