Evening star., 1939-03-03
Residents Protest
Congressional
Airport Nuisance
Aviution Commission
Defends Issuance 4
Of License
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
Star Staf Correspondent,

ANNAPOLIS, Nd, March 3.-Re-
ports Of lost property values and
sleepless early mornings, accom-
panied by attacks on the Aviation
Commission of Maryland, were made
to the Aviation Committee of the
Maryland State Senate for more
than two hours last night by a
group of attorneys representing
property owners along the Rockville
Pike in the vicinity of the Con-
gressional Airport. The hearing,
which was attended by about a
dozen property owners, was on the
resolution offered by Senator Robert
Peter of Montgomery County, which
would provide for a senatorial in
vestigation of the Maryland Com
mission by the Aviation Committee,
particularly dealing with the grant
ing of license to that airport by
the Maryland body.
The hearing on the resolution
turned out to be the investigation.
Maj. G. A. Mason, secretary OF the
Maryland Aviation Commission, was
called upon by the committee to
present that body's side of the case.
The commission official was put
under a rather stiff cross-examina-
ton, both by members of the COM
mlttee and counsel for the property
owners, and the substance of his
testimony was to the effect that the
Congressional Airport was in exist
ence at the time the commission
came into being and they could not
avoid issuing the license.
Maj. Mason contended that the
airport was perfectly safe for flying
purposes and that if the flying
proved a nuisance to the property
owners. the commission had no
Jurisdiction over that phase, which
ne held was one for the courts.
Property owners already have
case pending against the air
port in the Circuit Court at
Rockville.
AT the conclusion of the hearin7,
chairman j. Wilmer Cronin of Har-
ford County indicated that there
would be no investigation of the
commission. He said that the COM
mlttee did not want to do anything
which might in any way hinder
aviation in the State, but would oe
glad to have suggestions for anv
amendments of the law which might
be needed and which might avoid
complaints such as had been regis
tered by the Rockville pike property
owners. He asked counsel for the
property owners and Maj. Mason
to file briefs with the committee be-
tore Thursday of next week, which
should contain suggestions for
changes in the law. He said that the
committee would give them con-
sideration.
In view of the fact that the coun.
sci for the property owners COM
planned that the airport was being
used as flying school, and that an
alleged nuisance was created through
the numerous flights of students
chairman Cronin suggested that
the law might be amended so as to
PROVIDE for separate licenses for a
landing field and for flying schools
Among those who protested against
the airport were Miss Vivian Simp-
son, representing Mrs. Philander
johnson, whose home is on Rockville
Pike. directly opposite the airport;
Judge Thomas M. Anderson of
Montgomery County Juvenile Court
representing Mrs Joseph H. Bradley
and Miss Mary P. Bradley, owners
OF property adjoining the field, and
Frederick M. Bradley, also represent
Ing Mrs. Bradley and Miss Bradley.