Evening star., 1941-03-19
Final Attempt
To Slash Aid
Funds Planned
House Due to Vote
Today; Huge Margin
For Bill Expected
BACKGROUND


of tDar materials running loU,
Congress recently enacted ldD
empowering President to acquire
and lease or lend arms to nations
1DhoSe defense 1DdS deemed uitdl
to safety of United States. Ap-
preparation OF $1,000, 900 900 to
implement program then Uds re-
QueSted by administration.
8, tn. Associated Press.
A small opposition band of House
Republicans, expressing belief that
all-out British aid betokened war
for the United States, decided on a
last-ditch fight today to slash the
big $1,000, 100000 lease-lend appro-
priation before a final vote sends
the bill to the Senate.
Announcing this forlorn stand in
the face of conceded overwhelming
administration strength, Represent
ative Lambertson, Republican. Of
Kansas charged that President
Roosevelt was "enthused ass joyful
almost to tears" at the possibility Of
becoming a war President of the
United States.
This threat of determined re-
sistance failed to arouse concern
among the bills supporters. AS the
hour for voting approached, leaders
OF both parties predicted that a tre-
mendous majority would be rolled
up for the appropriation to en-
phasize to the world that I'VE mean
business
Consideration of amendments was
the first order of business for the
DAY, and sponsors OF the bill said
their strategy would be to crush the
first few major proposals with lop-
sided votes, thus hoping to dis
courage presentation of a series of
others and thereby save time. The
final roll call was expected late in
the day, but leaders were ready to
force a night session, if necessary,
to dispose of the measure.
Will Seek Recommital.
Representative Lambertson, how
ever. declared that he would ask the
House to send the measure back to
the Appropriations Committee with
instructions to cult it to S5,000,000
900, if for no other reason than to
demonstrate that we dare do it,
Representative Lambertson told
the chamber yesterday that the ST.
100000 900 fund request by President
Roosevelt was the forerunner of
others, and he gave it as his opinion
that all-out aid meant eventually
sending our boys
1T is time for Congress. which
| represents the rank and file of peo-
pie at home, who have never agreed
to this war, who have been fooled,
to do something about it." he con-
tinued.
1T was planned from the Begin
ming not to have a declaration Of
war. We planned to initiate Japan
on that score and not have any
war. -"
'I say let us rise up on our hind
legs and be American Congressman
again and vote for this recommital
Ito the committed"
Three other House members spoke
Of war fears.
Dirksen Voices Fears.
Representative Dirksen, Repub-
ican, of Illinois, while announcing
he would back the appropriation,
said he could not see how the Nation
could escape "the vortex of events
that are inexorably dragging us
down the path toward conflict"
Nevertheless, he argued, in view
of the commitments of the President
and Congress, it would be illogical
not to provide adequate funds now
for the aid program.
A prediction that the United
States would be plunged into war
within go or 80 days" came from
Representative Knutson, Republican.
of Minnesota, who voted against the
Nations entry into the World War,
and Representative Tinkham, Re-
publican. of Massachusetts, assailed
the appropriations request on the
ground that its purpose was ito
engage in war and to implement
dictatorship"
A quorum call was required to
bring enough members to the floor
to permit the debate to begin yes
terday. Two hours later, only 110
could be mustered. After four hours
of discussion, scant 40 members
were on the floor, and at adjourn
ment at 6:22 pm. only Is were
present.
Comment on Small Attendance.
Representatives Jones, Republican,
of Ohio; Johns, Republican, of Wis
consin, and Bender, Republican, of
Ohio, commented on the small at
tendance, Representative Jones
asserting that it was important
that we maintain the morale of our
own Congress" Representative Ben
der said the paucity "bears out the
statement that we have one-man
government"
At this juncture. Representative
Woodrum, Democrat, of Virginia, in
charge of the bill, said he thought
1t was "only fair" to say that the
agreement had been that nothing
would be done today on this bill ex-
cept to listen to speeches" He re-
marked that the question had been
thoroughly discussed recently and.
until presentation of amendments
began, members might as well stay
in their Offices"
For the most part, supporters Of
the bill monopolized the floor during
the session, advocating double-quick
approval of the appropriation. Re-
publicans who voted against the
lease-lend program said, In effect,
that now the British-aid law had
been passed, Congress should uphold
the Nations pOlicy by providing the