The Wilmington morning star., 1943-02-01
CONGRESSIONAL
'SU TIL LETIES'
The Inside On The Washington Scene
OF Interest To The CarOlinas
BY HOWARD SUTTLE
(The Star-News Washington Bureau)
AIRLINE FIGHT RENEWED

WASHNGTON.-Th long drawn-out fight by
contending air carriers to break an asserted
monopoly" which, some lines charge is held
by Eastern Airlines in the Southeast, has been
renewed, with indications that out of the con.
test will come commercial air service to Viii.
mington, even if it is, only for the present
diverted Eastern route between Raleigh and
Charleston.
Final briefs in the case have been submitted
to the Civil Aeronautics Board by counsel fol
interested air lines, and final arguments ir
the case are slated to be heard by the board
within the next three or four weeks.
| Also included in the record is brief filed
| by James NJ Werner and Richard S. Maurer
public counsel, suggesting that Wilmington be
made an intermediate point on Eastern's route
between Raleigh and Charleston, extending
this line about so miles,
Since the beginning of litigation about three
years ago, in which several lines are conpet
ing for franchises to serve extensions in the
Southeast and East, the fight has been bitter
The opposition to public counsePs suggestion
for diversion of an Eastern route to further
contribute to this lines virtually "exclusive''
Southeastern territory is certain to add to the
bitterness which has characterized the long
delay by the CAB in settling the controversy.
Public counsel is retained by the govern
ment to act in air carrier litigation sin the
peoples interest" Opposing counsel will
argue that the proposed diversion of an East
ern flight through Wilmington, as well as a
suggested rearrangement of schedules to pro-
vide for service by Eastern through Columbia,
with connections at Raleigh and Savannah is
contrary to the provisions of the Civil Aeronau-
tics act which specifies that competition be
fostered and encouraged.
Applicants. competing with Eastern in the
current litigation, in which hearings were held
more than a year ago. are Colonial AirWayS
Pennsylvania Central Airlines, National Air
lines and Seaboard Airlines All except Sea-
board including Eastern, contend they could
serve proposed extensions without the add-
ton of new planes. This matter will be a big
factor in CAB decision, since Uncle Sam
now considers fighting and bombing planes
more important than commercial passenger
aircraft.
Before the CAB decides the case, the peo-
pie of the Southeast coast will be heard,
through the Atlantic Coastal Cities Air Service
association, headed by Mayor Henry W. Lock
wood, of Charleston, IN opposition to public
counsePs proposal that Eastern be given Ii
cense to divert current flights to serve pro-
posed new extensions.
The ACCASA organized several years ago
to promote adequate" commercial air serv-
ice along the Atlantic coast apparently is fav-
orahle to Colonial, now operating between Mon
treal and New York City. The line seeks to
extend its service to Charleston, through At
lantic City, Norfolk Elizabeth City, New Bern,
Wilmington, Myrtle Beach and Georgetown,
and eventually to Nassau, in the British Ba-
hamaS.
Public counsel does not believe the passen-
ger and air mail potentials at Myrtle Beach,
Georgetown and New Bern are sufficient to
justify commercial air service, according to
the Verner-Maurer brief