Evening star., 1940-05-25
Legislation 10 Curb
Fifth Co|umnists'
Sped in Congress
Laws to Be Passed
Before Adjournment,
> Leaders Predict

Before Adjournment,
> Leaders Predict
BY the Associated Press.
Reused by successive rumors that
"fifth columns" are forming in the
Americas, congressional leaders pre-
dicted today that legislation to repel
any back-door invaders would be
hastened into law before adjourn
ment.
AS fast and thick as the "fifth
column" reports came new proposals
for anti-subversion legislation, while
others that had been stalled on the
road to enactment picked up mo-
mentum again.
In the Senate:
A Judiciary subcommittee started
hearings today on House-approved
legislation to outlaw efforts to tam
per with military discipline, to re-
quire deportation of law-breaking
aliens, and to require f1ngerprinting
of all incoming aliens.
The immigration Committee ap-
proved a House bill to require the
deportation of aliens who advocate
changes in the American form of
government.
Senate Inquiry Proposed.
A Senate investigation Of sub
versive activities which affect the
national defense was proposed by
Senator Reynolds, Democrat, of
North Carolina, who also submitted
resolution calling on all Govern
ment agencies to report to the
Senate on aliens they employ.
Senator Stewart, Democrat, of
Tennessee proposed a permanent
alien registration commission"
Chairman Sheppard said the Sen
ate Military Affairs Committee
would hold hearings soon on legisla-
tion to set up a national industrial
defense corps" of private citizens
who would cooperate with the Gov
ernment in locating fifth COL
umnists."
Debate over the proposal to limit
employment of aliens in American
industry delayed vote yesterday on
pending legislation to prohibit use of
labor spies and strikebreakers in
interstate industry.
Limit on Hiring Aliens.
Senator Reynolds amendment
would prohibit employers engaged in
interstate commerce from hiring
more than 10 per cent alien workers
The Senator contended that "aliens
are usurping the jobs of American
workingmen"
The amendment also would pro-
hibit payment of more than 10 per
cent of all pay rolls to aliens. Sem
ator Reynolds said this provision was
designed to cover the case of the
foreign motion picture star who
might receive more for one picture
than all production workers put to-
gether.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of
Utah opposed the Reynolds proposal
contending that under it injustice
may be done to the most worthy per-
son." The question involved such
complicated problems. he added, that
it would be impossible to make a
simple division in law between
"alien and citizen"
Senator Wagner, Democrat. of
New York raised question as to
the constitutionality of such an act.
and Majority Leader Barkley urged
a modification to classify aliens who
have applied for citizenship as citi-
zens for employment purposes.
In the House
A bill containing authority for the
Secretary of War to purge the
Army's civilian personnel Of fifth
column suspects regardless of civil
service restrictions was passed yes
terday and sent to the Senate.
The committee investigating I'M
American activities requested an
other 100000 to investigate leads
which, Chairman Dies said, "are
coming in faster than we can handle
them"
Representative Dies said the COM
mittee was trying to confirm reports
that Germans have directed the
establishment of camouflaged air
bases just south of the Rio Grande.
Other proposals for combating
fifth column" technique included:
Senator Bridges, Republican. of
New Hampshire - That Congress
forbid aliens to carry. own, buy or
sell any implements of war.
George Hill, representing the
Houston (Texas) Chamber Of Com
merce writing the Senate Military
Affairs Committee)-That a ma
tional industrial defense corps, COM
prised of private citizens, be organ
lied, with units in areas designated
by the President as likely to be
threatened by foreign agents and in
industries vital to national defense.
In a discussion of the Reynolds
proposal Senator Clark, Democrat,
of Missouri asked whether I'M
American activities Of citizens should
not also be investigated. He con-
tinued:
II think that Gen. George Van
Horn Moseley has put himself in
the position of cooperating with
FasciSm