Evening star., 1941-02-08
British Aid
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| OnCIS0 AIO
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as it related to labors beneficial
laws, had been rejected.
$1,000 900 900 Limit Set.
Action of these amendments came
after the House. at the request OF
administration leaders, had decided
tentatively to put fat 81 300 900 00C
ceiling on the value of military
equipment. existing or appropriated
| for, that might be disposed of to
foreign governments under the bill
The Bloom Fish controversy arose
when Chairman Bloom. seeing time
slipping away with constant calls
for teller votes and increasing de-
bate on many amendments. pre-
cipitated the row when he moved
first to close debate on the Western
Hemisphere amendment originally
sponsored by Miss Jeanette Rankin
of Mississippi, and then renewed
in slightly different form by Repre-
sentative Van Zandt, Republican,
of Pennsylvania. He followed this
motion up with an amendment to
end all debate on the controversial
Section 3 in one hour.
Fish Charges Gag.
1t was then that Mr.. Fish
entered a motion to report the
bill back to the House from COM
mittee of the whole with its enact
ing clause stricken out.
Taking the floor in support of his
motion. he eXcoriated the Demo-
cratic leadership. He declared that
the Republican side had made no
effort to delay action on the bill
He said that several amendments of
great Importance to Section we're
still TO be considered.
And now you move to cut off de-
bate in an hour on this section,
without even consulting the men,
bers OF the committee on this side
| of the aisle" he shouted. You ap-
ply the gag rule"
Mr.. Bloom asked why Mr.. Fish
had not brought up the important
amendments early in the day
Majority Leader Mccormack took
the floor in opposition to the Fish
motion. He pointed out that debate
on Section had already gone
longer than IA hours.
Policy Of Opportunism."
The gentleman from New York
Mr.. Fish, who is leading the Re-
publican party in a policy of op-
portunism, which is being engaged
in in connection will a bill serious
to the fate of our country, relating
to our national defense" he
| began.
Representative Hoffman. Repub-
lican, of Michigan leaped TO his feet
and demanded that the remarks of
Mr.. Mccormack be taken down
as a personal reflection on Mr.. Fish
with the idea that they be stricken
| from the record.
The Committee of the Whole rose
and the matter was referred to the
Speaker of the House who read the
language complained OF and said
he did not believe it infringed on
the rules of the House.
The chair" he said, lis unable to
find anything that reflects on the in
tegrity of the gentleman from New
York
When Mr.. Mccormack was again
recognized, he said that there hac
been no gag rule applied, that con-
sideration of the bill had been wide
open. He repeated a conversation
he had had with Mr.. Fish. in which
he said the latter had desired tc
complete the bill yesterday and then
by o'clock today.
Il am trying to help him do 1t,
| he said
Debate Gains Down.
| Representative Eaton interrupted
to suggest that 1t is with profound
regret 1 see that consideration OF
this most vital and important meas
ure has become partisan"
Mr.. Mccormack relinquished the
floor and debate continued in 6
calmer atmosphere.
In support of the ship repair
amendment, Representative Fish
argued that German subma.
rines and cruisers might fol.
low to this country the ships
| of Great Britain that woulc
come here for repairs and thus leae
the United States into the war. HI
declared, too, the repairing o
ships of belligerent nations II
American ports would constitute
violation of international law.
Argument Held Foolish"
Representative Luther Johnson
Democrat, of Texas, described Mr.
Fish's argument that the repairing
of the ships of the belligerents In
American ports would violate In
ternational law and lead this coun-
try into war as foolish"
What objection should there be
to repairing a ship for a belligerent
power in this country If we are
going to build ships for them?" he
asked. "If We build the ships we
certainly ought to have the right
! to repair them"