Evening star., 1952-04-09
Denial Of Funds
Clouds Fate Of
Burke Airport
Senute Committee
Supports House in
Killing Appropriation

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The apparent determination Of
Congress to kill plans for Burke
Airport had the Civil Aeronautics
Administration in a difficult posi-
ton today.
Should the agency carry on
with the job. as directed by Con-
gress and the President in Sep
tember, 1850, or mark time until
the move to eliminate the project
can be decided upon?
In any event. the Government
already has taken title to about
1000 acres Of the planned total
of 4.520 acres and residents have
been notified they must vacate
the land by the first of next
month, with a few exceptions.
A CAA spokesman said about
$818,000 of a previous appropria-
ton for land acquisition has been
deposited with the Federal Court
of Alexandria. Some owners Of
63 parcels in the first 1000 acres
already have been paid, it was
said, and are either moving or
ready to leave in a few days.
School Also Involved.
Involved in the acquisition Of
land by condemnation are some
80 homes. a few country stores
and an elementary school. The
condemnation proceedings were
begun last June, after Secretary
of Commerce Sawyer announced
the Burke site would be developed
for the airport. authorized in
legislation signed by the Presi-
dent on September 7, 1850.
For the time being, at least
the CAA will continue with the
plan as outlined in the law, q
spokesman said.
Yesterday the Senate Appropri-
ations Committee voted to elimi-
nate the $1.0 million required to
continue the project in nearby
Fairfax County, Va. This sum al
ready had been stricken from the
third supplemental bill by the
House.
Senator Robertson, Democrat,
OF Virginia, led yesterdays oppo-
sition to the supplemental airport
for Washington. He was backed
by Senator McCarran. Democrat,
OF Nevada, and chairman of the
Appropriations subcommittee in
charge of funds for the Commerce
Department.
Would "Stop 1t Cold.'
The latter Senator declared re-
Gently he thought the Burke prof.
ect Ought to be stopped cold"
AS Senator Robertson left the
committee session yesterday, hs
said:
"Today's meeting of the COM
mlttee was in executive session,
but I would say that the prospects
for Burke Airport are not very
bright"
The committee action left Sena-
tor johnson, Democrat, of Colo
rado, still convinced Washington
must have a second major air.
port within easy reach.
AS chairman of the Senate
Commerce Committee, he had
sponsored the law authorizing the
Sl4 million project. He said he
still regarded the Burke area was
a good location although the
project probably is a dead duck, 4"
IN view of the actions by the
House and by the Senate COM
mittee.
When the money bill hits the
Senate floor, he said he probably
would make declaration as to
the need Of the Burke airport.
Fears Tragedy.
zone Of these days there will
be a crash at the Washington Air
port in which a half dozen Con-
gressmen may lose their lives" he
said. Then there will be agita-
ton to build the new airport
quickly. We would do better to
build that port now and avoid an
inevitable tragedy"
Senator Robertson and Senator
Byrd, also a Virginia Democrat.
have fought the Burke project
partly because of Fairfax County
opposition. Maryland Senators
O'Conor, Democrat, and Butler,
Republican, have joined them be-
cause they would like to see
Friendship Airport, near Balti-
more, used as a supplemental field
for Washington.
Senator O'Conor said he believes
the action of the Senate Appro-
priations Committee will prove
final in every respect" He said
his Interpretation of the action is
approval of the stand Marylanders
have taken against the Burke site
and in support of Friendship.
Would Speed Expressway.
He said he plans now to call on
the CAA to change it's view and
to recommend use of Friendship
as an adjunct to the Washington
National Airport. He also called
for "joint action" to speed appro-
priationS for completion of the
Washington Baltimore express
highway, which would cut down
auto travel time between Wash.
ington and Friendship.
Congressional action now In
awaited on proposals to grant $6.7
million to complete the Federal
portion Of the new parkway to
Baltimore.
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