The Washington times., 1938-06-10
Who Wants Camp Springs!

Who Wants Camp Springs!
THRANTIC last-minute congressional efforts being
= made to force the Camp Springs Airport bill into
fact-and thereby to retard passenger-flight conven
ience in the Capital of the Nation.
1t would appear from a poll of the different air
transport companies whose planes and go in Wash
ington that this is battle of convenience for these con-
without thought for their potential passengers
in brief the old Public Be Damned" attitude of egsla
tors who listen to and influenced by heads of pub
lie utility systems, commentaries and the like
These air-transport companies won't out flat
footed and say that they want this doneor that done.
rA.,. Dofoo They talk of non-interference, OF re-
A"Lt"eS heI"Se fusal to be quoted, of faith in the
40 De V"O'e" integrity and right-thinkng of Con-
gress and in other ways throw around apple-sauce in
thick, gooey sort of smoke-screen.
The facts of the matter are these:
One of the larger lines wants Camp Springs because
it is more convenient for their ships coming in from the
East The convenience of the public with ten-mle
haul to their take-off the from their landing
place doesn't whoop in hell The present Wash
ingon airport is not adapted to the huge new luxury
liners the company is receiving from the Douglas Air
plane Company and the line not inclined to wait or let
the new ships lie idle while possible improvements are
granted and made elsewhere
The Pennsylvania and Eastern arlnes want the pres
ent airport and opposing the Camp Springs site
though they seem to be fighting losing battlebecause
they don't want to the city of Washington and so
add mileage and other costs to their haul
Now that the rail lines speeding up their trains to
and from New York with the time due to be shortened to
three hours for the trip certain airline officials look
askance the Camp Springs ste Is miles from the CEN
ter of Washington. They say they can't compete.
The Aeronautical Association does not want Camp
Springs Local trade and civic associations have def
initely opposed it. They looking for two factors IN
air transport speed and safety, and Camp Springs does
not meet these requirements.
Camp Springs has further defect in that it has no
facilities for landing seaplanes With the development
of transoceanic flying the seapane is playing more
and more important part in the world of aviation and
consequently plans for airport for the Capital must
include facilities for this most important phase of flying
Previous to the executive session of the House Rules
Committee yesterday which resulted in the decision to
try force the Camp Springs bill through today tomor
. row, Representative Fritz G. Lam
1'""'"": O''eI w.. ham 3D., Texas) chairman of the
"0peC'"V O''e0 House Committee on Public Build
ing and Grounds described that site "a good location
for air terminal"
With these words, delivered by alleged expert the
committee went into conference. When that over
Chairman John J. OConnor d.. New York; announced
that the Camp Springs bill would hit the floor
as possible.
Mr.. Lanham said the site good"
But in almost the breath Mr. Lanham, whose
committee has been aegedy doing the prospecting for
airport sites for Washingtonians who have not a
word to say the matter declares that he has not
pleted his inspection of sites.
Who has pushed the Rules Committee to its hurry-up
decision while the Camp Springs site is "hot"-and be-
fore the committee in charge of site inspection has
pleted its job?