Evening star., 1938-06-07
HOUSE REQUESTED
FOR SPECIAL RULE
ON AIRPORT BILL
Would Speed Authorization
of Camp. Springs Site
at This Session.
PROPOSAL is PUSHED
BY MAY AND NICHOLS
Navy Department Withdraws
Objections to Location for
Landing Field.

Chairman May of the House Military
Affairs Committee and Representative
Nichols, secretary Of the Congressional
Airport Commission, asked the House
Rules Committee today for a special
rule to bring up as emergency legisla-
ton the bill authorizing construction
Of a $3,286,000 airport at Camp
Springs, Md, approximately 10 miles
from Washington.
Chairman O'Connor said afterward,
however, that no action would be
taken on the request until Thursday
or Friday.
Mr.. May and Mr.. Nichols emphasized
that the President Is very desirous
that the measure be passed before
Congress adjourns, because the options
on the 2,500-acre site will expire on
June 1. These options with 20 own
ers, ranging from $35 to 5000 an acre,
were secured under direction of a com.
mittee composed of Frederic A. Delano.
chairman Of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission; Engineer
Commissioner Dan I. Sultan and Mai.
Gen. Oscar Westover, chief of the
Army Air Corps.
Chairman May told the committee
he was authorized to say that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had taken the matter
up with the Navy Department, which
has withdrawn its objection to the
site because 1t feared interference with
the sl,ooo,0o0 Navy receiving station
nearby. He said letter has been
drafted by the Navy Department, with
drawing its objections. and the Presi-
dent had said that funds were avail
able to take care Of replacement Of
the Navy wireless station.
Vinson No Longer Objects.
Mr.. May and Representative Nichols
both said that Chairman Vinson of
the Naval Affairs Committee had as
sured them he no longer objected to
the Camp Springs site.
Representative Nichols also told the
committee that the President, several
months ago. was apparently unalter-
ably opposed to the Camp Springs
site," but now, after close study, was
convinced 1t is the most desirable
among the 26 sites proposed.
Representative Nichols assured the
committee this will be the model air.
port OF the world, built entirely by
Government funds and controlled by
either the Department of Commerce.
or the new Civil Aeronautics Author
lty. Representative Smith, Democrat,
OF Virginia called the attention of the
committee, Of which he is a member,
to the fact that the President had
sent a message to Congress urging de-
velopment of the airport at Gravelly
Point. Chairman May said the Prea-
dent had assured him that dredging
work at Gravelly Point would be con-
tinued and that project would In no
sense be abandoned.
Languished in House.
The Camp Springs bill passed the
Senate in the closing hours of the last
session of Congress and has since Ian
guished on the House calendar while
the Public Buildings and Grounds
Committee Of the House surveyed other
potential airport sites. One of these
is in the vicinity of Suitland, Md.
Even If the House passes the Camp
Springs bill. it probably will have to
be returned to the Senate for concur
renee in changes that are expected to
be made at the request of Mr.. May.
Three proposed amendments are un-
der consideration. One would place
control and operation of the airport
under commission subordinate to
the new civil aeronautics authority.
Another would have profits from the
operation Of the airport credited to-
ward the annual Federal payment to
the District. The third would pro-
vide $250,000 for the Bureau of Stand
ards for the removal of laboratories it
has in vicinity of Camp Springs.
Another amendment also may be
proposed to pay the Navy Department
for removing the radio station at Chel-
tenham. 1t is estimated $4,000 would
be necessary for that purpose.