Evening star., 1939-10-05

AolClSIl CIdQe, COulQ Oe 60dcCe
That, he asserted, "misleads
the people and jeopardizes the
peace of the United States"
AS the Senate pressed ahead
with its debate, the neutrality
spotlight swung briefly to the
House side when Representative
Mundt, Republican, of South Da-
kota, called on House leaders to
give that branch 80 days in
which to debate the legislation
after it leaves the Senate.
Earlier on the Senate floor Sen
ator Tobey, Republican, of New
Hampshire had concluded his areu-
ment in support of his plan to divide
the Pittman bill into two measures
so as to expedite passage of pro-
visions designed to keep American
ships and passengers out of the
european war zone. This would leave
the main issue of arms embargo re-
peal to be acted on separately.
Nye Takes Floor.
When he concluded Senator Nve,
Republican, of North Dakota. one
OF the most active opponents of
embargo repeal, obtained the floor
He was to be followed by Senator
Overton, Democrat, of Louisiana.
also an embargo advocate, and Sen
ator Schwellenbach, Democrat, of
washington, who favors repeal.
Demanding adequatae time for de-
bate, Representative Mundt asked
House Majority Leader Rayburn to
give this body assurances here and
now that customary House pro-
ceoure will be set aside so that the
members of this body will be given
the right and the opportunity to
exercise their legislative function in
this all-important decision which
may spell the difference between
disaster and democracy for Amer
ica."
Committee Criticized.
In statement issued as the House
reconvened Mr.. Mundt criticized the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee for writing a completely new
bill as an amendment to the meas
ure the House passed at the last ses-
sion.
Thus, while the bill is an entirely
new piece OF legislation the South
Dakota Republican said, lit will
come back to us as an amendment
to the House bill and under custom
ary procedure will 60 to conference.
the differences ratified and then
come to us for a yes or mo- vote,
with debate limited drastically and
no opportunity for amendments.
Against this totalitarian effort to
apply the gag rule to the House of
Representatives I protest with all
my might and insist that the ma
Jority floor leader of this House
assure us now that House prece-
dents will be set aside and this body
be given the right of amendment
and free debate for a minimum of
80 legislative days. At best, this
would still provide less than 20
minutes per member to express
his views and reflect the sentiments
OF his constituents upon this epochal
measure
Changes to Be Considered.
Meanwhile. Senator George, Dem
ocrat. OF Georgia predicted that the
Senate authors of the legislation
would meet soon to consider pro-
posed changes, including the de-
mands OF shipping interests for
modification of the restrictions on
shipping.
Senator George, one of the Dem
ocratic members of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee who drafted the
bill, said there had been growing
protests from shipping interests
against a provision prohibiting
American vessels from carrying any
materials to belligerents and barring
them from combat zones.
1T is my Judgment" Senator
George said. that the Democratic
members of the committee will meet
again soon and consider some re-
vision in this section"
None of the changes yet suggested
by the shipping interests appeared
acceptable, he added
Credits to Re Studied.
Senator George also indicated that
the financial section of the measure,
under which behigerents may be
granted 90-day credit on purchases
Of supplies in this country, would
be subjected to further study by
the foreign relations group.
Representatives of large shipping
concerns, the Senator reported, were
attempting to work out some plan
to prevent destruction of trans
Atlantic commerce on American YES
sells. He added, however, that none
of the plans thus far suggested
was "at all acceptable"
The Georgia Senator said he
agreed there would be little, If any,
American transatlantic shipping
under terms of the bill as it now
stands.
I'VE ought to be able to work
out something, but + don't know yet
what 1t will be-" he said.
The Tobey motion to recommit
the bill to the Foreign Relations
Committee for division into two
parts will not be acted on before
Monday by informal agreement.
- III