The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-01-30
Four Major Amendments
Believed Certain to Stick
Bills Supporters Believed Sure
to Defect Ceiling PROPOSED

was unable to supply when he
testified yesterday.
"We want to know" he said,
what kind and how much
equipment has been sent to Brit
ain and whether our own de-
Tense production has been de-
layed to the danger point be-
cause of the efforts to help the
British.
II think it comes down to this
If this thing is as urgent as
they say, we can't begin to sup
ply the things that the British
need in time"
Both Democrats and Republic
cans on the House committee
saw no chance for reconsidera-
ton of the four amendments
written into the bill yesterday.
The one on the convoy ques-
tion-a subject of much discus
sion during hearings-stated
that nothing in the bill author
lied or permitted the use of
American vessels as conveys.
The other changes were: To
impose q twe-year limit on the
powers given the president
under the bill; to require that
he make periodic reports to
Congress on lease-lend opera
tons, and to direct that he con-
suit army and navy heads be-
fore sending certain supplies
abroad.
Initial reaction in some con-
gressional quarters after q study
Of the amendments was that
their wording appeared to make
possible considerable latitude in
Interpretation.
Chairman Bloom (D-N.Y.),
discussing the convoy amend
ment, explained it in this way:
1--WE simply take the convoy
question out of this bill. If the
president has the authority to
order conveys under the consti-
tuition or under any power as
commander-in-chief Of the army
and navy or under any other
law, we can't and won't take it
away from him in this bill.
I'VE just make sure that moth
ing in this bill can possibly be
construed as giving him any
Convoy authority he doesn't
already have"
Rep. Mundt (R-S.D.) tried to
write into the bill the specific
prohibition of any conveys, but
his proposal was turned down.
In all, Is amendments of various
kinds were rejected, the votes
generally following party lines.
2 Unofficial legislative COM
ment on the other amendments
noted that the provision calling
for reports to Congress made an
exception of such information
as the president deems incom-
patible with the public interest
to disclose clause which
could be interpreted as leaving
the character of the reports to
presidential discretion.
On the two-year limitation, it
also was pointed out, an excep-
ton was made to permit the
president ito carry out q con-
tract or agreement made prior
to the expiration date, July /,
1943.
A difference of opinion pre-
vailed on the provision direct
ing consultation with army and
navy heads. Some thought that
the language of the amendment
made consultation necessary on
> transfer Of existing American
supplies, or on future deliveries
'f equipment ordered for Amer
can defense. Others thought
hat future deliveries might not
De subject to the regulation.
On the Senate side, Q foe of
he bill, Senator Clark (D-Mo.)
'aid that the changes the bills
were reported ready
% make in its terms were not
likely to diminish opposition.
Il am not going to be q party
% any of these face saving
lmendments," he declared.
They don't change the general
principle Of an unlimited power
rant In fha y,rAeid~n<V