Aeronautics: Causes of Crashes

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Airplane crashes have long been enveloped in official mystery because the operating companies would not talk and the investigators of the Department of Commerce could not talk under a law forbidding them to make public their findings as to the causes of individual disasters. Last week that system was changed when President Roosevelt approved an amendment to the Air Commerce Act of 1926, giving the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce power to hold public hearings, subpoena witnesses, compel testimony under oath. In case of serious or fatal injury, publication of the Department's findings is made mandatory.

To prevent heavy damages being awarded in civil suits based on the Government's findings, the new amendment provides that no part of the Government hearing or statement as to cause of accidents shall be used in civil lawsuits. Simultaneously last week Secretary Roper ordered the name of the Aeronautics Branch changed to the Bureau of Air Commerce.