The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1939-07-28

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III ic and Republican
&s K leaders Of he Sen
A1w & ate to discuss with
~ him the revival Of
" neutrality legisla.
long brown ticn rejected b u
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
nlttce il few days before. Ii is re
ported that much plain talk was en-
aged IN at the conference and that
~ times rather he;.ed words filed
the air. The visiting Senators final
ly convinced the President that no
ieglsltion could be passed at this
session that woald repeal the present
neutrality law, which places an ems
barge eii the shipment of arms and
munitions TO warring nations. 1t
s also said that one famous Senator
atbrr bluiltly informed the presi-
.ent that neither the Senate nor the
e0plc were willing To extend To the
Ghief Executive any greater powers
j eafslid international affairs and
/ our foreign relations than he now
possesses under the present law AT
the end Of the long conference Mr..
Roosevelt finally agred to drop the
ht fer his Neutrality Bill at this
sessin OF Congress. but Indicated
that the battle would again be TAX
en up at the next session scheduled
| for January, or at special SESSION
of Congress, should developments
require.
After months of parliamentary
maneuyeIs and fighting behind the
scene, the conservative bloc in the
iiuase o. Representatives last week
were forced out on the Floor for a
vote, a resolution providing for a
special investigation of the National
Labor Relations Fsoard by = five
man special House investigating
committee. Administration leaders
, fought to the last ditch to prevenl
the investigation resolution being
brought to vote, all to no aveil.
After acrimonious debate, in which
charges and counter charges were
huried, the roll was called resulting
in 25d votes being cast for investi.
cation and 134 against It. The vote
summary showed that i04 Demo
clats voted with $50 Republicans in
passing the resolution. 1913 Demo
Gratis, 9 Republicans, and ). lnde-
pendents, voted against the measure.
The investigating committee will sit
during the congressional recess with
full power To subpoena witnesses and
hold hearings anywhere III the Unit-
cd States. While the committee has
not as yet been named, il is predict
cd that Representatives Smith, Dem
oeiai Of Virginia, author Of the res
elution, will b. chair. III of the in
vestigating committee,
The third Pre- idential defeat of
the week came when a coalation Of
the solid Republican III nority and
anti-New Deal Democrats Of the
House fought off all attempts of the
Administration leaders to kill or
ateiaily amend he Hatch Bill pro-
viding for drastic eurbs on perni-
cious political practices by officc
holders and prohibiting activity ny
or the intimidation or coercion of,
public employees or Relief workers.
The bill was drawn by Senator
Hath Of New Mexico as result of
the revelations made in The Senate
Investigation of the 1888 elections,
ard Of the Democratic primaris in
that year in which attempts were
made To pur.rs certain anti-Adminis-
tration Senators and Representa-
tives. Passed earlv in the session by
the Senate, the Hatch Bill had bee'
bottled up il L House committee By
Administration leaders only to be
forced out on the Floor for consider
tinn few weeks ago. Chairman
Farley and the Democratic Nationa'
Committee were IN the thick of the
sght against the bill. The final vote
marked the most drastic defeat re-
eaived BY the Administration and
the National Democratic organiza-
tion since the beginning Of the New
Deal in 1892. Every Republican
vote.57 in all---was cast for the
"clean politics" bill. s3 Democrats
broke ove- party traces % Join with