Evening star., 1941-09-20
Jurisdiction Conflict
Troubles Air Lines,
Trade Board Unit Told
Aviation Subcommittee
Given Dutu for Possible
Reversal of Stund

Inc 1urlSQlctlOnal cOn1llct between
the District and Virginia over the
new Washington National Airport
territory and the resulting taxation
problems have placed the air lines
serving the Capital in difficult po-
sition from the operating point of
view, Fred M. Glass of New York,
attorney for the American Air Lines,
declared yesterday. In addressing a
special committee of the Board Of
Trades Aviation Committee at a
luncheon meeting at the Harring-
ton Hotel, he urged that juriSdic-
ton of the area be placed definitely
either with the District or Virginia,
and predicted that legislation end
ing the present uncertainty would
be approved both by Congress and
the Virginia legislature
10 " Morgan, chairman of the
subcommittee, presided at the meet
ing, which was attended by about
20 persons, including William P
Mc0racken, jr., chairman of the
Aviation Committee, and several rep
resentatives of the air companies
using the Washington National Air
port. The meeting was called to dis
cuss a possible change in the posi-
ton taken by the Board of Trade
last year At that time, it went on
record as favoring legislation that
would place the Washington Ma
tional Airport area under the juris-
dictiOn of Virginia
Cites Conflicting" Taxes.
Mr.. Glass pointed out that the
lines serving the airport now face
IA conflicting" taxes. The most
serious of these. from the point OF
view of the air lines, are the gasoline
taxes. Virginia taxes are higher than
those in the District. The air lines
during the course of a year, will re-
quire 3,500,000 and 100000 gallons
of gasoline from the airport. he esti-
mated.
/ Conflict in jurisdiction presents
other problems, he continued. The
Virginia State law, for example
/ imposes certain regulations relat-
ing to the certification of pilots
over and above Federal requirements
With jurisdiction divided, some en-
ployes of the airport are subject tc
the District unemployment com
pensation rules, and others to those
of Virginia.
Studies made by the air lines in
dicate that it will cost Arlington
County $4,000 more each year tc
maintain police and fire protection
for the airport territory than it will
receive from tax and other revenues
Mr.. Glass told the meeting.
The Washington National Airport
was constructed by Federal funds
he said, adding that so far as the
air lines could ascertain no Virginia
| funds had been used in its conStruc-
ton. From the traffic point of view
he asserted, I'VE serve the Nations
Capital"
To Present Figures.
Chairman McCracken asked Mr.
Glass whether or not the airport
would be "self-supporting" if juris-
diction were placed in the District
Mr.. Glass said he would present to
the committee later the estimates OF
the air lines on costs and revenues
accruing to the District, If 1t OBJ
tanned jurisdiction over the entire
| area.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, and member of the
special subcommittee, urged strong
| ly that the Board of Trade reaffirm
the position taken last year in favor
of legislation placing the Washing
ton National Airport definitely un-
der control of Virginia. The terminal
building and portions of the airport
area clearly lie within the boun-
diaries of Virginia, he asserted The
Virginia Legislature would not ap-
prove of a recession of land to place
/ jurisdiction of the territory in the
District. he said If the District as
sumed responsibility, it would be
saddled with many expenses, he de-
| clared.
Chairman Morgan announced that
he would call another meeting of
the subcommittee in the near future
to continue the discussions on air.
port jurisdiction.