The Washington times., 1920-02-01
RELIEF
! CREDIT VOTED
House Way, and Means Com
mittee Orders Favorable Re-
port on Big Loans.

Disregarding protests OF the Repub-
iicsn Steering COMMITTEES against
further loans OF any kind TO foreign
goyerameats, the House Ways and
Means Committee yesterday ordered
fayorably reported a bill authorizing
the United States Grain Corporation
to- extend 100000 in credits for
o food relief In Europe. The Admins
trstion'r recommendation was Tor
1 81 2b. 900 900,
Opposition TO the proposed loan de-
yeioped rapidly among members OF
. the House last week. Sentiment In
the present Congress always has been
strongly against any more purely
financial Assistance for the bankrupt
nations of Europe, but up TO last
week there appeared TO be favorable
feeling toward the suggestion OF re-
lief for the suffering peoples OF
Poland, Austria. and Armenia.
Since the conference OF Treasury Of
hcials and the House leaders, how
aver, the opposition to further gov
ernmental assistance for Europe has
extended to relief work. At this con-
ference II was impressed upon the
House leaders that the United states
must conserve all its resources IL IL
Ia going to be prepared TO Withstand
the shock OF the possible complete
financial collapse abroad.
Bitter Fight Ahead.
This opposition appears to be so
determined that a bitter fight Is be-
Iteved certain when the measure
comes up on the floor, probably to-
morrow. Congressman Longworth OF
ohio, a member of the Ways and
Means Committee, as well as of the
Steering Committee, was the only
member of the latter committee to
favor the proposed relief loan.
Floor Leader Mondell, who is ex-
officio chairman of the Steel Com
mittee. and the other members, not
only hold that II Is "unwise and in
sdvisable"to make any further drain
upon the resources OF this country
for the benefit OF other nations, but
question the moral right of Congress
10 appropriate the peoples money for
such purposes.
All of the Democrats present at the
meeting. except Congressman Kitchin
Of North Carolina and Garner OF
Texas, favored the full amount rec
commended by Secretary Glass, but
were voted down. Amendments to
Tx the loan at SIO0.0OO,00O and $751;
900 900 likewise were rejected.
Then by 2-to-1 vote $4,000, 900
was agreed upon, the Democrats max
ing IL unanimous, with the reserva-
tion that any member of the commit
tee would have the right to offer
amendments on the floor to increase
the amount up to $125, 100000.
Linaits Use of Credits.
The bill as agreed upon limits the
use of the credits to the supplying of
.soodstuffs, the committee having re-
fused to include "other supplies" as
recommended by the Administration.
1t IS also stipulated that so far as
possible negotiable paper shall be re-
quired in return for the food, but
none of the countries in need Of as
sistance are believed to be in a posi-
tion to give such security.
Chairman; Fordney's formal report
cites the letters of President Wilson
and Secretary Glass urging the loan,
and commenting on the testimony
taken by the committee, including
that Of Herbert Hoover, Secretary Ba-
ker and General Bliss, says;
"AlI evidence furnished the commit
teoS seemed clearly to indicate that
literally millions of people in the
stricken portions of Europe are fac
ing starvation, and their only hope
of relief 10 the participation Of the
covnrpmenf of the TTnited States in