The New York herald., 1920-01-25
MONDELL OPPOSES
FEEDING EUROPE
Republican Floor Leader Mini
mizes Gravity of starvation"
Conditions Abroad.
DENIES POLITICAL MOTIVES
Contends Majority Steering Commit
tee Is Not Blocking Relief
Fund Bills.
(specinl pesputch TO the Herold.,

Especial Despatch 10 the Herold.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., Saturday.-An
swering a charge made by Represe ntativ'
ocratic floor leader. that the Republican
Steering Committee was assuming auto
cratic powers ana blocking Legislation
recommended by some Of the larges
standing committees in the House, Repre-
sentative Mondell, of Wyoming, presen
Republican floor leader, denied the charge
today, and made speech opposing tht
proposed $3.50, 900, 900 food relief fund fol
relieving famine conditions in Europe.
Mr.. Kltchin asserted that the Steerins
Committee was arbitrarily blocking ac
ton on bills that, in the judgment Of
committees three times the size of the
Steering Committee, should be passed, ant
cited the food relief fund as one OF them
mittee, for political purposes, approved
the consideration of bills, the passage o.
which woul daid the reelection of individ
ual members.
Mr.. Mondel made the counterchargt
that Mr.. Kichin was playing politics,
and that ''it was just part of the
game The Steering Committee he said
only suggested the policy that the Re.
publicans as the majority party must
assume, and all decisions were made, not
by the Steering Committee, but by the
unanimous action of all Republicans.
In discussing the proposed food reliet
fund Mr.. Mondell mnimized the gravity
of the alleged starvation conditions, SAID
many of the Democrats, including Mr.
Kitchin, were opposed to it, and declared
we should think long before we take the
money Of the people Of the United States
to provide funds for tn epeope Of Europe
do not be misled,' he continued. 81
think conditions must be frightful over
there, but all the sob stories that you
hear arc not true. We practically gave
France several hundred million dollars
worth of good foodstuffs left there at the
singning of the armistice. The condition
of starvation does not prevail generally
in Austria. but the condition in Vienna /.
in the main due to the fact that Franco
insisted that Austria should be dismem.
bered to the last acre and that then Ger
man Austria should not be allowed to jor
Germany. eW are not responsible for tha
condition.
IF Austria. what is left Of her. were
today part Of Germany, have no doubt
that the German people. their neighbors
their kinsmen. speaking thes same Ian.
guage. would provide for them. Bu
France said no. and the Allies agreed
Whatever the condition may be, the res.
possibility is not primarily ours, anc
France. war torn as she is, might spare
at least a little Of the army foodstuffs we
left her, In order to take care of these
people over just across the hills from hel
border. whose present condition is largely
due to the fact that she insisted that they
should remain as an Independent govern.
ment.
THE other day. when 7 said doubted
that we ought to spend $50 coo, 900 in ad.
diton TO the $50 600, 90 we had already spent
for airplanes this year. l was told tha,
England has spent $35, 100000. replied. II
there was any rag Of truth in that old gag
then we oughtto pass resolution through
the House of Representatives insisting that
England pay the interest on what she
owes us. The trouble is that the story is
not true"
Representative Garner. Democrat. oi
Texas, said he was opposed to the legisla
ton as recommended but would favor ar
to spend the $50 o00. 900 profits
made by the United States Grain Corpora.
tion as charity for the benefit of "those
who are really suffering in Europe"