The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-14
TO BOOST
ARMY POSTPONED
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ARMY POSTPONED
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who some day may-God forbid
be called upon to defend their
country" Burke added.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. William
E. Shedd, the army's assistant
chief Of staff in charge of per-
sonnet, told the house military
committee that the time required
by Congress to debate the con-
scription issue had forced a post
ponement of the objective OF $780,
600 men under arms until Jan. l.
Originally, and presupposing the
speedy passage of the necessary
legislation, he said, the army
schedule called for the drafting OF
400, 900 trainees on Get. l. Trainees
plus modified National Guards
men and regular army compon-
ents would have produced the 900,
600 figure. The revised schedule,
he said, called for rs, 900 trainees
on Oct. Is, 0 1000 more on Nov. l,
IS, 900 on Nov Is, 100, 900 in early
December and about 8 5000 late
that month.
Given Right-of-Way
Already approved by the senate,
the legislation enabling the presi-
dent to muster the militia for a
welve-month training period, was
given the right-of-way in the house
during the day by it's rules COM
mittee. And a joint housesenate
committee on taxes heard repre-
sentatives of the Chamber of Com
merce Of the United States and
the National association Of manu-
facturers assert their views on the
proposed excess profits tax.
For the chamber, Ellsworth G.
Alvord, urged that legislation per-
hitting manufacturers to deduct
the cost of plant expansion for de-
tense purposes over a five y,B,r
period be enacted as a separate
bill, with the excess profits levy
postponed so it would be simplified
and improved. Carl N. Osborne OF
the N. A. M. asked that the excess
profits tax be carefully drawn and
specifically put forward as an
emergency" measure, not a per-
manent one.
Downtown, meanwhile, Arthur B
Purvis, chief British purchasing
agent, announced that the United
States had agreed to supply Great
Britain with 1900 to 1,400 fighting
planes monthly, beginning Gin the
late 1941." The British had want
ed 5000 a month beginning next
January, but William S. Knudsen,
in charge of defense production,
suggested the changed schedule.
Intense Debate
In its third day, the senate's
CONSUMPTION debate had lost none
of its intensity of feeling, but most
senators had obviously begin to
feel they had heard all the argu-
ments and were waiting principal
ly for the opportunity to vote. The
attendance was slim, and consist
ed mostly of senators opposed to
the bill, intently listening to Wheel.
er.
Wheeler asserted that the army
men wanted CONSUMPTION whether
or not it was possible to & e t
enough men by voluntary enlist
ments.
1T is clear" he shouted, that
the general staff's desire for con-
scription is not based on the needs
of the present crisis but on utiliz-
ing the present crisis to saddle
CONSUMPTION on the country in or
der that it can maintain a large
standing army in peace time with
out so much confused discussion,
and in order to heighten the pres
tige of the army with the public,
to make the public military-mi:sd-
ed, and to Tine it up behind the
army"
AS had other opponents of the
bill, Wheeler urged that basic ar
my pay be raised from $21 to $50
monthly, to place it on a par with
C.CCwages. He also joined other
foes rf tho oasl,r in or""""9
that CONSUMPTION would destroy de-
o.J.
THE integrity and institutions
of he United States are indeed
gravely threatened" he said,,
land it is the bill now before you,
and the hysteria which bred it,
which creates that threat.
IF you pass this bill, you slit
the throat of the last democracy
still living-you accord to Hitler
his greatest and cheapest victory
to date. On the headstone of Amer
lean democracy he will inscribe-
tIJ4ro Ice TIA foromncf within of