Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-04
Use Of Andrew,
As I'd Airport
Stirs Protests
Proposal Brings
Quick Criticism;
Airlines Opposed

Chairman Magnuson of the
Senate Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee today crit
iciZed the Commerce Department
proposal for combined civilian
and military operations at An
drews Air Force Base. He called
upon Defense Secretary Wilson
for his views on the matter.
The proposal, submitted yes
terday by Secretary Weeks. also
drew heavy fire from the Air
Transport Association of Amer
lea. from Senator Butler. Re-
publican of Maryland, and others
both in and out of public life.
Senator Magnuson declared
the Commerce Department had
been told emphatically that a
second Washington airport
should be constructed at Gov
ernment expense and that pub
lie airport authority-which was
proposed by Secretary Weeks,
could not get the job done in
time.
Hits Long Delay
"After nearly six months of
study" said Senator Magnuson,
''it Commerce sends to us a
report recommending the setting
up of an authority as originally
proposed by Undersecretary Lotus
S. Rothschild before our COM
mittee last summer.
He was told then that at
tempting to create such an au-
thority would be a long and tedi-
Gus job and by having the air.
port constructed by the Govern
ment it could be in use before
the authority could be set up.
Senator Butler bluntly charged
that "New-Deal spenders" on
the Senate Commerce Commit
tee were trying to coerce Sec
rotary of Commerce Weeks into
forcing a second National Air
port here. against the wishes of
both Maryland and Virginia.
Burke Second Choice
The Commerce Department
proposed that if Congress rejects
the Andrews plan, it should pro-
coed with the construction of a
new airport at Burke, Va. In
either event, the department
said. an airport authority should
be established to take charge of
building and operations in the
area.
Milton w. Arnold yice presi-
dent OF the Air Transport Asso-
citation, called for immediate con-
struction at Burke, despite con-
siderable opposition in Northern
Virginia.
I'VE do not believe that inte-
grafton of commercial opera
tions with military operations at
Andrews Air Force Base is the
solution to the Washington air.
port problem. said Mr.. Arnold.
He pointed out this proposal was
debated several years ago and
said he doubted that military
opposition to the idea would be
withdrawn
The Air Force has made spe-
ciflc comment on the latest pro-
posal, but reliable source in
Dictated it would fight CONNER
cial operations at Andrews.
Asks Prompt Action
Action to get construction at
Burke should not be held up
pending formation of any kind
of an authority" the Alta state
ment said. AT hearing on
the need fol an additional
Washington airport, held before
Senate Interstate and For
eign Commerce Committee last
July, it was brought out that
it would take approximately
five years TO accomplish forma-
ton of an airport authority.
If such an authority is to be
formed. it should be done with
out delaying work on second
airport here. If necessary. this
authority could be formed while
construction is underway or
even after 1t is completed"
Mr.. Arnold said National Air
port already is operating at ca
pacity and he warned a delay
in building a second terminal
means Washington will lag be-
hind other cities in the increased
frequency and improvement Of
its scheduled air service.
Senator Butler charged that
Commerce Committee members
had yielded to pressure from the
"air transport lobby" and are
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