Evening star., 1938-02-26
V|NSON DEP[0RES
SH|PYARD PLIGHT
IN EVENT OF WAR
Proposes Navy Expansion
Program Aid Repair
Facilities.
FAv0RS DIFFERENTIALS
TO PACIFIC BUILDERS
Contracts Could Be 6 Per Cent
Higher Than Those in East
and Still Win Awards.
b the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
Chairman Vinson, Democrat, OF
Georgia Of the House Naval Com
mittee proposed today that the Navy
expansion program provide for i'm
proved shipyard facilities. particularly
on the Pacific Coast.
He said the Nation would be "in .
horrible fix" If war should find the
yards congested.
What would we do for repair faci-
tiles if some Of our vessels became dis
abled in battle?" he asked.
TT Is imperative that we have
private as well as navy yards available
to handle both construction and re-
pair work"
Mr.. Vinson, intrusted by the ad-
ministration with guiding the $1,15e,-
100000 Navy bill through the House,
said he would offer an amendment to
give West Coast shipbuilders . per
cent differential on naval contracts.
Under this proposal Pacific Coast
builders could submit bids 6 per cent
higher than the lowest in the East
and be eligible for contracts.
Similar Rules in Marine Acts.
Similar provisions are in the Mer-
chant Marine Acts and in the naval
auxiliary building program authorized
last year.
MI. Vinson said he also would offer
an amendment to permit the Navy
Department to improve all navy yards.
Naval officials said they contem-
plated expenditures from 81, ,000, 900 to
100000 at each yard, in order to
complete the projected building pro-
gram in reasonable" time.
Failing to wind UP public hearings
on the program despite a night ses.
sion, the committee drove ahead to-
day. Mr.. Vinson called Charles Edi,
son, Assistant Secretary Of the Navy,
to end the departments testimony.
The chairman said Glenn L. Mar
tin, Baltimore aircraft manufacturer,
would testify on Monday-the last
witness to be heard.
II hope to get the committee to
approve the bill not later than next
Wednesday," Mr.. Vinson said, and
I intend to ask the house leadership
to let it come up for debate as soon
as the tax bill is out of the way. That
should bring it to the House foor by
the second week in March"
War Poll Amendment Sought.
Twelve members of the Senate
meanwhile offered a constitutional
amendment to require vote Of the
people before the United States could
engage in an aggressive" war.
Their proposal, similar to one the
House defeated when President Roose-
velt and Secretary Hull expressed op-
position, would require q national
referendum on war declarations, ex-
cept in cases of attacks on the United
States, its possessions or any other
nation in the Western hemisphere.
The co-sponsors were Senators
Wheeler, Shipstead, Nye, Murray, Lun-
deem. La Toilette, Hitchcock, Frazier,
Donahey, Clark, Capper and Bone.
It was disclosed that the Govern
ment has bought for s537, ,975 certain
helium- producing tracts at Dexter,
Kans., and Thatcher, Colo, thereby
obtaining control of all the Nations
known sources of this gas, which Is
used to initiate hghter-than-air craft.
The purchase was regarded as part
Of the national defense program.
Wartime Powers Urged.
Legislation to strengthen the Gov-
ernment's hand in wartime won ap-
proval of the House Military Commit
tee after weeks Of pickering.
1t would direct the Treasury to sug.
gest system Of taxation to prevent
profiteering, authorize draft Of man.
power and give the President broad
emergency powers over industry.
Before recommending the measure,
which is part of President Roosevelt,s
national defense program, the COM
mittee overrode Chairman May,
Democrat. of Kentucky by restoring
(see DEFENSE, Page AID