Evening star., 1941-06-03
Property Seizure
Continued From First Page.)

House Military Committee we're cool
to the proposal.
The proposed legislation. it was
disclosed, had received advance ap-
proval from the President, the Navy
and the Office of Production Man
agement.
There was considerable general
interest as to whether the broad
powers might be invoked to end
strikes hampering defense produc-
ton. In the absence OF any oficial
statement on this point. some legie-
latcrs were of the opinion that the
bill would authorize the taking over
of strike bound plants.
In addition to permitting the
President to take over for any
period any type of property adapt
able for use in national defense, the
legislation also would authorize the
Chief Executive to sell or otherwise
dispose Of the requisitioned prop
erty.
Senator Wheeler said he saw mo
reason to give the President the
right to take over either the real
or personal property Of citizens. I
doubt that Hitler or Mussolini have
that much personal power"
Chairman George of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee and
Chairman Reynolds of the Senate
Military Committee reserved judg-
ment on the bill for the time being,
but Senator George said some Sem
ators might make the argument that
it provided full war powers and thus
should not be enacted unless the
Nation were at war.
Senator George said the measure
might be designed to prevent pro-
duction stoppages resulting from
labor disputes. but added he did not
know how effective it might prove
in that field.
Senator Reynolds said he would
place the legislation before his COM
mittee this week and Chairman May
Of the House Military Committee
said he would expedite action"
May Withholds Opinion.
Representative May said he
thought the President has enough
power as it is," but added he would
withhold his opinion on the bill for
a time. House Majority Leader Nc
Cormack said he would do every
thing in his power to hasten action
II the measure were reported to the
House. Senator Hill, Democrat, Of
Alabama, the administration whip,
said the proposed new powers were
necessary if I'VE are going to speed
up production"
Senator Bone, Democrat, OF Wash
ington said the Government "can
requisition our boys, We ought not
to be chary about requisitioning
property" He said that did not
mean he favored the pending meas
ure, however, and added that he
wanted instead an even more strin-
gent measure to draft property" in
wartime.
Representative Faddis, Democrat,
of Pennsylvania, a member of the
House Military Committee, said the
War Department was asking "a very
unlimited grant of power" and add
ed that a special subcommittee
which has been investigating CO.
operation with the defense program
has so far failed to find one single
instance where industry has refused
In any manner to cooperate fully"
From Senator Adams, Democrat,
IS C&1NraIN cfo fanN0nf fha T.
he would be surprised if Congress
enacted the legislation in its pres
ent form. II know of no reason, "
he continued, why the unrestricted
power that is in the bill should be
granted to the President at this
time. We are not at war"
"It Is amazing" was the comment
Of Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat,
Of wyoming.
Offered In Both Branches.
The legislation was introduced In
both chambers yesterday after Mr.
Patterson had written Vice President
Wallace and Speaker Rayburn that
authority conferred by present
statutes "is inadequate to meet con-
ditions encountered as result OF
the existing emergency"
The legislation provides for 'fair
compensation" to those whose prop
erty is requisitioned. Among other
things, Mr.. Patterson wrote that 1t
would permit the Government to:
Acquire from recalcitrant own
ers" defense supplies, materials and
equipment needed for the manufac-
ture Of defense items. I
Seek to stabilize prices and pre-
vent profiteering and boarding"
Use part Of q manufacturing plant