Evening star., 1951-09-16
By ChorIes J. Yorbrouoh

anxious moments over the f1nan-
cial affairs of the spacious, new
airport.
Emphasizing solidarity of the
Maryland delegation on Capitol
Hill, Senator O'Conor is calling
a meeting of his colleagues pos
slbly sarly this week, marshalling
forces to get prompt action on
his demand for an Air Force eX-
PLANTATION,
Sore Spot-other than loss of
the big MATS terminal - is what
the Senator considers abrupt ac-
ton" by the Air Force without
discussing the situation with Bal
timore airport officials.
Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro. of
Baltimore, said he was shocked"
when Mr.. Finletter advised the
Senate Armed Services Committee
that the Air Force wanted to
change the provision in pending
bill appropriating $43 million to
build Port of Embarkation at
Friendship Airport.
Opposes Military Project.
II am opposed to any militariza-
tion OF our airport" said the May
Or but I want the Air Force here
if we can work out satisfactory
solution"
Mayor D'AleSandro said he
called Walter F. Perkins, chairman
of the City Airport Board after
learning of the Air Force decision
to bypass Baltimore. Mr.. Perkins
told him, Mayor D'Alesandro said.
that if the Air Force can't accept
restrictions proposed by the Board
then the board would rather not
have the Air Force at Friendship.
They never attempted to sit
down and work out satisfactory
plan,' Mr.. Perkins said.
Il can come to no other conclu-
sion than that they wanted to run
the operation to suit themselves.
The last word we had from
them was that as soon as the $43
million appropriation had been ap-
proved they would open official ne
gotiations. I think they could have
'called us when they changed their
minds"
Operations Restricted.
The Baltimore Aviation Board
had placed restrictions on mill
tary operations at Friendship, in
sisting that development of COM
mercial airline business be the
prime objective. 1t had requested
Air Force assurance that it would
operate MATS flights on schedules
as strict as those of commercial
lines and subject plane movements
to control of Friendships main
control tower
Obviously, Mr.. Finletter was re-
ferring to these restrictions when
he wrote that there were "un-.
acceptable operation conditions
which might be imposed on the
Air Force use of Friendship.
Apparently, Friendship had
been playing second fiddle to the
MCGUIRE site all along. The
spokesman in Secretary Finletter's
Office said the appropriation re-
quest covering the MATS project
at Friendship had to be in the
Air Forces public works bill in
time for Congressional action.
Appeared Only Solution.
At the time the request went
in, he said, no details had been
worked out and Friendship ap-
peared to be the only solution be-
cause necessary land at Fort Dix
did not appear to be available.
Meanwhile. the authorization
bill containing the SO million
project probably will be up for
final House action this week and
will go to the White House for
signature with the Friendship
proposal still in it.
Solution to the legislative prob
lem is simple. Chairman Vinson
of the House Armed Services Com |
mittee said the "Air Force simply
won't ask for the money"
Instead, he said, he expects toI
introduce a new authorization bill
containing the $50 million request
for the MATS project at MCGUIRE.
The Air Force said the extra ST
million would provide for 25-
year life" at the MCGUIRE MATS
terminal. whereas only 10 years
was planned for the unit under
the Friendship plan.
Burke Feels Impact.
Abandonment of the MATS
project for Baltimore does not af-
feet the $5,446, 900 appropriation
which the Air Force has for re-
search and development headquar-
ters at Friendship, Mr.. Vinson
said.
The change of plans had its
impact on the proposed new
Burke airport in nearby Fairfax
County as supplement to Wash
ington National.
Opponents of the Burke loca-
ton. principally the Burke Air
port Relocation Com tee ;,
grasped the change to buttress its
suggestions that Washington use
the Friendship airport as a sup
Elemental field.
CAA Administrator c. r. Horne
however, said the Air Force
change of plans likely will not
change our plans to locate at
Burke"
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