Evening star., 1941-07-07
AirportFunds
Banned in D. E.,
Smith Asserts
Their Use Proves
Site Is in Virginia,
A. B. G. Board Told
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON.

The new National Airport at
Gravelly Point was built with P. w.
A. funds specifically forbidden for
use in the District, and there is
mo question" that it is in Virginia,
Representative Smith, Democrat, of
Virginia today told the District AL
coholic Beverage Control Board.
Appearing in opposition to the
issuance by the District of license
for sale of liquor by the drink at
the airport, Mr.. Smith insisted the
board had no jurisdiction to issue
licenses in Virginia and warned that
State authorities would probably
prosecute anybody acting under a
license so issued.
He was supported by Thomas S.
Settle, secretary of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, and w. G. Hayward, civil
engineer for the National Park
Service, both of whom testified the
airport building is some 200 feet
inside Virginia, measuring from the
highwater mark of 1871.
ShOrellne Has Changed.
Under questioning from Mr.. Smith
and Chairman Thomas E. Lodge of
the A. B. C. Board, Mr.. Hayward,
who surveyed the Gravelly Point
location. said he never had seen any
map that placed the airport build
ing location in the District, although
1t was indicated that the shoreline
changed from time to time between
1871 and the present.
Former Corporation Counsel FL
wood H. Seal, representing Air
Terminal Services. Inc, told the
Liquor Board it was not the proper
agency to fix the Virginia District
boundary line. He added that the
board should be bound by the ruling
of Corporation Counsel Richmond
B. Keech of May 10 that the airport
is in the District.
Robert G. Thatch, vice president
OF Air Terminal Services, Inc, told
the board they were already Op-
Grating a coffee shop under verbal
permission from the District Health
Department pending issuance of
full restaurant license when the
necessary equipment is completely
installed. He added that a barber
shop license has already been
granted by District authorities Mr.
Thatch also said no State authorities
have approached him on the matter
of licenses and Mr.. Seal pointed out
that no State official was present at
the hearing.
Virginia Authorities Disturbed"
Representative Smith, however,
said Virginia authorities were dis
turbed" over the question of the
liquor license application. Under
Virginia law, hard liquor is sold
through State dispensaries but beer
and wine licenses may be issued.
Air Terminal Services Inc has a
l0-year contract for the operation
of the restaurant and barber shop
facilities in the terminal building,
with the Civil Aeronautics Authority,
which by act of Congress is the
agency responsible for the airport
In the name of the Government. The
position of the C. A. A. on the
question of the airport location was
represented to the liquor board as
follows:
l. The application for the liquor
license, dated June 10, and signed
by the administrator of the c. A.
A, gives the District as the air
port location.
2. In a letter to Representative
Smith dated July 5 and signed by
the acting administrator of the c.
A. A., the ban for District use of
the P. w. A. funds with which the
airport was constructed was recalled.
1t was stated that for accounting
purposes" the airport is in Virginia.
3. In the contract between the
corporation and the c. A. A. Ian
guage read by Mr.. Thatch to the
board describes the airport location
as partly in the District and partly
in Virginia.
ID. c. Ban Is In 1898 Act.
The ban on the use of the P w. A.
funds in the District was contained
in the 1888 act which appropriated
funds for Federal construction prof.
ects in the States and continental
United States outside Tire District
of Columbia From this fund,
$3.900.600 was allotted for con-
struction of the airport. This in
formation was contained in the let
ter from the acting administrator
of the c. A. A. to Representative
Smith. who introduced a copy of
the letter into the record.
you can't have it in Virginia for
one purpose" Representative Smith
said, land in the District for an
other"
Mr.. Seal urged it was not incon-
sistent to do so in this case, indi-
eating that the C. A. A. ruling was
arbitrary for the purpose of aliocat-
ing funds and did not determine
the boundary.
Mr.. Smith said he planned to
write a letter to the C. A. A. asking
an explanation of its ruling that the
airport was in Virginia for "ac-
counting purposes" and its apparent
approval of the District designation
in the license application.