The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-19

DAYBOOK
BY JACK

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-Answering the
mail orders:
w.. R., Kansas City, Mo.-There is a move
on in CONGRESS to investigate the recent plane
crashes. The resolution was introduced by
Rep. Carl n S h a w, California Republican,
who, commenting on his motion, said:
'It is not meant to be a fishing expedition
or a witch hunt; it is meant merely to find
out the truth and do the best thing we can
to improve and promote civil aeronautics."
So far as I can find out, there is no lndica-
ton anywhere that any official in Congress or
out is willing to group recent accidents under
one heading and place them at the door OF any
single cause. Even Mr.. Hinshaw, who intro
.duced the investigation resolution, stated clear
ly that the purpose of the investigating COM
mittee would be to discover the causes, not
to prove something already known.
1t is true, as you say, that the three acct
dents which have occurred since Aug. 81 Eat
Lovettsville, Va, Is dead, including Sen. Err
nest Lundeen; near Salt Lake City, 10 dead;
and at Chicago, IL dead) all have occurred
since abolition of the Air Safety Board and
that for nearly a year and a half before the
board was abolished there were no fatal acct
dents on commercial %airlines.
But no charge has been made, publicly or
privately, as far as I know, that the absence
of the board has anything to do with these
accidents. If you recall, it was written here
some time in the spring that the Department
of Commerce (of which the Civil Aeronautics
Authority now is a part) would be on the spot
the first time there was a serious accident.
T. L. T., Ponca City, Okla.-I believe the
first bill for reapportionment of congressman
under the 1910 census has already been filed.
1t is authored by Rep. 1ohn E.. Rankin 3D.
Miss.) and provides for increasing the size of
the House from 435 to $50 members.
Mr.. Rankin says that under his bill (calcu-
lated on the so-called method Of equal proper
tions), only Oklahoma and Kansas would lose
representatives Zone each), while California
would gain three, and one additional would be
allotted to each Of the following: Alabama,
Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michi-
gan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Wis
consin.
The way I figure it Counting California and
New York as usually Democratic in recent
years. that would mean a net gain of seven
Democrats under Mr.. Rankin's bill. That
should explain further why there is going to
be such a congressional fight over this propo-
sition of reapportionment.
M. M. j., Abilene, ~Tex.-Thank you for the
little calendar that spots dates and days of
the week clear back to l AID. and so far. in
the future. It's the first time in all these
years that I have known that l am one of
Saturdays children being born on that day,
and it's absolutely fascinating to figure out
that in the year 1000 Christmas and New
Years will fall on Monday and that on both
Christmas Eve and New Years Eve in WASH
ington, D. c., the saloons and liquor stores will
be closed all day unless Congress does
something about it in the meantime.
X. D., D~etroit-Opinion here is about 6O-4O
that President Roosevelt will appoint a chair
man or general co-ordinator of the national de-
tense program and soon. l