Evening star., 1940-05-14
McCarran Sees Test
NLegisIative Rights
Inc. A. A. Issue
Senator, Speaking in
Forum, Points to
Aeeneys Accomplishment

cussed President Roosevelt's proposal
to transfer the functions Of the Civil
Aeronautics Authority back to the
Commerce Department in an ad.
dress In the National Radio Forum
last night, on the eve Of q Senate
vote on the issue. Senator McCar-
ran was In charge of the Senate
legislation which created the G. A. A
His forum address, arranged by The
Star, was heard over q coast-to-coast
network Of the National Broadcast
ing Co.
The text follows:
The Senate is now debating an
issue Of transcendent Importance to
the welfare Of our country. Tomor-
row (Tuesday) 1t will vote on that
issue.
The issue is: Shall the Civil
Aeronautics Authority be preserved
as an Independent agency OF Gov
ernment, or shall the regulation and
development of the great civil avia-
tion industry be returned to the
mercies of the Commerce Depart
ment?
House Backs C. A. A.
The House already has acted on
this issue and overwhelmingly voted
to maintain the Civil AerQnautics
Authority as Congress created it.
There Is not State in the Union
from which editorials have not
poured forth during the last four
weeks since Reorganization Plan Nv
was first proposed, unanimously con-
demning the suggestion that the
regulation and development of civil
aviation be returned to an executive
department.
The airlines, and the airline pilots,
those brave boys who sit at the
controls OF the magnificent new
liners of the air, join in the acclaim
of the record which the Civil Aero
nautics Authority has made since 1t
was formed in 1888 and plead that
that record shall not be disturbed.
The thousands of miscellaneous
operators and the private flyers from
coast to coast have vigorously voiced
the demand that civil aviation be
left alone to develop as it has
been developing with such amazing
strides since the Civil Aeronautics
Authority was created.
Civil aviation Is daily becoming
q matter of more immediate and
intimate concern to every one of
us. Last year the airlines carried
more than 100000 passengers and
have by now become a regular and
accepted means of transportation,
used by men and women and their
children throughout this land.
Family Plane Coming.
And the day is rapidly approach
Ing when to the family automobile
will be added the family airplane.
Private flying is no longer a rich
mans hobby. Nor is its enjoyment
confined to a few rash young men.
OF all those thousands who today,
In their own airplanes or in rented
airplanes, go out for a spin in the
air exactly as the average family
takes an auto ride on Sunday after
noon, q recent survey shows that
the average income is only 81 100
q year and the average age is 80.
Thus, with millions using the air
lines regularly. and their number
Is growing week by week, and with
the small pleasure aircraft being
used by thousands more of mature
age and of humble station, any,
thing affecting the regulation and
development of civil aviation is OF
direct and vital concern to every
one of us.
Furthermore, as the President so
forcefully said in recent comment
upon the Civil Aeronautics Act and
the work of the Civil Aeronautics
Authority, civil aviation is the
backlog Of our national defense.
The Norwegian sun was ecnpsed
with the wings Of hundreds OF huge
aircraft transporting a conquering
horde to occupy with deadly swift
ness strategic points far in the in
terror. Across the tulip fields Of
Holland there fell the shadows of
hundreds of air transports bring
ing far behind the front lines lit
orally thousands of armed men to
strike to the very heart Of that
little nation.
Should Learn Lesson.
We in this country, secure today,
but with tomorrow uncertain, should
learn well the lesson Of these events.
Even as the President has said. we
should learn that the vast carrying
capacity of huge commercial air
liners, the skills acquired by thou
sands of young men in plotting air
craft, and the factories necessary to
construct civil aircraft, can and must
be put to the use of defense against
attack in kind. And only If through
sound and stable regulation and
development our great civil airliners
are increased In number, only If the
young men who have the skill to
fly and service civil aircraft multiply
year by year, and only If our civil
aircraft factories are kept con-
stantly expanding can the defense
this Nation so vitality needs be pro-
vided when the day of reckoning
may finally be upon us.
1t was after 20 years of bitter
experience and 80 different official
Investigations and hearings dealing
with civil aviation that Congress
created the Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority. The act setting up that
authority in 1888 was the product of
five years of the most intensive
drafting, consultation and consid-
Grafton of evidence. The act itself
was approved by six Of the great
executive departments and was
sought by the President.
The record made by the Civil
Aeronautics Authority has confirmed
In every detail the foresight of the
President in requesting the adop-
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