Evening star., 1939-03-04
Senate Leaders Hope
For Early Action
On Defense
House Quickly Approves
$499,857,936 Army
Appropriation Bill
BY the Associated Press.

oS VIC 7SooIidtcO lSSs
The speed with which the House
approved the s499, ,857 1886 Army ap-
preparation bill heightened the hopes
of administration leaders today that
the program for increased arma-
ments would sweep through the Sem
ate shortly despite the furious de-
bate it has provoked there.
Without a record vote or single
amendment, the huge appropriation
was passed by the House yesterday.
1t now goes to the Senate.
Senatorial disagreement over the
Army expansion bill centered, mean
while, on whether 5000 or $500
planes should be set as a limit for
the Air Corps. There appeared lit
tie opposition to other parts of this
measure, previously passed by the
House. which authorizes the in
creased Army outlays proposed by
the President. but leaves their
financing to separate appropriation
bills.
Senator Borah, Republican. of
Idaho told reporters he believed the
Senate could demonstrate to the
world that it was mot excited and
not afraid" if it fixed the maximum
Air Corps strength at $500, as ap-
proved by the House.
Borah Asks Reduction.
On the other hand, Senator Lee,
Democrat. of Oklahoma. supporting
the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee's amendment to raise the
limit to 5000 planes, said he believed
it would be good psychology. from
a world standpoint, to approve the
higher figure.
Senator Borah, who previously
had criticized the "jitters" which
he said accompanied submission of
the administrations program, said
a Senate reduction in the prospec-
tive number of planes would DEM
onstrate a calm attitude toward de-
fense that should be reflected in
other parts of the world.
Announcing he would support the
movement to hold down the plane
limitation, Senator La Toilette,
Progressive, of Wisconsin said he
was doubtful that the Army needed
even the $500 approved by the
House.
Senator Logan, Democrat, of Ken
lucky declared, however, he thought
it would be good business to obtain
as many planes as possible with the
projected appropriation.
I'VE should get them as cheaply
as we can. and the time to do that
is while this program is in full
swing" he said.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, told the Senate yesterday he
thought the psychology of fear had
played an important part in bring
ing about the Munich conference in
Europe last year.
He said Col. Charles A. Lindbergh
had been permitted to fly over Ger
man airplane factories and had
made q report to Prime Minister
Chamberlain of England which
scared" Mr.. Chamberlain into ar
ranging the Munich conference.
Then," Senator Clark shouted,
whipping off his glasses, "Lindbergh
was decorated by the German gov
ernment.
Whether the decoration was for
giving the facts to Great Britain
or for helping Germany carry out
a bluh, nobody knows"
Majority Leader Barkley said he
hoped the Senate could conclude
consideration of the authorization
bill Monday.
Representative Snyder, Democrat,
OF Pennsylvania commented that
House approval of the appropriation
Dill yesterday provided "a firm ex-
preston of Americas attitude
toward such dictatorship as might
attempt to disturb the peace of the
Western Hemisphere" He said the
fact no amendments were offered
was without parallel in the Ma
tions history.
Provides For 784 Planes.
The appropriation measure, largest
Army supply bill since 1922, carries
the first funds for the proposed
$500, ,0O0, 900 Air Corps expansion. 1t
provides for purchase of 784 war
planes, reinforcement of seacoast
defense and the acquisition of semi
automatic rifles, anti-tank guns
modernized field artillery and mobile
anti-aircraft guns.