The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-13
Crossed Lines

Crossed Lines
A difficult situation is created by the
action of the Chamber of Commerce
Aviation committee in it's endorsement
of State Airline's petition to the CAB
to reconsider the certificate Tentatively
awarded to Piedmont Aviation Corpora
ton to operate commercial air service to
Wilmington.
1t is not that the committee should
have sided with State Airlines. The
committee is well within its rights when
it does so. But there is just complaint
that it should have taken this step,
and proposes to ask the city and county
governing bodies to follow in it's foot
steps, without first hearing what Pied
mont has to say for itself.
That is the procedure in legal mat
tiers. It is the procedure of federal
bureaus constitutionally established. 1t
is the method employed by the CAB,
which does not issue certificates to any
air line without hearing all applicants
desiring to provide identical or similar
service. 1t was the method of the CAB
in the present case.
Yet the committee took action with
out first hearing Piedmont's plans.
This is not typical of the committee,
composed as it is of leading Wilmington
business men not given to precipitate
decisions. The only way, apparently to
account for its action is that only four
members were present in person, the
balance of the votes endorsing States
proposal being represented by proxies.
Even Hamilton E. Hicks, the commit
tees chairman was absent.
The question naturally arises why
it was deemed necessary to put on such
a burst of speed, and solicit proxies
contrary to the customary procedure
of the Chamber of Commerce and it's
committees when, by waiting a short
time Mr.. Hicks and enough members
for a quoroum probably could have
been assembled in person to consider
the matter.
John H. Farrell, the city's industrial
agent, explained at the meeting that
Piedmont's president, Thomas Davis,
had failed to reply to a letter Mr.. Far
rell addressed to him on April 10. It is
assumed that for this reason Mr.. Far
rell considered Piedmont disinterested
in Wilmington and forthwith used his
influence and energy in behalf of State
Alrlines. But it develops that MI.
Davis has been in communication with
Henry Boyd, Jr., manager of Bluethen-
thai airport, and that Mr.. Boyd had
been in Winston-Salem to confer with
Mr.. Davis but a short time ago.
The Star holds no brief for Mr..
Davis and Piedmont. By the same
token, it is not opposed to Mr.. Gilbert,
States president of State or to States
efforts to give Wilmington air service.
But Mr.. Farrell's activities have placed
Wilmington under a handicap by Sc
curing the endorsement of this power
full Chamber of Commerce committee
for State when the Civil A%eronautics
Board has already tentatively granted
Piedmont a certificate and in all pro-
liability would confirm it's decision, if
it consented to review the two applica-
tons of the two lines.
In that case, what would Piedmont
think of Wilmington and what would
be its attiture toward establishing
base operational offices here?
Ordinarily corporations do not ex-
tend themselves in communities where
they believe they are not welcome.
1t is to be hoped that the City Coun-
Gil and the Board of County Commits
sioners maintain a completely neutral
position. Only by so doing can they
meet the present need.
Contrast In Claims