Evening star., 1938-07-19

following manner. The act creates
an Authority composed of five men,
bers. In this body are vested all OF
the legislative functions prescribed in
the act, such as the issuance of GER
tiflcates CT convenience and necessity
and safety certificates, the fixing OF
rates, and the regulation of business
practices. The independence OF the
members OF the Authority in admin
istering these matters is protected by
providing that they may be removed
from ONCE by the President only for
ineficiency, neglect of duty, or mall
feasance in Office. The Authority is
required to report annually its work
to Congress and transmit recommen-
dations for necessary additional legis-
lation on such occasions, or more
frequently If necessary.
Provides for Administrator.
While thus protecting the exercise
of the legislative functions of the
Authority, the act also provides for
the appointment of an "administra-
tor of the Civil Aeronautics Authority
and in this officer, who is independent
of the members of the Authority, are
vested the executive functions. These
functions involve the construction,
operation, and maintenance of air.
ways and lights and other signals
along the airways and at airports,
the enforcement of the air traffic rules,
the conduct of development and plan
ming work, the promotion of air COM
merce and similar activities. The
constitutional responsibility of the
President for the faithful execution of
these executive functions is preserved
by placing no limitation upon the
power Of the President to remove the
administrator from office.
The constitutional principles which
I have discussed were not. however,
the only reason which led to the
adoption Of this method of organiza-
ton. 1t has frequently been stated
that one of the difficulties in the
practical operation of regulatory COM
missions is that the mass of incidental
detailed work of an administrative
character which such commissions
must perform tends to impair the
effectiveness Of the discharge of their
broader legislative functions. The
provisions of the Civil Aeronautics
Act creating the Office of admins
traitor are intended to furnish the
machinery whereby similar difficulties
will be avoided in the case of the
Aeronautics Authority.
could not conclude without voicing
a thought which is uppermoSt in my
mind. Aviation is moving fast into
a new era. The days of transforming
at county fairs in flying box crates
held together with baling wire are
over. Today. high competence, thor
ough planning, and businesslike ad-
mlnlStyation are the keyStones to
success in aviation as in every other
great industry. A large part of the
glamour and romance has gone out
OF flying and as romanticists we may
deplore this, but as practical persons
we know that dependable new mode
OF travel IS not permanently built on
romance. Aviation has survived the
excitement Of childhood, the fevers
OF adolescence. 1t has attained ma
ture years and with them it has ac-
qulred the undramatic responsibilities
that accompany maturity. Today our
alrllners traverse the United States
from east to west and from north to
South, span oceans. and carry on our
commerce with foreign countries,
transporting thousands OF passengers
and great quantities OF mail, express
and freight. 1t is no mere coincidence
that the enactment of the Civil Aero.
nautlcs Act should be contempora-
neous with the advent of this new
period in the history of American
aviation. The act goes into effect
late next month. On its effective
administration are rested the hopes
OF those interested in the future of
aviation for new era in the devel-
opment OF aviation l am confident
that those hopes will be fulfilled.