The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-03

the United States such preference in the matter of the execution of orders, or who shall refuse to manufacture the kind, quantity, or quality of arms or ammuni- ton, or the parts thereof, or any necessary supplies or equipment, as ordered by the Secretary of War or the Secretary of the Navy, or who shall refuse to furnish such arms, ammunition, or parts of ammunition, or other supplies or equipment, at a reasonable price as determined by the Secre- tary of War or the Secretary of the Navy, as the case may be, then and in either case the PreSi- dent, through the head of the War or Navy Departments of the Government, in addition to the present authorized methods of purchase or procurement provided for, is hereby authorized to take immediate possession of any such plants, and through the appro- priate branch, bureau or depart ment of the Army or Navy or by contract with private firms to manufacture therein such product or material as may be required, any individual, firm, com pany, association, or corporation, or organized manufacturing n- dustry, or the responsible head or heads thereof, failing to comply with the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of felony, and upon conviction shall be pun ished by imprisonment for not more than three years and by 8 fine not exceeding $50,000.
 Fair Compensation.
 "The compensation to be paid to any individual, firm, company, association, corporation, or or ganized manufacturing industry for its products or material, or as rental for use of any manufac- turing plant while used by the Unted States, shall be fair and just: Provided, That nothing herein shall be deemed to render in applicable existing State or Federal laws concerning the health, safety, security, and em- ployment standards of the em- ployes in such plant"
 Congress Starts Debate
 Washington, Sept. 3. (UP)-De- bate on the senate-approved Burke Conscription bill begins ln the House today.
 Prospects were that the fight over the senate proposal to employer the to commando indus trial plants refusing to cooperate in the defense program, might over shadow debate on the main issue the principle of compulsory military training.
 With general debate limited to two days, administration leaders ex- pected a final vote sometime Friday. There was no doubt that the bill would pass. It will go to conference with the senate next week.
 The House militsry affairs com mittee decides this morning wheth- CT the bill, will include, when it gies to the floor, provision such as was added to the senate version in the closing day of debate there, for gov ernment condemnation of non-co- operating industrial plants. If it de- cides affirmatively an amendment will be offered from the floor to strike it out.
 Speaker William B. Bankhead came out in favor of the principle of plant condemnation.
 Authority to Use Industry
 He said that if the government was to be given power to conscript men, it should have authority to use industry if the defense emergency it.
 The issue promises to raise a sharp fight, as Republican Presi- dential nominee, Wendell L. Willkie has denounced the proposal as a step toward specialization or Sovit- ization" of industry.
 Meanwhile, American Federation of Labor President William Green and Congress of Industrial Organ izations President John L. Lewis condemned the conscription in peacetime. Both urged further trial of voluntary recruiting.
 But it was considered a foregone conclusion that the House would approve peacetime conscription by and overwhelming vote.
 Members of the House military af- fairs committee believed their group would sponsor an amendment aimed at the same objective as the senate plant condemnation amendment Rep. J. Joseph Smith, D., Conn.,, has drafted an amendment to apply a World War law to the existing em- ergency that would authorize the taking over of plants by the gov ernment but would require payment of a flair and just" rental.