Evening star., 1936-01-22
NEUTRALITY BILL
FACES NEW DELAY
Senate Committee May De-
mand Public Hearings
on Measure.
BACKGROUND

Designed to keep America ont OF
,uar, legislation directing President
to place embargo on Uar supply
shipments to belNgcrent nations
was passed BY Congress last Sum-
mer. Weakness Of Iaio Is failure to
define implements OF tDar. Leaving
status OF such commodities as oil
and food MnceTtGiw. Act expires
February 20.
Early In present session outline
OF new legislation hauing adminis-
trdtion support was taken In hand
by House and Senate Foreign Com
mittees.
Senate investigation OF munt-
tions profits, starting in 1884.
seemed Urecked last ioeek in polif-
ical row. Investigating committee
also sought neutrality formula.
BY the Associated Press.
A possibility that public hearings
may be demanded by some members
OF the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee arose today to threaten further
delay for the administrations new
neutrality legislation.
Secretary Hull spent two hours in
executive session with the committee
in an attempt to reconcile differences
over the extent to which freedom OF
the seas may be affected by neutrality
policies.
After he and his stan experts left
to return Friday for further meetings,
Senator johnson, Republican. of Cali
fornia told newymen:
I'VE are about where we were"
Chairman Pittman sale he felt
some progress had been made, but
that there was some sentiment for
hearing the views Of some outstand =
ing constitutional authorities" re-
garding the division of power between
Congress and the President.
Early Actien Was Predicted.
IF they don't insist on hearings
and don't think they will-the bill
can be reported out in two weeks, u
he added.
Earlier in the day Representa- tive
McReynolds predicted the House For
eign Affairs Committee, OF which he
is chairman, would report the ad-
ministration bill to the House to-
morrow without any fundamental
changes" He said he would not call
It up for consideration on the floor
before Wednesday or Thursday OF
next week.
The House Committee has COM
pleted consideration Of the measure
with the exception of its controver-
sial section regarding exports for war
purposes.
Chairman Nye, assailed by prominent
Democrats when he termed President
Wilson ''falsif1er," meanwhile sought
to get his Senate Munitions Commit
tee to indorse . request to the Senate
for about $4,000. This would be for
further hearings and compilation of a
report based on 20 months OF investi-
CATION.
On another front. . demand by
Senator Glass. Democrat. of Virginia
for an accounting Of the Munitions
Committees expenditures presaged q
re-entry into his battle with Nye.
Glass Criticises Expense.
Glass asserted that some Of the
committee investigators had received
not only near the maximum $500 q
month salary allowed such Senate en-
ployes but IS . day. or $50 q month.
additional subsistence" while staying
in Washington.
So insistent mas become the demand
for . more prolonged study of neu-
trality legislation that Pittman agreed
1t was possible the present law. which
expires February 20, might have to be
extended so to 80 days before the new
measure could be passed.
The present act embargoes ship
ments of arms and munitions to bel
ligerents. But it lacks what pending
bills contain-authority for the Presi-
dent to limit shipments. Of other wal
materials. such as oil and cotton.
Senator Thomas. Democrat. OF Utah
q member Of the Foreign Relations
Committee, has introduced a resolu-
ton proposing a one-year extension
OF the present neutrality act.
The neutrality problem Is q very
serious one," Thomas asserted, "and
should not be disposed of in haste
possibly under the influence Of emo
tions engendered by the Italian
Ethiopian conflict"
He recommended continuation OF
the present embargo on arms and
munitions. but the granting Of the
widest latitude to the President in
other fields to meet changing situa-
tions and shifting international poll
ctes.
Speaking against fixing an arbi-
trary contraband list, he said:
The law Of contraband b based on
the theory Of law. not q detail of law,
and when you take the theory of Law,
which underlies the present Law, you
find it hasn't changed = bit. but that
the list of contraband merely has
been expanded"
"Seas Of Italy" Protest.
A grUup of 20 Sons of Italy" and
others from Philadelphia and vicinity
told PittMan that legislation per-
mitting restrictions ON oil shipments
to Italy would put the United States
in the position Of Joining League Of
Nations sanctions.
Pittman conceded that cessation of
the italian Ethiopian conflict would
eliminate one troublesome factor
that involved In changing . neutrality
| The NAT
| BY ALICE ROOSEN