Evening star., 1941-01-21
Supreme Council
To Guide Defense
Urged by Stassen
Move Would Avoid
Internal Controversy
Governors Told


authority" the lease-lend bill would
delegate to the President was pro-
posed today by Gov. Harold E
Stassen of Minnesota as the fifth
general assembly of State govern
ments opened at the Mayflower
Hotel.
Emphasizing that the most Sc.
rious objection to the measure arose
from the unprecedented" delega-
ton of legislative power to the
Chief Executive, the youthful Min
nesota Governor, who was the key
note speaker at the Republican
National Convention last year, said
the council idea would be step
toward avoiding internal contro-
versy."
Speedier Action Seen.
Gov. Stassen. who is president OF
the council of State governments,
said:
The great responsibility which
the Executive bears for a successful
foreign policy and for the ma
tional security could we'll give rise
to the necessity for great latitude
and authority for quick and de-
cisive action.
"It would, therefore. appear that
the device used in some States for
collaboration between the legisla-
tive and executive branches of the
government might we'll be used in
this instance by the Federal Govern
ment.'
Gov. StaSsen said such a council,
including both majority and mi
nority leaders of the House and
Senate. could rapidly and effec-
lively decide" any questions arising
under the plan for aid to Great
Britain. He declared presence of
minority leaders in a minority posi-
ton would be a tremendous force
for national confidence and unity"
Shift in Work Relief Urged.
Transfer of the control of work
relief from Federal to State govern
mentS. with the cost shared under a
fixed formula, was proposed to the
council by special committee
which has been studying the relief
Issue for more than a year. The
report. on which the council will
act later, also calls on the Federal
Government to assume part of the
cost of direct relief now administered
by the States.
The committee said the plan would
enable the States to coordinate
their work relief and direct relief
and would permit them also to de-
eide whether they should conduct
work relief programs or grant dl-
rect aid, or combine these two forms
of public assistance.
The Governments share would be
based on the States ability to pay
but the minimum Federal grant
would be so per cent. The maximum
would be Is per cent. Old age lnsur-
ance, unemployment compensation,
the employment services, National
Youth Administration and Civilian
Conservation Corps would not be
affected.
PENNSYLVANIA Criticizes Bill.
Capitalization of authority under
the lease-lend bill also was criticized
by Ellwood j. Turner, member OF
the Pennsylvania Legislature, who
said the surrender of vast powers
to the executive branch of the Gov
ernment in the name of ma
tional defense may destroy those lib
critics for the preservation of which
our national defense is being built" "
At the same time, however, Gov.
Herbert H. Lehman of New York
told the council there should be bet
ter direction from Washington in or
der that every facility could be di-
verted to preparedness.
Gov. Lehman said that defense
is primarily the responsibility of
the Federal Government, but that
State and local governments should
supplement it's activities. He ex-
planned what has been done in
New York by creation of a State
council of defense. One OF the
major objectives of this council is
to assure that all industrial and
labor resources of the State will be
made available to the Federal Gov
ernment, Gov. Lehman said, add
ing that he was convinced that
Federal authorities must redouble
their efforts to put to work the idle
tools and equipment of hundreds
OF small plants.
The New York Governor said, too,
that the Federal Government should
take the lead in solving problems
'for the protection of our civilian
population, such as the construc-
ton Of AFRAID shelters and devils
Ing methods of fire fighting and
evacuation" He added he believed
1t was substantially impossible for
localities to act either effectively
or intelligently in this field except
under a centralized direction.
"Greatest Challenge"
Asserting that government of free
men and free women was being SUBJ
jected to its greatest challenge since
the first blueprint was drawn at
Philadelphia, Gov. Stassen said the
responsibility of representatives OF
State governments seemed clear.
First and foremost as States OF
the Union he said, I'VE must give
united support regardless of geo.
graphical location or partisanshir
TO the established foreign policy OF
the Federal Government.
Second, we must make every
possible cooperative contribution tt
the effective and rapid building ane
production of the means of nationa
defense"
Third, we must maintain
strong and efficient State govern
ments as one of the safeguards oi
the future liberty of our people ir
the face of the inevitable greaI
concentration of Federal executive
power necessitated by the emer-
gency."
Gov. Stassen suggested that the
council express a hope that the
national administration itself make
or accept some revisions in thu
lease-lend bill in the interest O.
national unity, but also state that
IL the administration failed to d(