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nautics Act of 1938, of which President Harry S. Truman, then a member of the Senate of the United States, was a co-author. The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, co-sponsored successfully in the Senate by Senators Harry S. Truman of Missouri, and Pat McCarran of Nevada, and in the House by Congressman Clarence F. Lea of Califonia, is the vehicle of federal law on which our country's continental and world-spanning air
transportation system, which is easily one of the seven wonders of the
world, was built. Its worth to the nation in time of war has been
proved during World War II according to plan. It is no longer conjec-
ture; it is a proven fact. It would seem, therefore, when we have such
well-seasoned legislation on the statute books of our country, which
has been so conclusively proved, why then must we change? The recom-
mendation of the air line pilots is that the Civil Aeronautics Act of
1938 be continued, and we should stop clamoring for something new. We
should beware of such things as a three-cent air line and the govern-
ment buying air line planes and equipment and leasing them to the air
lines. On this, the air line pilots say, "Let's take politics out of
air line transportation instead of injecting it in copious amounts.
Let's remove the impairments that have already been heaped upon the
Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, and permit it to operate as intended
and as it was originally drafted and passed by the Congress of the
United States and signed by the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt."
It is our strong recommendation that the Civil Aeronautics
Act of 1938 be restored to its original form, and that a deaf ear be
turned to those who clamor for changes. With rare exception, all these
would-be amenders have axes to grind and ulterior motives. They should
not be encouraged. Obviously, certain constructive amendments can be
added to any law from time to time, but this should be done only after
the need has been proved and without destroying the original purpose
and intent of the law. The trouble with too many amendment proposers
is much the same as the medicine that the farmer gave to his sick
horse. It had a wonderful label and came highly recommended -- but
the horse died!
So far as our air fighting forces are concerned (now one of
the big three under the National Security Act of 1947; namely, the
Department of Army, Department of Navy, Department of Air Force, all
set up under the Department of Defense), the recommendation of the air
line pilots is, don't starve them nor take a penny-wise and pound-
foolish attitude when dealing with appropriations for planes, experi-
mentation, scientific research, the engineering and producing of the
world's best fighting aircraft; planes in all categories -- attack,
bombardment, reconnaissance, photographic, transport and troop carriers,
and, above all, planes with speed and cruising range second to none,
capable of intercepting any enemy that seeks to bring destruction to
our peace-loving people and our economy. There can be no question that
the National Security Act of 1947, passed by the first session of the
80th Congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947,
is a broad step in the right direction. It would have done our friend