Evening star., 1940-05-06
Administration Foes
In Senate Mass
Behind Two Bills
Proposal to Stop Silver
Purchases Will Be
Debated Today

Following the House pige0nholing
Of wage-hour amendments, congress
sional action shifts this week to
the Senate, where administration
leaders are trying to kill two
measures:
l. The bill by Senator Townsend,
Republican, of Delaware, to end
Treasury purchases Of foreign silver.
2. A resolution to block President
Roosevelt's transfer of the Civil
Aeronautics Authority to the Com
merce Department.
The leadership conceded that 1t
faced tough battles on all the issues,
and its opponents were predicting
gleefully that an anti -administra-
ton coalition of Democrats and
Republicans would triumph ip one
two-three order.
Silver Issue Up Today.
The legislation to end foreign
silver buying was up for debate
today, and final vote was expected
tomorrow. At immediate issue was
an amendment by Senator Pitt
man, Democrat, of Nevada, to per-
NIT the continuation of such pur-
chases, provided that foreign sell
ers used proceeds from silver sales
to buy American farm products.
Democratic Leader Barkley said
that the suggestion would terminate
silver purchases from Latin Amer
lea and would be almost as thorough
as Senator Townsend's original leg
islation in stopping the present
program.
The usually cohesive bloc of silver
State Senators was split on the
Townsend bill. One opponent Of
the measure, Senator McCarran,
Democrat, Of Nevada, said:
"The bill would be notice to the
world that we do not look upon silver
as money. 1t would be step toward
the demonetization Of silver"
Senator McCarran is leading the
fight against Mr.. Rooseyelt's plan to
put the Civil Aeronautics Authority
in the Commerce Department. Both
houses must vote against the trans
Ter IN OrQeI 10 StOp IL.
Representative Martin of Massa-
chusetts, the House minority leader,
spoke out last night against the
Presidents plan, declaring In state
ment:
Il am hopeful that by prompt
non bipartisan action this week our
great civil aviation industry may be
spared further disruption and en-
barrassment at the hands Of politi-
cal bureaucrats."
House Considers Minor Bills.
The House is considering minor
bills. It's judiciary Committee will
decide tomorrow whether to recon-
slider its action In pigeon -holing the
Hatch bill banning political activi-
ties by State workers paid partly
from Federal funds.
Army and Navy officials, headed
by Secretary Of the Navy Edison,
probably will be asked to explain to
two Senate committees this week
what measures have been taken to
overhaul the United States military
machine to keep abreast Of war de-
velopments in Europe.
MI. Edison. who said last week
that aircraft appeared to have
achieved a temporary superiority
over battleships, may face some
critical questioning when he appears
before the Senate Naval Affairs Com
mittee tomorrow. He will testify in
behalf Of House-approved legislation
to expand the Navy by II per cent.
The House-approved measure, au-
thorizing future expenditures of
1855 ,000, 900 to build up the fleet, is
expected to win quick committee ap-
proval.
The Senate Appropriations Sub
committee considering the $7S5 ,000,-
600 military supply bill, arranged to
hear testimony by Brig. Gen. George
v. Strong, in charge Of the War
Plans Division.