Vidal Out

When the Bureau of Air Commerce was created in 1933 as a subdivision of the Department of Commerce, handsome Director Eugene Luther Vidal at once became the butt of incessant attacks. When the Bureau investigated crashes, he was accused of whitewashing his subordinates. When he devoted time to developing a "$700 plane" for private flyers, airlines screamed that he was neglecting them. When Bureau airway aids became outdated because the Government cut Bureau funds 40%, Gene Vidal got the blame. When Senator Bronson Cutting was killed in a crash. Senator Copeland's investigating committee recommended Gene Vidal's resignation, commented: "He is an amiable gentleman. He has a good background. Our fear is that he is too amiable, that he is lacking in iron, positiveness and determination. . . ." Lately a series of airline crashes (TIME, Feb. 22) has brought more hot coals on Gene Vidal's head. Last week, tired and exasperated, he gave in at last, resigned. Said he, keeping his plans secret: "You can quote me as saying I feel very chipper now. And stress the now!"

Said Senator Copeland: "I am sorry to see him go. ... Of course I scolded him . . . but he wasn't to blame. . . . It was the system that was wrong, not Mr. Vidal. He was director on paper. Actually, he had no authority. Secretary of Commerce Roper had a setup in which three men had collateral authority. One was Mr. Vidal. The other two were Rex Martin and Carroll Cone, assistant directors."

Taking this to heart, Secretary Roper began a complete reorganization of the Bureau. Assistant Directors Cone and Martin lost their titles, were "sent to Siberia"--Martin to "study airline operation" in South America, Cone in Europe. Made assistant director was famed Major Rudolph William ("Shorty") Schroeder, one of the few Bureau men whom everybody admires. Made director with sole authority was Dr. Fred Dow Fagg Jr., 40, head of the Air Law Institute of Northwestern University. A Wartime flyer, Fred Fagg has been the Bureau's legal expert for four years, has been on the payroll since last summer revising airline regulations. His salary: $8,000. Gene Vidal will continue to draw the same sum as "adviser" until he returns to commercial aviation next month.

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