Evening star., 1939-10-22
Senate PASSAGE
Of 0fNeutra|ityBl|
Due by Friday
Measure Might Then
Face Final Testin
House Next Week
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

AoCiidtC pdoodSC vi IllC IlCuJl duIy
bill by Friday, with repeal of the
arms embargo and strict cash-and-
carry terms on all trade to belliger-
ents. appeared likely last night, even
though the third week ended with
out limitation on debate.
If this prediction, coming from
reliable quarters on Capitol Hill, is
borne out, the measure may face its
final test in the House by the middle
of the following week. While the
lineup is believed to be much closer
on the repeal issue in that branch
than in the Senate, supporters of
the bill believe they are holding q
safe margin of victory in the House.
At the end of flve-hour Saturday
session, during which Senator Rey-
nolds, Democrat, of North Carolina
came out against lifting the embargo,
move by Majority Leader Barkley
to limit speeches from now on by
unanimous consent was blocked
temporarily.
Minority Leader McNary, who ex-
pressed regret that he found it
necessary to object for the time
being, after a canvass of his asso-
ciates, at the same time said he
could extend some hope to the lead
ership that on Monday We may be
able to work out some arrange
ment." Senator McNary is known
to favor reasonable limitation.
Senator Barkley had proposed
that speeches be limited to one hour
for each Senator on the bill, and to
30 minutes on each amendment.
There was good chance that this,
or some modified proposal, would be
accepted tomorrow to take effect
Tuesday.
Longer Sessions.
Meanwhile, Vice President Gar.
ner was reported from reliable
sources to be in favor of Senate lead
ers arranging to meet earlier and
extending the daily sessions into
the evening if it develops that q
unanimous consent limitation can
not be obtained Unless there
should be unexpected developments
in the next few days, however, this
course probably will not be taken.
| Tomorrow's session was called for
IL am, instead of the usual noon
hour, but no effort probably will be
| made to hold the Senate later than
the usual adjournment time as long
as progress is being made
The announcement of Senator
Reynolds. heretofore noncommittal,
was a pickup of one vote for the
anti-repeal bloc. However. while
some other Senators are still in tho
! doubtful column, the vote for em-
barge repeal is expected to show .
decisive majority when the roll call
comes. Supporters of the bill are
counting on IS or more. which would
mean approximately 80 against re-
peal. These estimates, they say,
may vary few votes up or down.
Debate High Lights.
High lights of yesterdays debate
were:
A suggestion by Senator Reynolds
that Russia, rather than Germany,
may have sunk the British ship
Athena on its voyage away from
Europe with homeward-b bound
Americans in the first week of hos
| tilities
An appeal by Senator Vanden-
berg, Republican, of Michigan that
Congress and the administration
consider what effect cash-and- carry
foreign trade may have on the fiscal
and monetary affairs of this coun.
try, particularly if it attracts more
OF the worlds gold supply to the
United States. He revealed he has
submitted the question to Secretary
OF the Treasury Morgenthau and ex-
pressed hope reply will be received
before the neutrality bill is COM
pleted
Earlier in the day, Senator An
drews, Democrat. of Florida spoke
In support of embargo repeal, as
serting this step will have a greater
tendency to keep the United States
out of war"
Although at least % amendments
have been drafted for possible con-
slderation when the Senate gets
down to detailed action this week,
much of the controversy has been
taken out of this stage of the battle
by the voluntary action of those in
charge of the bill.
Many Issues Eliminated.
BY dropping the original 9O-day
credit clause to obtain strict CASH
and-carry and by modifying the
shipping provisions to permit the
American merchant marine to op-
crate more freely in the Pacific,
South Atlantic and other waters re-
mote from the European danger
zone, supporters of the bill have
eliminated features that might have
prolonged the fight.
A variety of other changes in the
bill undoubtedly will be proposed
by individual Senators, but the de-
cisive roll call is expected to come
on motion to strike out the sec.
ton repeating the arms embargo,
which supporters of the bill are con-
fident will fail. This may not come
until late In the week, however,
after less important issues have
been disposed of.
| A' 40 WV COLL ~ W pIculCC OeIlQlUeIy
the exact procedure House leaders
will follow when the bill reaches
that body, but there is a strong
belief in some quarters at the Cap
itol that move may be made to
have the House concur in the Sen
ate measure without sending it to
conference. If carried, this would
complete congressional action and
send the bill to the President.
If this program is adopted, how
ever, it probably would be done un-
der a special rule that would al
low both sides much more than
the usual time allotted by the House
for debate on such motion.
If the administration has a ma
jority in the House for embargo re-
1