Evening star., 1940-05-29

pcIlOQ, DuJ tIlelT NATURE IlWcQld Uely
stirred wide differences Of opinion.
Speed Is Sought.
Chairman Harrison of the Senate
Finance Committee said there was
no reason why Congress could not
finish it in ample time for adjourn
ment before the Republican National
Convention June "a.
Senator Harrison and other lead
ers in both parties canvassed law
makers in Senate and House. seek
ing promises of cooperation In the
interests of speed. They were hope
full Of bringing out tax bill that
was streamlined and unencumbered
by the usual perplexities.
Indications materialized quickly,
however, that the tax program did
not meet. universal favor.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana called 1t "stop-gap" He
said he favored a suggestion by
Senator Byrd, Democrat. Of Virginia
that 10 per cent cut be made In
Government expenditures other than
those for defense purposes.
Called "Just a Gesture"
Senator Adams, Democrat of
Colorado described the proposals as
"just gesture" Senator Connally,
Democrat, of Texas proposed that
only the debt limit be raised at
this time, suggesting that House and
Senate Tax Committees return to
Washington in November to prepare
. comprehensive revision of the tax
structure.
Republican congressional reaction
generally was in support OF the ad-
miniStration program, although
some made it plain that they would
vote for an increase in the debt lin
itation only because it was coupled
with a tax increase.
The bill approved yesterday by
the House, 402 to /, authorizing the
s1,137 100000 expansion of the
Nays air force and of its system of
aviation bases. carries no funds (ac-
tual appropriations being left for
later measures) but 1t sets the mini
mum of Navy planes at 10000 and
the number of pilots at $4,000. The
construction and expansion of far
flung system of naval air bases,
authorized by the legislation, would
cost approximately $144,132, 900.
Speed Up Construction.
Earlier the chamber, with Repre-
sentative Marcantonio alone dis
eenting and 400 members voting
AYE" passed legislation to speed UP
construction of warships by permit
ting the Navy to slash through what
was called red tape"
Under this bill, which now goes to
the Senate, the competitive bidding
system would be replaced by nego-
tiated contracts. Contracts up to
S25,000 would be exempt from the
present laws provision limiting
profits to 10 per cent. Certain labor
regulations also would be relaxed.
Talk of fortifying Guam, island
IN the far Pacific, revived during
discussion Of the air force bill, and
Representative Mas, Republican, of
Minnesota, senior minority member
Of the House Naval Committee, de-
ciared that If he had his way IT'D
fortify Guam tomorrow"
{ Test Of "Fitness to Live"
sThe House listened intently while
Chairman Summers Of the House
Judiciary Committee predicted the
Nation was facing the test of its
'ffitness to live"
."We've gotten very soft in Amer
lea" the Texan said. solemnly. "You
can't preserve a people that has be-
cpme bottle-fed and rocked to sleep
In the arms Of government"
The measure to speed up warship
construction would authorize the
Secretary Of the Navy to make ad-
vance payments up to 80 per cent
Of naval contracts and to give Gov
eminent orders for machine tools
priority over foreign orders.