Evening star., 1940-05-21


meets in January.
The question OF financing the
preparedness program was raised in
the House by Republican Leader
Martin. Democratic Leader Ray
burn replied that the administration
was giving serious consideration
to the problem, and predicted the
people would be pleased" with the
solution. In few days he said he
expected to have more knowledge
on the Presidents recommendation
OF the s31800O, 900 being consid-
cred for the Navy at today's execu-
tive session, $250,000, 900 would be
made available to the Secretary OF
the Navy to move faster on the pro-
gram already authorized. 1t is ex-
pected $100,O0O,0OO would be used
to hasten completion of ships under
way, s100,000,0O0 to buy more au-
thorized planes and $4,000 900 for
guns and munitions.
S68, 5000, 900 Check for President.
The remaining $68,00O,00O is the
discretionary fund to be placed in
the Presidents hands, for use where
most needed in promoting national
security while Congress is in recess.
Half of it-$34,000, ,000-would be
cash and the other half contract
authorization.
The Army bill now before the
Senate would give the President a
corresponding lump sum fund OF
S132 ,000, 900 to be used as he deems
best in strengthening land defenses.
The President indicated in his mes
sage last week he expects to use the
bulk of this money to build up air
defenses, which the present Euro
pean war has shown to be the driv-
ing power Of present-day fighting
technique.
These presidential lump sums seem
likely to provoke the only major
controversy over the defense pro-
gram in the Senate, but indications
are the opposition will not succeed
in eliminating them.
The defense drive had gained such
momentum today that Majority
Leader Barkley was optimistic over
the chances of winding up the ses-
sion before the middle of June, as
planned before the trend of the war
in Europe prompted the admins
tration TO put forward the new pro-
gram.
Both Passed by House.
The enlarged naval bill may be
ready to come from committee by
the time the Senate passes the Army
measure. Both measures have passed
the House, so that Senate action
will send them to conference.
Before the trend of the war began
to go against the democracies in
Europe, the Army and Navy funds
for the year commencing July had
been cut sharply below budget esti-
mates as the two bills went through
the House originally. The new esti-
mates now being considered as q
result OF the Presidents personal
appeal at last weeks joint session
will Offset those reductions and add
considerably more.
The House showed its willingness
to expedite the new program wher
it agreed late yesterday to the Sen.
ate's request for reopening of the
original naval bill, which had al.
ready passed both houses and gone
to conference. If this had not
besen done the House Appropriations
Committee would have had to bring
out a new bill to carry the added
funds for the Navy, a course that
would have delayed action for q
week or more.
Act After Hearing Stark.
Instead the House Subcommittee
on Deficiencies, after conferring in
formally all day yesterday with
Admiral Stark, recommended that
the House return the original Navy
bill to the Senate for inclusion OF
the presidential increases.
High lights of the big Army bill
to which the Presidents program
resulted in adding $500, ,00O, 900 to the
original 1941 estimates, include: A
proposed total increase in the mum.
Der of Army planes from 5,666 tt
8,066, increase of $1,000 in the en-.
listed strength of the Army, bringing
1t up to the full peacetime authori-
Zation of 100000; sharp expansion
Of the motorized equipment, such
as tanks, combat cars, anti-aircraft
and anti-tank weapons, and a $14,.
250,0 900 fund for educational orders
to prepare peacetime industries fol
the changes necessary to swine
over to wartime production in the
ovopt of eynorOopcv