The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-23
SENATE VOTES
APPROVAL OF
DEBT HOLIDAY
Last Session Before Recess
Marked by Bitter SIaps
at Hoover.
AMENDMENTS BEATEN
Majority Leaders Voice
Love for Farmer, Then
Ballot Against Relief.
BY LYLE G.. WILSON
United Press Staf Correspondent

ID Il ~ Tx ~ FVAAOOAN
United Press stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-The
1882 100000 Hoover war debt and
reparationS moratorium is formally
in effect today, with consent and
ratification of congress. The vote
in the senate was 69-12.
The senate completed ratification
late Tuesday night after an angry,
eleven-hour session. Senators then
voted themselves and the house of
representatives Christmas holi-
day until Jan. 4.
But the CHEEKY spirit of St.
Nicholas was conspicuously absent
as the senate argued itself almost
into a state of exhaustion and then
decided to get some sleep.
The ratified moratorium resolu-
ton contained a reservation ex-
pressing congressional policy to be
against cancellation or reduction Of
the war debts owed the United
States. AS several senators re-
marked, this reservation is a scrap
of paper" because one congress has
not the power to bind another with
respect to policy.
Recess S Started
The moratorium had been rati-
fed by the house some days earlier.
Most of the representatives left
Washington early today. Speaker
Garner, Majority Leader Rainely,
and a few others stood by during
the hours of senate debate to go
through the motions at the end of
receiving from the senate the
Christmas vacation resolution, and
for Garner to sign the moratorium
resolution. At 11:05 Tuesday night
all these formalities were completed
and congress was in holiday recess.
Oratorically speaking, it was a
bad day for Mr.. Hoover.
Senator Hiram Johnson Rep..
Cal) said the President planned
debt cancellation or reduction, and
that he had violated constitutional
procedure in obtaining from MEM
berS of congress Geographic ap-
proval of the moratorium.
Senator Blaine (Rep., Wis., de-
scribed Mr.. Hoover as one who for
gets he is not managing coal mines
in China -"
Others Hurl Shafts
Senators Nye (Rep., N. d., Nc
Kellar, Shipstead Farmer-Labor,
Mimi, Frazier (Rep., N. d.,
Thomas Dem, Okla.) and Norris
(Rep., Neb.) leveled sarcasm against
the moratorium or bludgeoned with
/ heavier weapons.
A series of amendments was Of
fered to make the moratorium con-
ditional on revision of the Versailles
treaty, on American reputation of
the allied thesis that Germany was
solely responsible for the war, and
on returning to Germany her lost
colonies
Nye offered a rider to extend q
years moratorium to borrowers from
the federal land banks. Senator
Gore Dem., Okla) wanted an 30
per cent moratorium and would
have devoted the 20 per cent of
payments received - approximately
$50 900, 000-to winter relief of the
unemployed.
A determined senate majority
knocked over those proposals of the
opposition as quickly as they were
put up, until the majority encoun-
tered the proposal of Nye. 1t is diff
f1cult to vote against extending aid
to distressed agriculture.
Many senators felt called upon to
explain why they felt they must
vote against the amendment, al
though they yielded to no man in
the intensity or sincerity of their
love for the American farmer. But
Nye was voted down, so to Is.
Cutting DenOunces Plan
Senator Cutting (Rep., N. Nd,
caught the attention of the senate
with sharp denunciation of the
whole debt and reparationS
structure. He said the moratorium
was the opening wedge" to de-
Struction of the Versailles treaty,
the Dawes and Young plans and the
debt structure, and added, that is
one reason I am going to vote for
it."
Then in five minutes the senate
did what it had known all along
it would do. 1t ratified the
moratorium. There ensued a lively
battle over the Christmas holiday.
Senator Borah, moved to amend the
concurrent resolution by ending the
vacation Dec % instead of Jan. f.
And then, on a vote which split
both parties, the senate decided, AZ
to SO, that it would be safe to go
away until Jan. 4.
I'm iTYrioS E1uSA heath