Evening star., 1939-03-22
Neutrality Hearings
Asked Early 10 Avoid
Bias if War Breaks
Pittmon's Views Believed
Rejecting Attitude Of
Administration

Rejecting Attitude Of
Administration
BY the Associated Press.
Chairman Pittman asked the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee today to order prompt hear
1ngS on proposals to change the
Neutrality Act.
The situation today in Europe
and in Asia, in my opinion, de-
mands that we decide on our policy
before there may be general war;"
Senator Pittman said. ANY gov
ernment establishing a policy after
war breaks out, If it changes the ex-
listing situation. is charged with be-
ing unneutral."
Senator Pittmans view that there
must be early action on neutrality
legislation, if any change is to be
made, was said to reflect adminis-
tration opinion.
A section of the present law which
permits the sale of supplies-other
than war materialS-to belligerents
on "caSh-and-carry" basis expires
May l. Senator Pittman has pro-
posed that sale of munitions be
permitted on the same basis, ad-
mltting that in wartime this would
0eneflt nations controlling the seas.
Other Proposals Made.
Other pepding neutrality pro-
posals range from repeal of the law
to suggestion by Senator Thomas,
Democrat, of Utah. which in effect
would let the President designate
an aggresSOr nation and forbid Ship
ments to it.
Action has been held up On all
neutrality bills under motion by
Senator Johnson. Republican, Of
California providing that no hear
ingS could be fixed until the COM
mittee ordered them by a ma ajority
vote.
Another wartime proposal was
submitted yesterday when Senator
Bone. Democrat, of Washington in
troduced a bill. signed by so Sena-
tors, to take all the profits out of
war" 1t would impose greatly
increased tax rates in event of a
conflict.
Exemptions would be lowered and
surtaXes in the highest brackets
would range up to SO per cent for in
dividualS. Corporations would be
taxed 100 per cent Of net incomes in
excess of per cent of their adjusted
declared value.
Long Urged by Veterans.
The legislation has been advocated
for several years by the Veterans OF
Foreign Wars and other civic and
peace groups. The bill was entitled
A measure to tax the profits out Of
war by steeply graduated income
and other taxes, in order to provide
for an effective national defense, to
promote peace. to encourage actual
neutrality, to discourage war prof
iteering. to distribute the burdens
Of war and to keep democracy alive
Besides Senator Bone, Senate sign
ers of the proposal were:
Senators Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,; Nye, Republican. of North
Dakota: Vandenberg. Republican. of
Michigan: Nicely, Democrat, of West
Virginia; Frazier, Republican, of
North Dakota; Lundeen. Farmer
Labor, of Minnesota: Shipstead
Farmer-Labor, of Minnesota; Cap
per, Republican. of Kansas; La Fol-
lette, Progressive, of Wisconsin:
Reynolds, Democrat, of North Caro-
lima; Bulow, Democrat. of South
Dakota; Hatch. Democrat, of New
Mexico; Lee, Democrat. of Okla
homa; Johnson, Democrat, of Colo
RADIO: McCarran, Democrat, OF
Nevada: Thomas. Democrat, of
Oklahoma; Murray. Democrat, of
Montana; Smathers. Democrat. of
New Jersey; Donahey, Democrat. OF
Ohio; Holt, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia; Gillette, Democrat, of Iowa
Schwartz, Democrat, of Wyoming
Hughes, Democrat, of Delaware;
Pepper, Democrat, of Florida
Ashurst, Democrat, of Arizona
Tobey, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire; Wheeler, Democrat, of Mon
tana: Holman. Democrat, of Oregon;
Clark, Democrat, of Idaho; Brown
Democrat, of Michigan: Reed, Re-
publican, of Kansas: Wiley, Repub-
lican, of Wisconsin; Van Nuys
Democrat, of Indiana; George
Democrat, of Georgia; Bilbo, Demo
crat, of Mississippi; Chavez, Demo-
crat, of New Mexico: Gurney, Re-
publican, OF South Dakota; OMa-
honey, Democrat, of Wyoming: Ma
lOney. Democrat, of Connecticut
Gibson, Republican, of Vermont;
Hill, Democrat, of Alabama: Tru-
man, Democrat, of Missouri;
Andrews, Democrat, of Florida; Bar
bour, Republican, of New Jersey
Stewart, Democrat, of Tennessee
Herring, Democrat, of Iowa; Wagner
Democrat, Of New York; Downey
Democrat, of California; Russell
Democrat, of Georgia.
House authors were Representa-
tives Voorhis, Democrat, of Cali
fofnia; Case, Republican of South
DOkata; Starnes, Democrat, of Ala
bama, and Van Zandt, Republican
of Pennsylvania
Mr.. Van Zandt said the measure
would avoid the necessity for any
dictatorship control to prevent
profiteering.
Roosevelt Silent on Crisis,
President Roosevelt, asked at his
press conference for his reaction to
developments in Central Europe. said
ne was not happy over the situation
but would not comment further.
1t became known, however, that
the United States Government has
formally communicated to Germany
its condemnation" of the German
seizure Of Czecho-S -Slovakia as an act
of "wanton lawlessness."
A note to Germany, made public
by the State Department Yesterday
refused to recognize that any lega]
basis exists" for Reichfuehrer Hit
ler's protectorate over Bohemia and