Evening star., 1940-05-14
Victory Forecast
For Administration IN.
E.. A. A. Vote Today
Reorganization Foes,
However, Prophesy
Defect by 3 BoIIots
by ]. A. OIEARY.

by j. A. OTEARY.
Administration leaders predicted
. margin Of several votes to put
through President Roosevelt's re-
organization Of the Civil Aeronautics
Authority, as the Senate approached
. ANAL vote on the issue this after
noon.
Opponents Of the plan had not
given up hope as the last few hours
OF debate began. On the contrary
some Of them insisted the roll call
would result in adoption Of the Nc
CArran resolution to stop the re-
vamping program by at least three
votes.
Impartial observers, however, gave
the administration q slight edge in
an admittedly close contest. Since
the House already has rejected the
plan, the Senate vote either will kill
the order or put 1t into effect.
Under an agreement reached yes
terday the vote will be taken not
later than 1 o'clock.
Stirs Wide Controversy.
Known as reorganization plan No.
I, the order has provoked widespread
controversy because of its pro-
visions abolishing the Air Safety
Board, transferring its accident in
vestigation work to the Civil
Aeronautics Authority and then
placing the authority in the Com
merce Department. Issuance of this
proposal was preceded by plan No. 3,
which made internal adjustments in
powers and duties as between the
one-man administrator and the five
man Civil Aeronautics Authority
Chairman Bailey of the Senate
Commerce Committee, who has dis
agreed with the President on a num-
ber of past occasions, took the floor
late yesterday to argue for adoption
Of his latest reorganization plan,
No. 4. although he criticized plan
No. 3.
Senator Bailey asserted that plan
No. 3, standing alone, would make
the administrator "a czar" over avi-
alton and told Senator McCarran,
Democrat, Of Nevada he would vote
against that plan If 1t were before
the Senate. The North Carolinian
contended, however, that, having
stripped the c. A. A. Of its powers
by No. 3, the President had to find
something for it to do, SO he trans
ferred the work Of the Air Safety
Board to it and placed the whole
setup under the Commerce Depart
ment for supervision. Senator
Bailey said he favored these addi-
tional changes, in view Of the OBJ
jections he had to plan No. 3.
Senator McCarran suggested that
II Senator Bailey would vote against
No. 3, he had every reason to oppose
No. 4 also.
Bailey Unconvinced.
Senator Bailey declined to follow
this reasoning, pointing out that no
serious tight is being waged to stop
No. 3, and that he could not afford
to take a chance on killing the pend
ing proposal. which he views as cor
recting the weaknesses Of the pre-
ceding order.
Does the Senator realize that II
No. 4 goes out, No. 3 would fall of
its own weight, that it would be in
operative and ineffective?" Senator
McCarren insisted.
Senator Bailey continued to dis
agree, declaring that plan No. 3,
which is not involved in today's
vote, could still be carried out, al
though he admitted 1t might not
work well. |
Senator Maloney. Democrat, of
Connecticut also spoke in defense Of
the Presidents plan yesterday, after
Senator McCarran had launched the
debate with a warning that the Eu-
ropean war has demonstrated the
need for independent control of
aviation in any country.
Senator Maloney termed it unfair
to use the recent record of no fatali-
ties on commercial air lines as an
argument against the reorganization
Of the governing agency.
Convinced BY Roosevelt's Points.
Senator Maloney said: :
"Just because there have been no
fatalities in commercial aviation
over this long period Of time, is, in
my opinion, no sufficient reason why
the proposed change should not be
put into effect. There might be, and
/ am ready to believe that there is,
q great need for the change, and
the reasons advanced by President
Roosevelt and supported by other
distinguished and expert authori-
ties. convince me that the plan is
sound and should be made effective"
Further on in his speech the
Connecticut Senator declared.
There Is at the moment a feeling
that these vehicles of the air may
become important defense weapons
IN our plans for national safety, and
the closer we bring the activities of
aviation to the head Of our Govern
nent the better, think, we will be