Evening star., 1939-05-03
Roosevelt Signs Bill
Giving $153,000,000
For Defense Items
$4,000, 900 Will Go
For Tanks, Guns and
Other Equipment

President Roosevelt today signed
a bill providing $l53,ooo, 900 imme-
diately in appropriations and con-
tract authorizations for critical"
defense items for the Army, sea-
coast defenses and fleet expansion.
The House Naval Committee rec
commended, meanwhile, legislation
to authorize expenditure Of $780,
600 for complete modernization Of
five battleships, the Tennessee, Cali
fornia Colorado, Maryland and
West Virginia.
The bill signed by the President
will let the Army buy and contract
for $4,000, 900 Of tanks. anti-tank
guns, semi-automatic rifles, gas
masks, anti-aircraft guns, artillery
and ammunition.
The Nays ship construction pro-
gram gets 36.500, 900, while $685.
287 is included in appropriations and
contract authorizations for seacoast
defenses Of the continental United
States, Panama Canal Zone and in
sular possessions.
Small Items in Bill.
Relatively small sums to meet un-
foreseen expenses of additional Gov
ernment agencies brought the total
Of appropriations in the bill up to
$162, ,319 ,059, while contract authori-
cations aggregated 6,801 900.
Among the smaller items in the
bill were: $10,000,o00 for grants to
States for administration Of unem-
ployment compensation laws; $4,-
900 900 for the Parker power prof.
est in Arizona to continue construc-
ton of a power plant, transmission
lines, substations and appurtenant
works; IS 900, 900 for administration
of the 1887 Sugar Control Act, and
$3.50 900 for added personnel ex-
penses of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
While the military and naval pro-
grams were rushed, Senators Norris,
independent, of Nebraska, advocated
an expansion of the Nations power
facilities to meet any defense emer-
gency.
Says $500, 900, 900 Necessary.
He said it was not his view that
the expansion should interfere with
existing private enterprise, but added
that the job naturally was one for
the Government.
Senator Norris, sponsor of the act
setting up the Tennessee Valley Au-
thority, told reporters it would take
at least $500,O00 900 to construct
reserve power facilities necessary to
meet an emergency.
He explained that such construc-
ton might be improbable for pri-
vate utilities in peace time, but
that the Government could maintain
the facilities as an integral part
Of its defense program.
Unless additional facilities are
provided, Senator Norris said, war
would bring temporary disruption"
of the Nations economic life. In
such case. he added, it probably
would be necessary to curtail or
stop power service to most private
homes in order that the needs of
industry could be met.
Senator Logan, Democrat, of Ken
lucky, a member of the Military
Affairs Committee, concurred with
Senator Norris. saying. Power IA
cilities should be increased for de-
fense purposes and the Government
probably is the agency to do it."
Assistant Secretary of War Louis
johnson made survey last year
looking toward expansion Of exist
ing private facilities. Utility execu-
tives then outlined a two-year, $2,-
900 ,0000 building program in line
with War Department recommenda-
tions. This has been started, and
Col. johnson reported recently it
was progressing satisfactorily.
The Capital learned, meanwhile,
of the reasons for another defense
move.
President Roosevelt told reporters
while en- route to Washington from
Hyde Park last night that the de-
velopment of swift, long-range at
tack planes had necessitated crea-
ton of military Department Of the
Caribbean to safeguard the Panama
Canal. Mr.. Roosevelt Monday ap-
pointed Brig. Gen. Edmund L.