Evening star., 1934-03-23
NAVY BILL AWAITS
PRESIDENTS 0. K.
Measure for Huge Construc-
tion Program Is Passed
by Senate.
By the Associated Press.

oy lHc AScUCldlCu
Authority for the Nays largest
postwar construction program rested
today on the expected stroke of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's pen.
The Senate completed congressional
action yesterday on the Vnson-
Trammel bill to bring the Navy up
to treaty limits, which contemplates
an expenditure over seven years for
ships and airplanes estimated at
$500,O0O,0O to $75O.O00,00O.
Final word for building most of the
ships and planes rests with the Bud
get Bureau, which must approve the
actual expenditures.
The bill would permit construction
of 65 destroyers, 80 submarines,
cruisers and more than l,l00 air.
planes.
Chairman Vinson of the House
Naval Committee said the meas
ure, authorizing the biggest naval
program ever approved by Congress
at a single time, would go far toward
putting our Navy in the class it
belongs"
Government and private ShipyardS
would get ship contracts alternately.
Private bidders would be limited to
10 per cent profit on contracts of
$4,000 and up as result of con-
grcssional inquiries into profits on
Army and Navy contracts.
Final Protest Made.
Little Navy Senators made a final
gesture of protest-asserting it was
the start of a mad naval race" and
another big opportunity for profit
making 'raCketeerS as the legiSla-
ton completed passage with adoption
by the Senate of the conference report
few hours after the House had done
likewise
President Roosevelt is ready to ap-
prove the bill, but the extent to
which funds will be made available in
the seven years the program is ex-
pected to cover will depend on the
generosity of the Budget Bureau
There has been no definite assur-
ance from that quarter that all the
money needed will be forthcoming for
insertion in the annual naval ap-
preparation bills
In addition TO the curb on private
profits, another provision looking to
more economical war equipment
would require the Government, if it
could be done with existing facilities,
to build in its own plants at least
one-tenth Of the airplanes authorized.
Word has reached Congress that
the Budget Bureau may soon ask for
S4,000,000 for expansion of the Phila-
delphia naval aircraft factory to build
planes for the Government.
Calling private contractors a gang
of arrogant racketeers," Senator Bone,
Democrat. OF Washington, whose
amendment requiring one-fourth of
the planes to be constructed in Fed
eral factories was changed in confer
ence, said the report contained moth
ing but weasel words
Senator Frazier, Republican, of
North Dakota, said the Navy crowd
wants Navy rounded out so they
can fight at the drop of the hat"
Senator Clark. Democrat, of Missouri,
asserted the United States was tax
ing the responsibility of being the
aggressor in a new naval race"
Senator King. Democrat. of Utah.
said the administration could do
more to promote peace by withdraw
ing the bill"
Investigation Urged.
Meanwhile, Representative Britten
OF Illinois. ranking minority member
Of the House Naval Committee. IN a
statement urged a congressional in
vestigation into activities of organ
izationS against the Vinson bill.
Members of Congress had been
asked, Britten said, by the 'Women's
International League for Peace and
Freedom to vote against the Vinson
bill upon the theory it will provoke
war and that its sole interest lies in
profits to the munition makers"
The Federal Council of Churches
OF Christ in America, the International
Council of Women, the League of
Nations Associations, the World Alli-
snce for International Friendship
Brltten said, were among those carry
Ing on campaign against the bill.
The time has once more arrived" ="
OAAbbSLi odlN' III a
sional investigation of all these self
styled peace organizations. whose
principal efforts appear to be the
weakening of the national defense of
our country, while at the same time
aiming to force us into the League of
Nations.
Propaganda Seen.
i am sure that an investigation
will disclose British, French and Rus
sian propaganda in the United States,
not only for our participation in the
League of Nations, but also for Amer
lean disarmament. while the balance
of the worlds most powerful nations
are arming to the teeth.
1t will be interesting to learn just
how much money is being expended
to keep America impotent and to
force us into European entanglements
against our best traditions"
HOUSE TO TAKE UP