Evening star., 1938-01-25
GRAVELLY POINT
SITE TE|ND0RSEDBY
BOARD Of TRADE
Committee Findings Backed
at Annual "Press Night"
Gathering.
SIR WILLM0TT LEWIS
ADDRESSES Meeting
London Times Correspondent Says
Newspapers Voice Opinions
as Public Service.

l. Ile washington 0OdTQ OI lldQe
approved Gravelly Point
as the most suitable site for a local
airport at its annual press night
at the Mayflower Hotel last
night, addressed principally by Sir
Willmott Lewis, Washington CORE
spondent for the London Times.
The membership, which filled the
hotel ballroom, voted approval of the
proposed site after favorable report
was submitted by Clarence A. Miller,
chairman Of the trade body's Avia-
ton Committee. The board has IA
vored the Gravelly Point area over all
other proposed sites for the past II
years.
"The committee is determined
Gravelly Point is the proper site for
the city's commercial airport" Mr..
Miller declared. The type desired
for the Nations Capital cannot be
had at the Hoover Air
port site" He pointed out that sea-
planes could not be landed there, add
ing, but until such a time as the
Gravelly site is developed, We will con-
tinue to urge improvement of the
Observation-Disclosures field, including
elimination of Military road"
Proximity Held Essential.
Pointing out that business matters
would have a great deal to do with
use Of an airport, Mr.. Miller said "if
it takes more than 10 minutes to reach
the business district from an air field,
1t is too far away" Regarding other
proposed sites, more distant from the
city, the committee chairman ex-
pressed the opinion travellers want
to come into the city the front way
and not by the rear door"
Sir Willmott, in a well-received talk.
cited the press as the greatest prob
lem of modern democracy" AS a
public service the press seeks to make
its opinions heard" he said, but not
its will to prevail, the difference be-
tween democracy and bureaucracy"
He pointed to the curbing Of the press
in those foreign countries controlled
by dictatorial government.
Sir Willmott, who has followed a
journalistic career for more than 35
years, told the audience: you cannot
have a good press unless you have
good readers" Terming newspaper
work as curious form of human
activity" Sir Willmott said, Its in
finite, variety is its one consolation"
Meyer Cites "Other Side"
Speaking on Functions of Wash
ington Newspaper" Eugene Never,
publisher of the Post, said it was the
duty Of paper to guard the welfare
OF civic and business interests, make
good citizens and promote their health
and welfare" Citing the beauty of
Washington, Mr.. Meyer said it must
not be forgotten there is another
side" He pointed to the large amount
OF crime here, large number Of traffic
deaths, slum conditions, high rate of
child delinquency, inadequacy of
municipal hospitals, lack of the voting
privilege and representation, lack of
policemen and the inadequate relief
OF unemployed persons as part of the
"other side"
While waiting for a vote" Mr..
Meyer declared, 1.-The citizens of Wash
lngton should work for improvements.
He urged unification of effort by local
citizens to inform Congress OF the
city's desired needs. Il see no insur-
mountable problems" he stated.
Unanimous support of the Pres
ident's birthday celebrations to aid
infantile paralysis sufferers was urged
by E. F. Colladay. president Of the
board. who described himself as a
victim" of the dread disease.
Theodore w. Noyes, editor OF The
Star. whose father, Crosby S. Moves
was one of the founders of the Board
OF Trade, was unanimously elected an
honorary life member of the BODY.
Mr.. Noyes, in whose honor a testi-
monial dinner is being given on the
occasion OF his 80th birthday ami
versary tomorrow night, was highly
praised by Mr.. Colladay for his per-
sonal achievements on behalf of the
trade organization.
There are innumerable achieve
ments of the board that would not
have been made possible without Mr.
Noyes' help" Mr.. Colladay declared.
Pay Day Change Studied.
Robert J. Cottrell, executive secre-
tary Of the board, informed the mem
bers that proposal to pay Govern
ment employees weekly instead of semi
monthly had been referred to the
Committee on Industrial Interests for
study and asked consideration of the
matter by the individual membership.
Victor Sadd, manager of the WASH
ington field Office of the Social Sc
curlty Board, outlined the functions
of that agency. John S. Blocker, jr..
OF the Junior Board of Commerce
told of the "Children's Concerts for
Adults" which will be presented in a
series beginning February IA under
sponsorship Of the junior boards
Music Committee.