Passport Boom

Last month the Department of State did a record May business in passports. Plain was the fact that business depression had not been sufficient to retard foreign travel by U. S. citizens. In February, passport applications exceeded those for the same month the year before. Since then there has been a steady increase until last month more than 35,000 applications--15% above last year's May record--were received.

As an aid to travel the House of Representatives last week passed, and sent to the Senate a bill cutting the initial passport fee from $10 to $5 and, of more importance, extending a passport's life from two years to six (renewable biennially).

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