Evening star., 1938-01-30
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

While the Senate is trying to un-
tangle itself from the anti-lynching
BILL an additional worry-the situation
in the Far East-has gripped its
members. That situation undoubtedly
will make the path Of President Roose-
velts national defense program easier.
For the moment. Congress is silent
regarding conditions in China, ur-
willing to hamper the Government in
dealing with these uncertain foreign
affairs. When bills are brought for
ward, however, to put into effect the
big Navy increase asked by the Presi-
dent, the whole picture may be
changed.
Already Representative Vinson of
Georgia, chairman of the House Naval
Affairs Committee, has offered q bill
to carry out the new building pro-
gram-estimated to cost eventually
$500, 100000 or more. Chairman
Walsh of the Senate Naval Committee
is ready to drive ahead for the bigger
Navy at the earliest possible moment.
Chairman vinson yesterday invited
high Navy officials to outline their
most immediate needs before his COM
mittee tomorrow. The committee will
ask them how they intend to use
the SIS, ,000, 900 appropriation the Pres.
Ident has recommended for expert
mental work. Navy officials said part
OF the money might be used to de-
velop . mosquito" feet Of small, fast
and highly armed boats carrying
small crews. Admiral William D.
Leahy, chief of naval operations. will
be the first witness before the COM
mittee.
Naval Appropriation Bill.
The naval appropriation bill, already
passed by the House. has been re-
ported to the Senate. While it does
not carry major increases, it may be
made the vehicle for more if it is
deemed necessary. And it certainly
may become the vehicle of discussion
of the whole matter of national de-
tense.
MIR. Roosevelt's recommendation that
Congress enact general law, mobiliz-
ing all material resources as we'll as
man power in the event of war and
prohibiting profiteering, is expected
to stir action on such a measure. For
two or three years, congressional COM
mittees have been working on that
kind Of bill. The Hill bill, reported
by the Military Affairs Committee.
is on the House calendar now. In
the Senate bills have been introduced
by Senators Sheppard of Texas, Nye
OF North Dakota and Connally Of
Texas. Even now the Sheppard bill,
with favorable report from the Mil
itary Affairs Committee, Is before the
Senate Finance Committee awaiting
action.
Because these bills have certain
taxing provisions, they must originate
IN the House, or be offered as an
amendment in the Senate to a House
bill dealing with revenue laws.
Anti-Lynching Measure.
The anti-lynching measure, which
suffered body blow when the Senate,
~ :" ~Ao-oos NOVC, IcluSSU 10 LI1lt
debate by INVOKING cloture. will be
laid aside temporarily tomorrow to
give consideration to the conference
report on the administrations housing
bill. This report, which has been
approved by the House, had been
tucked away in the pocket of Senator
Wagner, Democrat, of New York tor
several days before he submitted it
to the Senate Friday. Senator Wag-
ner is one of the authors of the anti
lynching bill
Senator Lodge, Republican, of
Massachusetts,, whose amendment to
the housing bill calling for payment
Of prevailing wages" to labor en-
ployed on any housing project for
which mortgage insurance may be
provided by the Federal Housing Ad-
ministration was thrown out in con-
ference, will demand that the confer
ence report be rejected. He has been
deluged with kilograms from labor
(enn NON0DW9S po-.