Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-05
Schafer Criticizes
Lack Of Camouf|age
Al GraveIIy Point
Tober Proposes District
Share in Upkeep Of
New National Airport

Disclosing that the United States
has made no provisions for under
ground, camouflaged or hidden
Hangers or runways at any airport
lin the United States. including the
new Washington National Airport
at Gravelly Point. Representative
Schafef, Republican, of Wisconsin
today warned that such vital lack
of protection constituted danger
Gus weakness in national defense.
He quoted a pilot, recently re-
turned from flying in Europe, to the
effect that An airport without some
underground camouf1aged or hidden
runways would be about as worth
less in time of war las an old Civil
War muzzle- loading gun"
Representative Taber, Republican,
of New York proposed on the floor
of the House yesterday that the Dis
trict of Columbia should have an
opportunity" to pay at least part of
the expense of Gravelly Point Air
port. Representative Nichols Dem
ocrat, of Oklahoma agreed with him.
Official disclosure that the United
States has no camouflaged or I'M
foreground hangers or runways. Mr.
Schafer said came from Secretary
,>of the Navy Knox.
Secretary Knox Replies.
In response to an inquiry from
Mr., Schafer, the Navy Secretary
wrote that the Gravelly Airport
project did not come under the cog
nizance of the Navy
1T is known definitely, however"
Secretary Knox said in his letter.
that there is no such provision for
the Gravelly Point development, or,
in fact, for any known airport
project sponsored by the Depart
nent of Commerce or other govern
mental agencies.
Apart from financial considera-
ton" the Secretary continued, 1.-The
form of protection suggested would
adversely affect. to serious degree,
the fexibility and efficiency of air.
craft operation
Secretary Knox further declared
that studies clearly indicate that
the costs OF the installation to which
you refer are so excessive and con-
struction so me-consuming as to
preclude an orderly and expeditions
completion of the shore development
features of the planned program of
aviation expansion"
Mr.. Taber Is Questioned.
Mr.. Schafer asked Mr.. Taber, min
ority member of the Appropriations
Committee handling deficiency ap-
preparations, whether construction
and improvement of airports by
large appropriations would be for
national defense, or whether they
would be only political pork barrel
-airports? Will they have hidden,
underground or camouhaged run
WAYS and hangars?"
We can only hope" replied Mr.
'Taber, that the airports will not
be political footballs. The second
matter has not been gone into by
our committee. The question was
not raised until after the bill was
reported OUT ... asr'
Mr.. Taber explained why he thinks
Washington should st least help
maintain the airport.
He said that an item of s255 $50
in the deficiency bill was for
t,naintenanee Of the Graveuy POINT
project at expense of the United
States.
IF your town or my town has an
airport" he said, I'VE pay for the
land, we pay generally for a very
considerable part of the construc-
ton OF the airport and We pay for
the maintenance of the airport.
Notice Is Served.
THE Washington Airport cost
S140O0000 under the direction of
the Civil Aeronautics Authority. the
w P. A and the p W. A-three
times what the investigating COM
mittee of the District of Columbia
thought should be spent for the air.
port at this particular site two
years ago. Every dollar OF it has
come out of the Federal Govern
ment and now 1t is proposed that
1855 900 be provided for the main
tenance and operation of this air.