Evening star., 1940-11-28
S40,000,000 Airport
Program Is Expected.
To Be Launched Soon
Aefonoutics Authority
Reported Ready to Stort
Despite Adverse Ruling
BY JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.


Despite an adverse ruling by the
controller general on q request from
the Commerce Department. for
Army and Navy aid, the Civil
Aeronautics Authority is expected to
launch 100000 program Of
emergency airport construction,
necessary to military pilot training
and national defense, by December
Is, it was learned today.
Final plans for the program are
being prepared, and an interdepart-
mental board composed Of the Sec.
retaries Of War, Navy and Com
merce is expected to announce next
week list of all or part of the
$50 airports or sites to be included
in the program. !
Under the law the program is
restricted to airports or sites held
to be necessary for national de-
fense." 1t is anticipated, however,
that all of the construction projects
will be suitable for inclusion in a
long range airport program for the
development of civil aviation, which
is expected ultimately to cost $780,
600 900, exclusive of the cost of land
or buildings.
Ruling Denies Fund Transfer.
Despite the urgent need for con-
struction of new airports and i'm
provement of existing fields as
part of the national defense pro-
gram, the controller generals de-
cision, made public today, denies
the Commerce Department the
right to transfer funds to the War
and Navy Departments to speed up
even the most vitality needed air
port construction work.
Under the ruling the Commerce
Department must act as the con-
tracing agency and may call upon
the War and Navy Departments
only for services and advice In con-
nection with the preparation Of
plans and specifications, drafting Of
contract provisions and supervision
and inspection of construction work.
The ruling was made in response
to a request from Secretary Of
Commerce Jones for permission to
call upon the military services for
emergency assistance in connection
with the airport construction pro-
gram, already long delayed by Con-
gress' failure to enact authorize
tion and appropriation legislation.
Details Explained.
The Secretary of Commerce
pointed out that the Civil Aero
nautics Administration does not
have a construction department,
and that since a substantial part
of the work to be accomplished
under this program will be accom-
plished by contract, after advertis-
ing and securing of competitive bids.
it would be necessary for the Civil
Aeronautics Administration to es-
tablish q construction unit to pre-
pare plans and specifications, ad-
vertise and award contracts and to
actually supervise the work to be
accomplished under such contracts"
1t was pointed out the War and
Navy Departments ''are equipped to
accomplish this work for the Civil
Aeronautics Administration. provid-
ing that funds may be made avail
able to them under paragraph 601
of the Economy Act of June 80,
1882"
I'm view of the emergency nature
Of all defense activities" Secretary
Jones pointed out, lit would un-
doubtedly be more economical and
more expeditions for the War De-
partment, for example, to proceed
with the accomplishment of a con-
struction project of this nature,
when they have ali of the field
and other facilities necessary to
promptly proceed with the work,
than to require the Civil Aeronautics
Administration to establish dupli-
Gated engineering functions"
Quick Action Held Essential.
Mr.. Jones said that it is essential
that this work be gotten under
way Immediately in connection with
the national defense preparations.
In his ruling the controller gen.
eral held that the Federal Works
Agency might be called upon for
assistance in constructing airport
buildings to the extent that it might
be equipped for such work.
However" he said, mo such pro-
vision of law appears to have been
enacted authorizing such arrange
ments with the War Department
or the Navy Department"
He cited previous rulings applica-