Evening star., 1939-01-26
Bitter Fight Brewing
In Senate on Am|ie
Choice for |. {. {.
Several Members Soy
Ex-Representotive's
Views Are Too Liberal
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A Senate fight over confirmation
of Thomas r. Amlie as a member
of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission was assuming today the pro-
portions of broad conflict of eco
nomic views.
Some Senators expressed opposi-
ton to Mr.. Amlie because of his
views as embodied in legislation he
proposed when member of the
House from Wisconsin. Others were
quick to announce approval of the
nomination.
Senator Andrews, Democrat, of
Florida said President Roosevelt s
appointment of the former Progress
sive Representative to a Federal
commission could not be classed in
the same category as his recent cab
met selections.
Several Senators announced that
they voted for confirmation of Harry
Hopkins as Secretary of Commerce,
despite their opposition to the ap-
pointment, because they believe the
1lCSidCIiU oilOlAlN lldNC q IL &C lldllo III
selecting his cabinet. Some of these
said no such consideration was in
volved in the Amlie appointment.
Committee to Give Him Hearing.
Chairman Wheeler announced
that the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee would give Mr.. Amlie, who
was defeated for the Progressive
nomination for the Senate in Wis
consin last fall, full opportunity to
explain his congressional record.
Senator Wheeler added that a
resolution passed by the Wisconsin
Legislature Yesterday, urging Mr.
Roosevelt to withdraw the appoint
ment or the Senate to reject it, also
would be considered. The Legisla-
ture branded Mr.. Amlie Com
munist.
While in the House Mr.. Amlie
sponsored a proposed constitutional
amendment for Government owner
ship and management of business,
manufacturing, industry and bank
ing.
LA Illlo SOlIllCSIlOll, SClldIOl 1NOIl lS,
independent. of Nebraska COM
mented:
II don't believe that it disqualifies
man to be an Interstate Commerce
commissioner if he believes in Gov
ernment ownership of the rail-
roads"
On the other hand. Senator Aus
tin, Republican, of Vermont said he
believed the committee should make
a thorough investigation of Mr.
Amlie's proposed legislation.
"My first impression of the ap-
pointment is bad, but I do not want
to prejudge the case" Senator Aus
tin said.
There was discussion also of a
speech Mr.. Amlie made in the
House on February 26, 1886, in which
he said the Federal debt could be
increased by an additional S5OO00,-
100000 before the Nations credit
were endangered He said that if in
flation then were threatened, the
Government could resort to capi-
tai levy on the wealthy.
Senator La Toilette, Progressive
Of Wisconsin said he would support
Mr. Amlie's nomination. His new Re-
publican colleague, Senator Wiley
said he wanted to study the nom
inees record before making any de-
cision.
Discussing President Roosevelt s
statement Tuesday that he had ap-
pointed Mr. Amlie as a non-Demo-
crat on an 11-member commission
which includes six Democrats, Sen
ator Burke, Democrat, of Nebraska
said:
Il don't know that he (Amlie) has
to be opposed to the democratic
form of government in order to
qualify as non-Democrat."
Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada said he did not consider the
Amlie appointment satisfactory.
His views, as I read them, Sena-
tor McCarran said, "are entirely too
radical"