Evening star., 1940-05-18
Defense
Continued From First Page.)

hour standards of the Walsh -Healy
Act when these were found to be
"prejudicial' to national defense
4. Suspend Federal profit limita-
tions of 10 and IL per cent on con-
tracts of $25,0 or less. The pres
ent- limit is $4,000.
S. Permit the Navy Department to
make allowances for plant expansion
costs on Navy contracts. These costs
now are subject also to Treasury
Department approval.
6. Remove present work period
limits of 40 hours weekly and 8
hours day, with provision for
overtime payment at a rate of "time
and one-half" This would apply to
Government naval workers or those
on Government contracts and would
set up maximum of 48 hours sub
ject to increase by presidential order.
Two Committees Meet.
Meanwhile, Americas mightiest
peacetime preparedness drive was
moving into high speed, powered by
aggressive non-partisan support for
the plans drawn in broad outline
by President Roosevelt.
Foregoing their usual weekend
letdown from legislative matters,
two congressional committees met
to carry on momentum of ex-
pediting necessary legislation. Be-
fore a Senate Military Appropri-
ations Subcommittee was a pro-
posal for addition of $4,000, 900
to the Army supply will, while be-
fore the House Naval Committee
was legislation aimed at speeding
the fleet-building program
Impetus to committee deliber-
ations was given yesterday by the
Senate subcommittee approval of
1884, ,877,724 in the Army bill, rep
resenting an increase of about $675,-
000, 900 above the amounted voted
by the House.
The Senate group first added
$545, ,770,364 in new funds asked by
the President Thursday, then tackled
on $50,000,000 for Army personnel.
Moreover, it inserted more than
$51, ,OO0, 900 in items which had been
approved by the Budget Bureau
last January but had been denied
by the House. These items included
$35,415,O69 for the Signal Corps,
ordnance, transportation, etc.
Specific authority to enter into
contracts, to be met by future ap-
propriations, brought the grand
total to 81 ,694, ,877,724.
The $132 100000 being considered
today would represent the Army's
share of the 5000, ,O0O,000 fund which
the President requested Congress
Thursday to place at his personal
disposal. The subcommittee worked
at such a pace yesterday that this
item was overlooked, and today'S
session was to remedy the omission.
Plans were being drafted simul-
taneously elsewhere to cover the
whole sphere of military effort-from
large-scale expansion of aircraft
and munitions industries to the
training of pilots.
Led by former President Herbert
Hoover and Alfred M. Landon, 1896
presidential nominee, key Republican
figures backed the administration
In putting defense needs foremost.
There was conjecture in some
quarters as to whether a bipartisan
defense coalition might be in the
offing. This speculation was spurred
by an invitation to Mr.. Landon to
lunch with President Roosevelt at
the White House Wednesday. There
was deterrent, however, in Mr..
Landons charge that the admins
tration had been "tragically late"
In assuring preparedness.
Interest likewise attached to the
announcement of Col. Frank Knox.
Republican vice presidential NOM
inee in 1896, that Mr.. Roosevelt had
authorized him to disclose plans for
'Plattsburgs of the air." an idea con-
ceived and backed by a groun Of
paUlos'c ci1lzens. This project en-