Evening star., 1940-05-01
Aviation
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President. Mr.. Roosevelt explained
that he already receives annual re-
ports from about IS independent
Federal agencies and reduction OF
this burden was one of the motivat-
ing reasons behind the C.. A. A.
transfer.
Provision Quoted.
AS matter of fact, however, the
Civil Aeronautics Authority does
not and never has submitted it's re-
ports to the President
Section 206 of the Aeronautics Act
of 1888, creating the authority, pro-
vides that:
The authority shall make an an
nual report to the Congress, copies
of which shall be distributed as are
other reports transmitted to the
Congress. Such reports shall con-
tain, in addition to a report of the
work performed under this act, such
information and data collected by
the authority, the administrator
and the Air Safety Board as may
be considered of value in the de-
termination of questions connected
with the development and regula-
ton of civil aeronautics. together
with such recommendations as to
additional legislation relating there
to as the authority may deem neces-
sary. The authority may also trans
init recommendation as to such leg
lslation more frequently"
Pending in the Senate is a resolu-
ton sponsored by Senator McCar-
ran, Democrat, of Nevada rejecting
the transfer. Chairman Byrnes of
the Senate Committee on Reorgani-
zation indicated last night that he
would expedite consideration of the
McCarran measure.
Clark Defends C. A. A.
With many members of Congress
already on record as to their re-
action to the plan, the Associated
Press today quoted Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Idaho as terming Mr..
Roosevelts defense of yesterday
rather weak justification for dis
memberment of an agency which
has established such an incon-
teStibly fine record"
Senator Truman, Democrat. of
Missouri urged colleagues not to
permit proved success to become
a proved failure"
On the other hand, Senator Ad-
ans, Democrat, of Colorado said he
had obtained the impression that
"a little reorganization wouldn' t
hurt" the C. A. A. He explained,
however, that he was not sure the
Presidents proposal was the best
solution.
Behncke Denies Political Interest.
From Capt. David L. Behncke,
president of the Air Line Pilots As
ISOLATION, came an immediate re-
buttal to Mr.. Roosevelts ironic ref
erence to group of well-inten-
toned people stalking out an exclu-
sive claim to a so-called lobby ITO
save lives"
Heading a bloc of veteran pilots
now in Washington to oppose the
reorganization, Capt. Behncke said
The pilots are not in Washington
to enter into controversy with the
President or any one else They are
here in the interest of saving lives.
They are not schooled in politics.
They are schooled in flying and
know what is necessary to make air
transportation safe. They learned
about this the hard way. One hum
dred and forty-siX of their number
met death in air crashes while the
Department of Commerce had con-
troll of civil flying and air trans
portation. There were 100 fatal air.
line crashes, and 146 pilots, 279
passengers and 48 stewardesses and
other non-revenue ,passengers-a to-
tai of 473 persons-Were killed dur
ing this period. The pilots, the in
dustry and I am sure the air trav-
cling public do not want aviation
put back under control of the Gov
ernment department that made this
kind of record"
Disagreement Secuted.
Since last November, when Col
Sumpter Smith resigned to devote
his full time to Craftsmanship of the
engineering commission in charge
of building the Washington Nation.
al Airport, the Air Safety Board ha.
had only two members. The charge
that these two, Thomas O. Hardin
and c. B. Allen, have been in any
continuing disagreement was scout.
ed today by persons who have oh.
served the work of the board and
point to the fact that there has been
no evidence of a deadlock.
1t was recalled that when thu
| Bureau of Air Commerce WAS jr