Evening star., 1938-03-31
D. c. AIRPORT BILL
ACTION HOPEDF0R
Lanham Expects One More
Group to Be Heard,
Then Inspection.

I1Opt Illdt tIle Rouse fuDllC Build
ings and Grounds Committee can
reach some decision on the airport
issue here without a great deal more
delay was expressed today by Repre-
sentative Lanham, Democrat, of
Texas, chairman of the committee,
after another hearing on the proposal
to establish the airport at Suitland,
Md. had been marked by criticism of
Navy opposition to that site.
Mr.. Lanhau1, before whose commit
tee there are two bills-one for
Gravelly Point and the other Suit
land-said one more group wanted to
be heard and that the hearings then
would be printed. The committee.
after that, plans . personal tour of
inspection OF several sites under con-
sideration before getting down to the
preparation of a report for the House.
Chairman Lanham emphasized
that he was anxious to dispose Of the
question Of an airport for the Capital,
which has been hanging fire for years,
but he could not hazard a guess Of
legislation at this session because OF
the uncertain date of adjournment.
Navy Under Hot Fire.
Criticism of the Navy was voiced
by Representative Wood, Democrat.
Of Missouri, author of the Suitland
bill, who said Comdr. w. j. Rubel of
the Navy Department had enormously
informed the committee that the Suit
land site would be only AZ miles from
the naval radio station at Cheltenham
and would interfere with the reception
OF radio signals there. The actual dis
tance, he said, is 10 full miles by air
lines, which. he amplified, meets Navy
requirements.
If We are going to have that kind
OF activity from the Navy, what can
We expect in time of war" he asked,
adding caustically that If the Navy got
an SOS from distressed ship its cal
culations as to the position Of the
vessel probably would be out of line.
This is very serious matter in
my mind that might we'll be looked
into" he said.
Representative Stephan, Repub-
lican, of Nebraska remarked that the
Navy probably feared harmonics that
might interfere with weak signals.
He said he believed the committee
should ask the Navy for more tech
nical advice on this point. The Wood
bill would set up an airport commits
sion and authorize an expenditure Of
s3,000,000 for the port, and Represent
ative Wood said he believed that the
Government should condemn any land
that was chosen for the airport,
whether at Suitland or otherwise, to
make sure that it was not required
to pay more than fair value.
$1,400 an Acre Called Hold -Up."
This same argument was reiterated
by Representative Grove. Democrat,
of Indiana, who said that a price of
s1,40O an acre had been suggested
for the suitland property, and that
this figure would be "hold-up."
Mr.. Wood emphasized that his
only interest was in acquiring a suit
able site, and that he felt Suitland
met all the requirements. He pointed
out that the farther out in the coun-
try port was located the cheaper the
land itself might be, but that at the
same time any saving would be offset
by the handicaps that additional
transportation would impose.
This same point was brought out
by Albert L. Cox, a lawyer and Re-
serve officer, who said that the Suit
land site was only AZ miles from the
New House ONCE Building and that
it could be reached quicker from
Union Station than could the WASH
ington Airport. He said also that 1t
would possess strategic advantages in
time of war because of its distance
from the Government Airport at
Boiling Field. To put another field
in the Boiling Field area, he explained,
would simplify the attacking problem
Of enemy aircraft.
Distance Held In Favor.
He said also, in response to another
question, that Suitland was only half
the distance from the Capital as
Camp Springs, which was recon-
mended by q special commission for
an airport site.
Meanwhile the Senate Commerce
Committee filed report recommend
ing early passage of the Camp Springs
bill. This bill passed the Senate last
summer and is awaiting House action.
The Senate report was filed by
Chairman Copeland of the Commerce
Committee and referred to the District
problem - one phass q & general
diaAnaQlen g ~ eA11tE.