Evening star., 1952-03-14
Burke Airport
Funds Fight Put
Up 10 Senate
House Vote Kills
Appropriations for
| Big Virginia Project
BY HoroId B. Rogers

by huFold B. Rogers
The fight over funds for Burke
airport In nearby Virginia now
;hifts from the House to the Sem
ate.
The House yesterday, for the
second time. knocked out all funds
For the project from the Third
bill and sent the
measure to the Senate.
Backers and opponents Of the
airport were lining up their forces
today for q contest In the Sem
ate.
The Civil Aeronautics Admin
istration, q spokesman said, form
ally will ask Q Senate Appropria-
tions subcommittee to restore to
the bill some funds to continue
progress on the big airfield.
Project Already Approved.
The project already has been
approved by Congress and 81 mil
lion appropriated. Some parts Of
the site have been purchased.
Opponents Of the project, head
ed by Fairfax County organized
citizens. were preparing today to
continue their fight against more
funds. Their champions in the
House already openly have de-
clared the intention. of Fairfax
County residents to kill the whole
airport project If possible.
The Virginians will have q
champion in Senator Byrd, Demo-
|crat Of Virginia. who has prom
ised to carry on the fight. The
opposition of Senator Byrd was
disclosed to the House during de-
bate Wednesday. A letter from
Senator Byrd to this affect was
read into the record by Represent
ative Andersen, Republican Of
Minnesota, leader Of the fight
against Burke funds.
Maryland Move Waited.
Maryland legislators in the
House made strong attack on
the Burke project. but whether
the Maryland Senator'S also will
oppose the funds in the Senate
remains to be seen.
The case against Burke was
based by Maryland spokesmen on
the argument that Friendship
Airport. 10 miles this side Of
Baltimore, could easily take care
of all surplus air traffic at WASH
ington National Airport. This
diversion, they contended, would
Iobviate the need for an auxiliary
lfield in Virginia not far from
washington National. and save
the taxpayers money.
Champions of the Burke field
lin the House insisted Friendship
was too far from Washington. and
entirely too far distant for nor
NAL transfer Of air passengers
who might wish to shift from one
airport to another.
1 CAA Case Presented.
! CAA authorities presented their
case for the Burke airport during
lengthy hearings by a House ap-
preparations subcommittee.
/ The House struck $1.4 million
for Burke from the supply bill
late yesterday by q voice vote
This confirmed q tentative stand
ing vote of 128 to Al wednesday
lby which the House. acting al
|committee of the whole. had killed
the appropriation. Attempts tc
force a roll call vote failed.
| How much money the CAA viii
ask the Senate to restore to the
supplemental bill was a question
under study today by officiali
Of CAA:
Congress was asked by CAA tc
appropriate $1,660,0O0 to con-
tinue progress on the big air.
field. The House Appropriations
Committee sliced this figure tc
l$l.4 million, saying the recon-
kmended funds were to provide
'for the balance Of the estimated
land acquisition costs. and fol
plans. specifications. and surveys
for such an airport"
The supplemental appropria-
ton bill. now before the Senate
Appropriations Committee fol
hearings. carries emergency funds
for many agencies Of Government
to be used this fiscal year, end-
ing June 80. No date had been
set early today for Senate hear
lings on the bin.