Evening star., 1940-01-07
By ], A. O'LEARY.

Byrnes Plans Resurvey.
At the same time, Senator Byrnes,
Democrat, of South Carolina, chair
man Of the Senate Naval Appropri-
ations Subcommittee, called atten-
ton to his plan to make resurvey
OF the Navy funds granted by the
last session for the current year.
Pointing out that current appro-
priations were based on estimates
prepared in September, 1888, year
before the war began in Europe.
Senator Byrnes said he wants to find
out whether subsequent events have
caused the naval experts to change
their views any as to the relative
merits of various items. If they
have, the Senator said. current funds
for construction not yet placed under
contract could be reallocated in a
deficiency bill.
Senator Byrnes is understood to
have outlined his plans for this re-
survey Of existing appropriations to
President Roosevelt during a lunch
con visit to the White House yester-
day.
Edison to Be First Witness.
Newly-appointed Secretary of the
Navy Edison is slated to be the first
witness when the House committee
meets at 1890 am. tomorrow on the
new expansion bill introduced We'd
nesday by Representative Vinson of
Georgia, committee chairman.
The measure. Mr.. Vinson ex-
planned, authorizes 126 more ships
of various types other than battle
ships. and an increase Of 2,300 in
the authorized number of planes.
While this bill is only the basic au-
thorization, Mr.. Vinson said last
night it is not intended to be a
mere paper authorization" but is
being proposed with view to build
ing the ships within two or three
years.
In addition to considering the
proposed building program, Mr.. Vim
son said he would appoint a sub
committee to study proposals for
reorganization Of the Navy Depart
ment. The Georgian said Repre-
sentative Darden, Democrat, Of Vir-
ginia would head the subcommittee.
Many members OF Congress, in
cluding Mr. Darden and Representa-
tive Mas of Minnesota. senior mi
nority member of the Naval Com
mittee, have been critical OF the
Nays system OF bureaus.
Mr.. Darden said the system was
Jerry built" and contributed to In
efficiency in administration Of the
Nays affairs.
Mr. Mas already has introduced
legislation to reorganize the depart
ment, giving it general staff mod
eled along the lines of the Army's
and which would coordinate naval
policies.
Republicans Make Proposal.
The proposal for special joint
congressional inquiry into the ma
tional defense question was put for
ward by the Senate Republican Con-
ference Friday, at the same time
that it Endorsed the Harrison propo-
sal for a similar joint study of the
budget and revenue situation as a
whole.
Senator Barkley made no comment
on the Harrison resolution, but made
this observation regarding the joint
national defense probe:
I'VE have right to presume that
the Naval and Appropriations Com
mittees of both the House and Sen
ate have kept in touch with the ex-
penditure of money appropriated for
national defense and, while nobody
objects to obtaining all information
available on the subject, I am not
sure just how a joint committee
could obtain more valuable informa-
ton than has been or can be OBJ
tanned by the four committees Of the
two Houses. acting in their respec-
tive capacities. The two naval and
military committees of each House
went thoroughly into the whole
question in recommending increases
which were authorized, and this was
supplemented by additional detailed
information obtained by the Appro-
priation subcommittee of the House
and Senate
Borah Favors Study.
Senator Borah, Republican, of
Idaho, on the other hand, expressed
the view a joint congressional study
would be particularly helpful in re-
gard to national defense.
Republican House Leader Martin
of Massachusetts,. commenting on
the budget recommendation for new
taxes to cover increased national de-
fense funds, said yesterday:
mo one wants to put new taxes
on the books If they can be avoided"
Pointing to a proposed increase
of $4,000 men in the standing Army,
Representative Martin said that 'if
we were going into war $4,000 men
would not mean very much" but if
that number is to be added to the
permanent Army personnel 1T
would make a lot of difference" in
the annual expense. He indicated he
thought such increases should be