Evening star., 1949-03-06

against an aggregation OF compar
far and wide without benefit OF Fe
is forcing an early decision on the
Civil Aeronautics Board.
Fur and feathers have flown so
long, and so much is at stake. that
somebody is bound to get hurt no
matter which way the board
turns. The public interest. OF
course, will be the controlling
factor. But where does it lie?
There are long-range problems OF
national security involved as well
as those of the average man who
wants to travel safely, swiftly and
within reach of his pocketbook.
Thirty-two scheduled airlines,
in recent newspaper advertise
ments, questioned the legality OF
scheduled passenger opera
tions and made a special point OF
safety. The opposition replied
with press conferences and a re-
quest to Attorney General Clark
that he investigate the action OF
the airlines, described as a con
spiracy" in restraint Of trade.
Members of the CAB have been
requested to discuss the situation
in the next few days with the
Aviation Subcommittee Of the
House. Some congressional action
may be in prospect in view Of the
fact that strict Interpretation of
the law, as it now stands, un-
doubtedly would put the biggest
non-scheduled lines out of busi-
ness.
Cut Rates Popular
It is difficult for the average
citizen, a firm believer in free
competition, enterprise and the
rights of private capital, to un-
derstand why cut-rate operators
should be outlawed, especially If
they can carry him safely and
at a profit to themselves with
out additional cost to the taxpay-
ers. To Miami for $50. for ex-
ample, plus the Is per cent tax, or
to Los Angeles for 500.
It's coach" service, of course
no extra frills, speeds, free meals
or stewardesses. Yet the larger
non-scheduled operators ran up
total of some 500 million passen-
ger miles last year. according to
spokesmen for the group. and the
demand is still rising.
They insist their safety record
in the absence of comparative fig
ures. is at least as good as that
of the scheduled airlines.
Violation Charged
There is no disputing the fac,
that the CAB has frightened safety
regulations for non scheduled pas
senger carriers several times since
the operators began to take tn
field in large numbers soon afte,
the close of the last war. Fedora
experts say the safety regulations
are now approximately as stric
in both categories, although en-
forcement is more difficult in thu
case of some smaller operators.
The regular lines contend thai
while they are required, in tht
public interest, to serve many
cities and communities along theil
routes, their non-scheduled compe'
tition skins off the cream" with
flights between big population
centers. They insist the irregu.
lars are, as a matter Of fact, fly.
ing regular schedules in violation
of the law.
Much of the controversy cen.
ters about an Interpretation o.
the regularity" provision in tht
act. Non-scheduled operators art
banned by law from maintaining
regularity or semblance of regu.
larity between certain points. Tht
CAB, which, called a hearing or
che non-scheduled regulations las
month, is known to take the view
that too many operators are vio'
lating this provision.
Seven Carriers Helped
The provision was written int
the law to protect regulated com
petition between scheduled pas
senger and mail carriers flyins
routes laid out in the public in
terest. The routes are maintained
both for economic and nationa
security needs. Only a few day
ago the CAB, in order to foster (
healthy airline industry, wa
forced to bail out" seven regula
carriers with some $8,O00,000 il
additional mail payments. Mos
of the payments were for losse