Evening star., 1940-05-22
BY ]. A. O'LEARY,

A Senate Appropriations Subcom-
mittee, acting with White House
approval, today boosted the naval
share of the Presidents new defense
program from $318, 700 900 to $472,-
766, 900 to expedite aircraft orders
and increase the naval and marine
enlisted strength.
The last-minute increases consist
of 500, ,000, 900 of contract authoriza-
ton for planes, in addition to $780,
600, 900 in cash for the same purpose,
and $54,776,000 for increased en-
listed strength.
This action, which goes before the
Appropriations Committee for ap-
proval at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon.
brings the total of the Navy bill for
the next II months up to 81 ,436, ,576,-
600. Taken with the $3.50, ,000, 900
Army bill, approaching Senate pas
sage this afternoon, 1t makes the
combined defense program Of more
than $3,250, 900 900.
Discussion Sought.
While all congressional groups
were moving forward on the bills to
set the defense program in motion,
Senator vandenberg, Republican. Of
Michigan requested Chairman Har.
rison to call the Finance COMMITTEES
together 'at least Informally" to
discuss "the question of . new na.
tional defense tax bill.'
In the rush to make the appro-
priations, congressional leaders have
made no DEFINITE move to determine
how the defense requirements will
be financed. Reviving this side of
the picture, Senator Vandenberg
wrote:
THE President appears to leave
this decision entirely to Congress.
1t is just as important as any other
part of the defense problem, because
the maintenance of a sound public
credit Is the maintenance Of the
first line Of defense"
Another defense development to-
day was approval by the Senate
Military Affairs Committee of q bill
to speed up the military end of the
program by iberalizing War De-
partment procedure in making
contracts.
N0n-Partisan Board Asked.
In connection with this bill, Sena-
tor Austin, Republican. Of Vermont
drafted an amendment to delegate
broad power to the President to set
up non-partisan five-man board Of
industrialists to direct the speeding
up of defense construction. After
informal discussion, however, 1t was
decided not to attempt to incor-
porate it in the pending measure.
The Army defense speedup bill,
somewhat comparable to the Vinson
measure in the House to expedite
naval construction, would enable the
War Department to dispense with
the advertising requirement on con-
tracts; suspend statutory limitations
as to cost of individual projects for
two years; suspend all existing
limitations on the number of flying
cadets and reserve air corps officers;
remove all limitations on the num-
ber of planes that may be equipped
during the coming year; let down
civil service requirements in obtain
ing new personnel for the War De-
partment.
Senator Shepherd announced the
Military Committee made two last
minute amendments to: Provide
basic law authorizing the un-
earmarked fund of $132, 900 900
which is being given the President
In the pending Army supply bill,
and which provoked debate in the
Senate today. -
Authorize the President to pro-
hibit or curtail the expectation Of
any military equipment or materials,
whenever he deems it necessary to
further this country's defense.
Rear Admiral John H. Towers,
naval air chief, told the House Naval
(See DEFENSE. page A-5.)