Evening star., 1940-02-15

Sen0te TO CONSIDER
Treosury-Post Office
Appropriation Bill
~ the Associated Press
Quiet efforts by the Navy Depart
ment to restore part Of the $111,-
6o9, 900 slashes from its budget by the
House Appropriations Committee ap-
peared today to have netted only
polite rebuffs from congressional
leaders.
Admiral Harold r. Stark. chief Of
naval operations, discussed the re-
ductions yesterday with Chairman
Vinson and two other members Of
the House Naval Committee.
Admiral Stark emphasized that the
e966, 6,772,878 outlay recommended by
= the Appropriations Committee would
be insufficient to finance the Navy
for the year starting July /, but
he apparently got little out of the
conference beyond promise of
help to restore some of the 224 air
planes eliminated.
Representatives Darden, Demo-
crat, of Virginia and Mas, Repub-
lcan, of Minnesota agreed, the latter
said, to seek restoration of possibly
the Ill planes which will be assigned
to the aircraft carrier Hornet, now
under construction. It was explained
that planes must be available and
their pilots trained before the car
riers are commissioned.
Deficiency Fund Need Seen.
Representative Vinson told re-
porters the deductions would neces-
state deficiency appropriation next
year. He and Representative Mas
contended, however, that the cur
tailed funds would not prevent the
Navy from starting construction Of
four 45,000-ton battleships and four
cruisers.
President Roosevelt has expressed
. hope that the battleship money
would be put back in the bill.
The House scheduled further dis
cussion of the drastically trimmed
measure today after sidetracking 1t
yesterday to consider Indian legis-
lation.
The Senate turned to the 1882
784,115 Treasury-Post Office appro-
priation bill, which was increased
e629,5O3 by its Appropriation Com
mittee. The measure still was SILL
100000 below budget estimates.
The committee rejected pleas by
Secretary Morgenthau and the Coast
Guard for additional long-range
patrol planes for the neutrality
patrol.
War Materials Item Cut.
It also approved House reduction
of $2,5O0,0O0 in a proposed $15,000,-
900 fund to buy strategic war ma
terials, and Mr. Roosevelt requested
Congress to make the full amount
available.
In letters to Vice President Garner
and Speaker Bankhead, the Presi-
dent cited a report from an inter-
departmental committee saying
reserve Of such materials was i'm
portant not only for national de-
tense but for strengthening the
neutrality patrol. The materials in
clude manganese, rubber and tin.
Secretary Morgenthau and Rear
Admiral r. R. Waesche, Coast
Guard commandant, had pleaded
for $2,199 900 to acquire Is powerful
planes to augment the neutrality
patrol" but the Senate Appropria-
tions Committee voted only $500 900,
or $1,699,00O below budget recon-
mendations of the President. The
S500,000 was the same figure ap-
proved by the House.
Criticism of the patrol was voiced
by two Senators at a committee
hearing some time ago and made
public yesterday.
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee, who served as chairman
OF the Senate group, questioned the
wisdom of double system of
patrol by the Navy and Coast
Guard, and asked why the patrol
planes sought to 60 "out in the CEN
trail part of the ocean," where the
United States ''has no authority"
Favors Patrol by Navy.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio,
said that if this Nation was going
to patrol the oceans "it seems to
me It ought to be done by the Navy"
Senator Taft asked if the neu-
trality patrol was trying to watch
the entire ocean area 300 miles from
the United States.
mo, sir" the Coast Guard COM
mandant replied. I'VE are con-
cerned with keeping track of mer-
chant ships within reasonable dis
tance OF our coast, and if we have
any reason to suspect one is en-
gagged in any unlawful activity we
may follow her for 100, 200 or 800
miles of shore"
Admiral Waesche disclosed that
. report that the British steamer
Coulmore was sinking off the Amer
lean coast after "she was attacked
by a submarine" had proved to be
false after airplanes and vessels of
the neutrality patrol rushed to her
assistance in stormy seas.
Coast Guard planes took off from
Floyd Bennett Field. N. Y, and Cape
May, N. j., the admiral said, 'in a
heavy storm and they took a ter
rible beating, and we were all very
much concerned as to whether they
were going to get back"
Getting ready to bring recon-
mendation for three-year extern
sion Of the reciprocal trade pro-
gram before the House next Mon
day, Democratic members of the
Ways and Means Committee filed
. report yesterday asserting that
~our highest national interests" re-
quire the extension.
Four Conclusions.
~