AVIATION: TKO for Export?

Since 1937, American Export Lines, Inc. (steamships) has been determined that its airline subsidiary would fly the Atlantic in competition with Pan American’s Clippers. Export’s ambition has been approved by President Roosevelt, CAB, the Army, Navy and State Department. But last year a $500,000 mail subsidy needed to start the flights was refused by both Senate and House appropriations committees. Last week Export again drew an emphatic thumbs down from the House committee. Since the company now must wait for Congress’ next budget bill to try again, and since every defeat makes a reversal less probable, it looked as if the transatlantic fight between Export and powerful, lobby-wise Pan Am had ended in a TKO.