Evening star., 1950-08-18
Final Action Due
Next Week on
New Airport
Bill Passes Senate,
Rules Unit Authorizes
Hours House Debute

The proposed new $14 million
commercial airport for this vicin-
ity is nearing final congressional
action.
Legislation for construction Of
the field in the Washington Met
ropolitan Area is slated for con-
Sideration on the House floor next
week.
Granted a special rule yester-
day by the House Rules Commit
tee for a one-hour debate on the
floor, the Senate passed measure
now is ready for action. Sponsors
believe it will be passed.
The Rules Committee was told
yesterday that 40 per cent of pilot
training activities at Boiling Air
Force Base have been moved to
the Andrews base in nearby Prince
Georges County.
The transfer to remove as much
military traffic as possible from
the immediate area of National
Airport was begun last fall short
ly after a Bolivian pilot crashed
his fighter plane into an airliner
near the airport, killing all SIS
aboard the liner.
Only minor changes were made
in the Senate bill by the House
Commerce Committee, which has
strongly urged passage.
An amendment will be offered
on the floor, however, Representa-
tive Smith. Democrat, of Vir-
ginia predicted today, to require
that Civil Aeronautics Admins
tration officials confer with resi-
dents of any area selected for the
field.
Fairfax County Site Favored.
Mr.. Smith told the Rules Com
mittee yesterday it is no secret
that the site most favored is in
Fairfax County. He said he will
not attempt to block House pas
sage but will make an effort to
get his amendment approved on
the floor.
The Rules Committee gave
lengthy consideration to the bill
and to Representative Smiths
request.
Representative Beckwor
Democrat, of Texas, in reply to
Mr.. Smith, said that such a spe-
cif1c provision had never been in
cluded in any legislation regard.
ing selection of an airport site.
He further quoted from the
committee report showing that the
civil aeronauticS administrator,
D. w. Rentzel, already had con-
ferred with authorities In Virginia
and with people in the nearby
area. Furthermore. Mr.. Rented
promised to hold further confer
ences with residents affected. Mr..
Beckworth said.
Delay for Selection Opposed.
Chairman SABBATH of the Rules
Committee wanted to know
whether congressional action
could be postponed until the CAA
selected the site.
To this, Mr.. Smith objected. He
said that if such a procedure were
followed the cost of land in the
site selected would go up i'm
nediately.
At least five sites have been in
spected for the new field, Mr..
BeckWorth said. An airplane flight
over the area was made by the
8eckworth subcommittee with Mr..
Rented, but it was understood
hat a final decision had not been
cached.
Representative Harris, a mem
oer OF the House District Com
championed the new air.
bort as badly needed because of
congestion at Washington Ma.
,ional Airport.
Millions of Hours Wasted.
Air traffic had increased so
heavily at that field, he told the
committee, planes wasted a total
of 2,5 million flying hours last
year flying around as they waited
10 come down during bad weather
'equiring instrument landing.
President Truman had urged
,he legislation, Mr.. Harris said.
In answer to questions from
Rules Committee members as to
Why the military airfields of Boil
ing Air Force Base and Ana
costa Naval Air Station could
1ot be turned over to civilian use,
Mr.. Beckworth said military off,
,ials opposed such a transfer.