Evening star., 1941-01-10

its strongest stand in the Senate,
sible in that chamber.
One Of the first signs of opposi-
ton came from Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri, who called
the measure simply a bill to au-
thorize the President to declare war.
so far as international affairs are
concerned, and to establish to-
talitarian government, so far as do
mestic affairs are concerned"
George Tells Procedure.
Chairman George of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said
the bill would come up in regular
order when the committee holds its
weekly meeting Wednesday 1t
will be for the committee to decide
whether to start hearings at once
or await completion of House hear
ings.
Senator George said it was at his
suggestion that Majority Leader
Barkley was selected to introduce
the bill because there was . question
of Jurisdiction involved as to which
of several Senate committees should
handle it.
Chairman Harrison of the Finance
Committee and one Of the leaders
consulted in preparation of the bill
promptly announced, Il am for 1t"
Chairman George said he did not
want to express any personal COM
rnent at this time.
Opposed by Senator Smith.
Senator Smith, Democrat, OF
South. Carolina came out against
the bill, declaring it gives the Pres
ident absolute power over the purse
and the people"
When the bill was introduced in
the House by Majority Leader Nc.
| Cormack, a dozen members jumped
I'D to make remarks. but Speaker
Rayburn recognized Minority Lead
er Martin.
Representative Martin said that
no Republican members of Congress
apparently had been consulted in
preparation of the legislation and
INQUIRED whether it was to be con-
sidered in a non-partisan manner.
Representative Mccormack re-
torted that he was very sorry that
my friend should raise that ques-
ton" and asserted he assumed that
national defense transcended party
politics"
Representative Martin agreed. but
said I'VE should be given some con-
sideration in preparation Of this
program"
In the Senate. Senator Mcclellan,
Democrat. of Tennessee. terming
Adolf Hitler devil incarnate.
proposed repeal OF all laws which
would in any way interfere with our
giving Great Britain all aid that the
President or Congress might find
necessary"
Danaher Quotes Fillmore.
When Senator Mcclellan took his
seat, Senator Danaher. Republican,
of Connecticut read massage by
President Millard Fillmore 1880
1859 urging non-intervention In
internal affairs of other nations. -
Senator La Toilette, Progressive,
! of Wisconsin, who indorsed Presl-
dent Roosevelt's successful bid for
a third term, told reporters that he
would oppose the measure.
This is not request for blank
! check" Senator La Toilette said.
1T is a demand that Congress abdi-
cate vital and important powers"
Senator Green, Democrat, OF
Rhode Island told reporters that
this is a bill to aid the United
States. using Great Britain to help
us while We prepare our defense"
so long as Britain holds out"
he said. the more time We will have
to prepare"
Chairman Sheppard of the Senate
Military Affairs Committee said he
thought that Congress would ap-
prove the measure because of the
Democrat, Of Delaware said he was
prepared to support it because he
was inclined to go pretty far in
aiding Britain"
Senator Capper, Republican. of
Kansas told reporters that we
ought to 60 slow"
Convoy Authority in Doubt.
Those who commented disagreed
as to whether the bill was broad
enough to authorize American con-
voys of war supplies to Great Britain
and her allies.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, who has been critical of the
Administrators foreign policies,
said that the measure called for
outright repeal" of the Neutrality
Act and would permit the President
to provide naval vessels for conveys.
On the other hand, Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Utah, an ad-
ministration supporter, expressed
disappointment that the bill did not
60 far enough to allow the President
to send American ships into the war
zones.
Senator Chandler, Democrat, Of
Kentucky said he was glad that the
use of American vessels to take
goods tc England was not contem-
plated in the measure, commenting
that such move might cause a
lot of trouble"
May Apply to Canada.
Speaker Rayburn and Represen-
tatlve Johnson, Democrat. of Texas,
senior member of the Foreign Al
fairs Committee, expressed the
opinion that the legislation WAS
broad enough to apply to Canada
as well as Great Britain
After Speaker Rayburn referred
the bill to the House Foreign AZ
fairs Committee Chairman May of
the Military Committee told re-
porters that it was clearly defense
measure and should be studied by
his own group.
1t was not clear at once whether
this situation would delay the meas
ure's trip through the House. Rep
resentative May said that he would
call his committee together Monday
morning to consider its rights.