The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-01-22

The broad authority when the
pending aid-to-Britain measure
would grant President Roosevelt
would augment a wide variety OF
emergency powers which he is re-
serving for possible use in defense
developments.
Most OF these emergency powers,
affecting such phases OF American
life as commerce. transportation,
and communications. were written
into law when the United States
was at war in l9l7-191S. They have
remained inactive on the statute
books since the armistice.
Some can be made effective only
IN wartime others can be put into
effect by executive order II war Is
deemed imminent or when the
President proclaims a national
emergency.
Mr.. Roosevelt announced ma
tional emergency" shortly after the
European war broke out in Septem-
Der, 1889, but he said the situation
then required the exercise Of only
a limited number of these special
powers.
For example. he made use OF
laws empowering him TO increase
the strength OF the army, navy,
marine corps and national guard;
70 expand the Federal Bureau OF
Investigation, and 10 allocate $780,
900 TO bring home Americans
stranded In Europe.
The presidential powers are ex.
tremely broad. A subcommittee of
the House Judiciary Committee has
been canvassing the statutes appli-
cable 10 present conditions 10 de-
termine Just what powers the Pres
dent has.
The only other recent federal at
tempt 10 list the Presidents emer-
sency powers was made in October
1888, when the Attorney Generals
office summarized them at the re,
quest OF the Senate.
The Attorney Generals report
lists the following among major
emergency powers OF the Chief
Executive:
To take possession Of any war
time transportation system and TO
demand preference for shipment
OF troops and war material.
To forbid Federal Reserve banks
10 do business except under Treas
ury regulations. and to suspend
trading on securities exchanges for
80 days.
To investigate, regulate or pro-
hibit transactions in foreign ex-
change, and export, boarding, melt
ing or earmarking Of gold or silver
coin, bullion or currency.
To take over power houses. dams,
conduits and reservoirs for making
munitions.
To let the Federal Power Com
mission require temporary connec.
tions and transmission Of electrical
energy whenever IL determines that
war or sudden Increase. in de-
mands for electrical energy requires
it,
To detain any vessel whose prin-
cipal cargo is arms and ammunition
when 1t appears likely TO be used
against nations at peace with the
oA4ANA otaAFdi u4%lA lIS fIcetucut
can decide the case.
To remove duties from imported
food, clothing and medical supplies
for emergency relief work.
To impose additional restrictions
on the departure OF persons from
and their entry into the United
States
To waive or modify the monthly
apportionment OF appropriations
for governmental departments.
To take action in respect 70 credit
expansion when an economic emer.
gency so requires.
To suspend the law prohibiting
more than eight hours work In one
day by persons engaged on govern.
ment contracts, when military pur-
poses require, as on the new Allan.
nc and Caribbean naval bases.
To suspend rules about transmits.
sion Of radio and wire communica-
tons during war, disaster, or emer-
gency. and TO require priority for
defense communications.
To place an army officer In Ell.
elusive charge Of Panama Canal
operations.
To restrain all nationals Of a hos
tile country II years old or over,
designate prohibited places under
espionage laws, acquire land for
military purposes, and regulate the