Evening star., 1938-06-22
TH0R0UGHPR0BE
ON AIRPORT SITES
T0BE DEMANDED
Issue to Be Pressed on Two
Fronts Before Next
Session of Congress.
SMITH TO REINTRODUCE
GRAVELLY POINT BILL
Investigation Sponsor Proposes to
Look into Lobbying and Land
Sale Profits.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
The selection of site for what is
intended to be the worlds greatest
airport"-the perennial congressional
problem that was prolonged when
Congress recently rejected the Camp
Springs bill, demanded by President
Roosevelt, after spectacular fight
will be decidedly live issue in the
next session.
This was disclosed today by Repre-
sentative Byron Scott, Democrat. of
california, who led the successful
battle against the Camp Springs bill
with charges of inflated prices to be
paid on options for the Camp Springs
site, and by Representative Howard
w. Smith. Democrat, of Virginia,
sponsor of a bill for the Gravelly Point
site, previously urged on Congress by
the President.
Mr.. Scott declared emphatically
that he will press Immediately when
Congress reconvenes for action on his
joint resolution which provides for an
exhaustive investigation by Congress
OF the entire question of selecting a
proper airport for the National Cap
ital. His resolution is much broader
than was realized by many of his
colleagues in the closing rush, when
they followed his leadership to kill,
for the time being, the Camp Springs
bill, directly appropriating $4,000 900,
which had been passed by the Senate.
To Reintroduce Bill.
Mr.. Smith said he intends to re-
introduce his bill for location and
development of a model airport on
the Gravelly Point site. regarding
which the President sent special
message to Congress Spokesman
quoting the President in the effort to
put through the Camp Springs bill
declared that he had by no means
abandoned the Gravelly Point site
but looked to that as gradual de-
velopment proposition, which would
provide the Capital with a nearby
airport, auxiliary to the much larger
sirport to be developed at Camp
Springs.
The House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, which in the
course Of hearings on the Gravelly
Point bill made study of all proposed
sites for airports near the Capital,
declined to support the Camp Springs
bill, even after Chairman Lanham
was called into conference at the
White House. and is prepared to 60
ahead with its study of other sites.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
sSn$ xryn0 %1A
Camp Springs bill and was successful
in having it passed by the Senate in
the first session of the Congress just
closed, has left Washington but is
coming back next week to hold con-
ferences with high Government off,
ctals in an effort to revive this measure
In the next session.
But whatever other bills are pressed
for action in the next session, Mr.
Scott declares that he will demand
the investigation sought in his joint
resolution be made. He considers
that the Camp Springs bill is definitely
KILLED" and cannot be revived, but
before any site is selected for an
adequate airport for the Capital City,
1AC "441 AAAoAoI, 1AC oeA1ds Ol1 q CAAO1OoS11
study being made, which will avoid
any suggestion of Irregularities in
land prices and will assure the Capital
Of the best possible port.
His resolution will be somewhat re-
vamped, but it contemplates getting
the best advice of aeronautical en-
gineers and experienced pilots. The
NJ ho
composed of five Senators to be ap-
pointed by the Vice President and
five House members to be appointed
by the Speaker. This joint committee
would be left free to make the fullest
possible study of all matters relating
to a model airport for the Capital
City. including:
(a) Lobbying by private interests
q public officials.
Would Look Into Profits.
(b) The extent to which property
owners, real estate agents or others
would profit from establishment of
an airport.
(c) Assessed values of land, includ-
ing the property owned by the Navy
Department and property proposed for
inclusion in the projected Camp
Springs airport, together with prices
at which land has been sold in the
vicinity during the past two years.
Cd The ownership or control of
lands proposed to be acquired and the
identity of persons representing the
owners.
(e) The extent to which air opera
lions at the proposed airport would
interfere with the naval radio opera
tions.
O Instructions given any Federal
agency in connection with securing
options and the activities of such
agency in pursuance of those instruc-
tions.
(g) The views of the commercial
airlines and of commercial pilots flying
such lines with respect to the safety
and convenience of a large commercial
airport for the Capital City. He ex-
poets to enlarge his original resolution
20 as to get the best expert and prac-
tial advice regarding the location Of q
model airport to the Capital City, COW