Evening star., 1939-04-30
e. A. A. Crippled
In Vast Program by
Lack Of Funds
Further Retrenchment
Seen as Blocking
Defense Moves
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
In the face of campaigns by for
eign powers to gain military suprem-
acy in the air and to dominate the
worlds aerial trade routes, the new
Civil Aeronautics Authority is con-
fronted with the prospect Of being
virtually crippled during the next
two months for lack of funds.
AS a result of congressional &C
ton in slashing more than $500,000
from deficiency appropriations nee
essary to keep the authority going
until the beginning of the 1910 fiscal
year on July /, the c. A. A. will be
able to do nothing more than keep
Its organization together during the
next two months.
Denied even the funds to keep
their inadequate fleet of inspection
airplanes in operation, c. A. A. in
spectors, facing the burden of con-
stantly increasing demands from
American aviation, may not even be
able to keep abreast of the work
necessary for continued safety of
civil aviation operations during the
next two months, 1t is feared.
Safety Service Suffers.
Drastic curtailment of all travel
including that of field inspectors of
the authority engaged in the inspec-
ton of aircraft and pilots in con-
nection with the enforcement of
safety regulations, and of field in
Vocfiro Nf hA Cofo ~L
engaged in the investigation of acci-
dents. has been ordered already for
lack of funds.
Although it is facing congress
sional mandate to undertake the
training of $4,000 civilian pilots in
a the Nations colleges and univer-
sites next fall and to expand the
countrys system of air navigation
aids and aeronautical facilities, the
c. A. A., under the drastically re-
duced program for the next two
months, will not even be able to
keep up with current work, already
far behind schedule in some re-
spects. it is said.
Although the c. A. A. is charged
Will lllSI CdolllS tIlC safety VI AIIltIl-
can aviation, its inspectors, charged
with the enforcement of safety regu-
) lations. are themselves forced to re-
sort to dangerous practices which
they would not permit on the part
of civil pilots.
The Civil Aeronautics Authority,
created by Congress last August,
never has received an appropriation
from Congress. It took over unex-
pended balances of funds from the
former Bureau of Air Commerce and
the airmail division of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which it abb
sorbed.
The authority, however, was un-
der mandate from Congress to set up
new and greatly enlarged organi-
zation, including a new Air Safety
Board, and to take over vastly in
creased duties. 1t has been forced
to rent office space in number of
Washington buildings to meet its
increased requirements and work in
the field has expanded similarly.
On the basis of its most urgent
. needs to keep pace with the growing
demands upon it, and on the basis
of its pay roll up to January 1, the
authority estimated that a supple
mental appropriation of s1,8O00O0
would be required to keep it going
until July /. it is understood.
Cut by Budget Bureau.
This was reduced to $1,600000 by
the Budget Bureau, with the ap-
proval Of President Roosevelt. The
House, however, reduced the amount,
In the second deficiency appropria-
ton bill, to $1,086,0OO, providing that
. OF this amount $4,000 should be
made available for purchase of air
planes for the Air Safety Board.
This left s1,OOO,00O instead of the
Sl,800,000 which had been regarded
as an irreducable minimum.
Civil Aeronautics Authority Off
ters estimated that this amount
would not only make necessary the
elimination or drastic reduction of
all expenditures except for pay pur-
poses, but would leave a deficit of
$146,000, which could be absorbed
only by discharging employees. The
alternative was to require all men,
bers Of it's staff to work two-thirds
Of a month without pays
The Senate responded to the
emergency by restoring the $780,
900 amount of the budget estimate.
The House, in conference, refused
to agree to the added amount and
finally the conferees compromised
on S1,186,195. which was approved
by the Senate and House. Carry
ing this total, the bill now is pend
ing before President Roosevelt for
signature
There now are 178 vacancies in
the Civil Aeronautics Authoritys
personnel setup. These employees
are regarded as indispensable to the
carrying out Of the authority's duties
as required by law They are ur-
gently needed to handle accumu-
lated work in the enforcement of
safety regulations and the investi-
cation of accidents and other basic
duties, officials of the authority have
stated. They also are needed If the
authority is to continue progress on
Federal airways for which funds are
available.
None Of these 178 vacancies can
be filled, however, at least until
July /.