Evening star., 1952-03-14
Strong Senate
Fight Seen on
Burke Funds
Friendship Bockers
Plan New Moves
For Maryland Field
By Harold B. Rogers


Senate to expected requests fol
restoration Of Burke Airport funds
stricken yesterday by the House
from an appropriation bill. The
measure now is before the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
In the House, Maryland Iegis-
lators plan two moves. The first
would speed completion of the
Washington Baltimore parkway to
cut travel time to Friendship. The
second concerned shifting surplus
air traffic from Washington to
Friendship.
Senator O'Conor, Democrat, OF
Maryland, announced his opposi-
ton to the project in q letter to
Chairman McCarran. of the Sen
ate Appropriations subcommittee
which will receive the expected re-
quest for the Burke fund restora-
ton.
Questions Use of Funds.
The Marylander charged the ex-
penditure of funds for Burke could
not be justified at this time, that
Friendship facilities were available
and that the Burke field would
cause terrific dislocation Of the
life of the Virginia area in ques-
ton"
Senator Butler. Republican, of
Maryland, announced he would
fight vigorously any restoration of
funds for Burke.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, Of Vir-
ginia, who already is on record
against the proposed airport. plans
strong opposition to the project,
q spokesman said today.
The future Of Burke apparently
was hanging In the balance.
Conference Would Get It.
# the Senate should restore
funds to the supply bill. the
measure would go to a House
Senate conference committee to
resolve the differences.
If the Senate should reject the
request for Burke funds, there
would be no more money available
to go forward with the project at
this time.
But, it was explained today by
q spokesman for the Civil Aero
nautics Administration that sub
stantial progress already has been
made toward acquisition Of the
entire site.
Title has been passed to the
Government for about 1000 acres,
including many homes, and all the
rest Of the land needed for the
4,000-acre project is under con-
demnation in the Federal Court
at Alexandria.
AS explained to the House dur
ing debate, the Government has
laid its hands" on the whole acre
age, which ties up all the land for
the time being.
What step the Government
would take next if Congress re-
fuses to appropriate more money
now would be up to the CAA
While no official pronouncement
could be made at this time, il
was predicted in circles on Capitol
Hill that the next logical thing fol-
CAA to do would be to come
back to the Congress next year
and ask for funds again.
Two Moves Planned.
On the House side Of the Capt.
tol. Representative Fallon, Demo-
crat. Of Maryland. a leader in the
fight to transfer traffic from
Washington to Friendship an
nounced he is taking two separate
legislative steps to help speed
completion of the Washington
Baltimore parkway. The steps, he
said, have the approval of the
Bureau Of Public Roads which il
handling construction of the park
way.
First. Mr.. Fallon said he ha.
called a meeting Tuesday of tn,
House Public Works Subcommitte,
on Roads, Of which he is chair.
man, to consider an increase il
the total authorization for tn,
parkway.
The committee will be asked tt
raise the original $13 million con
greSsional authorization for tn,
parkway to $14.5 million.
Secondly, Mr.. Fallon announced
he will appear before a House Ap'
preparation subcommittee request,
ing a $3.50. 900 increase in the bud
get estimate of $6,750, 900 sent Il
Congress by the President TO
completion Of the parkway.
Sasscer Urges Use.
Representative Sasscer, Demo
crat, of Maryland said today h,
has asked officials concerned t,
consider as soon as possible tn
use of Friendships facilities t.
relieve the congestion in air traf
f1c here.
He announced he has written
letter to the CAA and the Al
Transport Association, askin
them to confer on the problem.
Mr.. SaSscer reminded CAA of
11cials that following two tragi
air crashes at National Airpor
the CAA itself had reduced flight
In and out Of this field.
Friendship, said to be operatin
ct only about third the capacit
Of its modern facilities, has bee
unable to agree with the Air Fore
on proposals for military as we
as civilian use of the space.
Last summer the Air Force sug
geSted establishment of a $43 mil
lion Air Transport Service has
there. but dropped the plan be
cause Of the restrictions propose
on military usage.
Last December the airpol
turned down another Air Fore
proposal to establish q resery
training center at Friendship.
The plan would have involve
use Of some 400 acres, with offic
space and hangers for some 4,0O
perNonnel.