The Washington times., 1938-03-11
World of Aviation
New Air Authority Speeded to
Control Civil AerOnluticS
Nv WILLIAM CAMP

Hearings conClnueu Iooay III
the House Interstate and For
eign Commerce Committee on
bill which, if enacted, will revo-
lutionize the entire field of avi-
alton in America.
The bill, introduced by Repre-
sentative Clarence F. Lea Cd,
of California, would create a
new independent Government
body, known as the Civil Aero
nautics Authority, which would
exercise all of the functions OF
the United States relating to
the regulation of civil aeronau-
tics.
Features of the bill include:
/. Transferring of all powers
exercised by the Bureau OF Air
Commerce, Interstate Commerce
Commission and Post Office De
partment relating to commercial
aviation.
2. Set up an independent
authority with a five-man ad-
ministrative board at a salary OF
$4,000 per annum per member.
8. Set up a five-man air safety
board composed of one attorney
one expert on design and opera
tions, one expert on aircraft en-
gines, one expert on communl-
cation equipment. and one Ger
titled air pilot, each to receive
o salary of $500 per annum.
4. Cancellation of all existing
air mail contracts under certltl-
Gates of convenience and neces-
sity issued by the authority.
5. Regulation of rates, charges
and practices or airlines in for
eign and domestic commerce,
and
6. Exercise of executive func-
tionS, including those relating
to national defense and inter
national affairs, under the gen.
eral direction of the President
of the the United States.
The bill also revises the Air
Commerce Act of 1928 so as to
provide adequately for the regu-
lation of safety in both CONNER
cial and private flying.
Assistant General Counsel
Clinton M. Hester, testifying be-
fore the committee holding hear
tngs on the Lea bill, yesterday
tntimated the bill would bring
to an end rate wars. He declared
that 1t also would compel the
adherence to tariffs and the
disclosure of mergers and cross
interests and holding COM
panieS."
Speaking to reporters after
the hearing, Hester declared the
new board would take politics
out of aviation"
The committee today will
call Col. Edgar s. Gorrell, presi-
dent Of the Air Transport Asso-
citation of America.
Colonel yGorrell has declared
private airline companies plan
to spend a total of SIS, 900
in the next IL months on i'm
provements and that foreign
lines plan to spend another
$4,000, 900.
WaShingtonianS after April
will be able to fly to Norfolk,
and Virginia Beach with the in
Stallation of a new branch of
service by Pennsylvania Airlines.
One trip will be made daily
on the extended air mail route.
Other extensions planned by
Pennsylvania AirlineS are. SerV-
ices between Baltimore and Pitts
burgh on March a., and new
service between Pittsburgh and
Buffalo, N. Y, on March Is.
The air mail contract to Ber-
muda from Baltimore has been
awarded to Pan-American Air
ways. Mail will be carried on
clipper sci he dulles starting
March Is. -
Two trips each day, from
Pittsburgh to New York, have
been added to the services of
TWA. The airline likewise will
soon make stops at Boulder Dam
on westward flights.
Charles P. Graddick, super
intendent of the air mail Serv-
ice of the Post Office Depart
ment, leaves Washington today
for the West Coast to complete
plans for the observance of Air
run MARATHON RAG
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