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-4- 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