Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-03
Right 10 Seize
Industries Goes
Before Congress
Nv WILLIAM =. MEAL
nt1 News SerN ies star Z oTrcsp "ud snt


int1 New, service staf Corrcsrouderi
WASHINGTON. June 3 Pres
idert RooSeveltS proposed bill CIV
inc him power 70 take over and
sell any property uSahle for ma
tional defense even indirectly
today jolted Congress 10 Us depths.
Foes Of the Administrations for
eicn policy charged that II means
economic dictatorship. This was
denied rs Now Deal leaders, who
SAID the measure means hat moth
inc can stand M Tho way oi the
"ali-oUt' defense program
Three major oblecuNcS Of the
bill, which tho war department
sent 10 Congress with Mr.. RooSe-
velt's approval and which was in
iroduced by Senator Robert r.
REYNOLDS tD) of North Carolina,
chairman of the military affairs
committee. were seen by some in
formed administration sources.
PUT TEETH IN 1T
The bill. approved also by the
navy department and the OPM,
rolls into one short measure pow
erS now possessed under national
emergency, adds some new ones
and slashes red tape" now facing
The government in seizure of
plants
Assistant Secretary Of War Pat
terSon said IN an accompanying
letter 10 Congress II would put
teeth" into the full emergency.
Under il the President can take
over, temporarily or permanently
property Of any kind, tangible or
intangible, personal or real, which
is adaptable for use in defense
work. The President also can sell
II. but either temporarily or per-
manently.
While the President can Under
the Draft Act take over any in
dustry refusing TO manufacture for
defense. the war department says
his power is not broad enough 10
force recalcitrant owners 10 obey
defense dictates.
TOTAL DICTATORSHIP
Senator Burton X Wheeler tDlI
Of Montana, noninterventionist
leader, said:
at doubt that either Musso-
Iini or Hitler has that much per-
sonal power. III the press reports
can be taken at their face value,
II means that we are headed for
complete and total dictatorship
I'm the United States providing
that power"
Senator D. Worth Clark Cd of
Idaho, kaid:
"It sounds like a virtual die
tatorship."
"The terms are much too
broad" said Senator Robert A.
Taft (R) of Ohio. eff Congress
grants any such power II should
be for a limited period. IL Ia
dictatorial act
Senator Walter +. George CD
Of Georgia said the power might
be used 10 end strikes in defense
industries. He said he assumed
the bill is designed 10 give the
President powers during the ma
tional emergency that were eXer-
cised by President Wilson during
The World War.
STUDY BILL FRIDAY
REYNOLDS called a meeting Of his
committee for Friday TO study the
bill. Rep. Andrew Nav CD of
Kentucky, chairman Of the House
military affairs committee. said
the bill would be given careful
consideration"
That's just like taking away
the writ of habeas corpus" said
May when he read the bill. at
does seem q strange proposal in
view OF the fact that industry
has co-operated 100 per cent"
Wheeler termed the proposal "a
direct threat TO every person In
the United States"
at means that ne coud take
over the press and radio. He al
ready has the power 10 take the
lives of our boys 40 W hat Ia
there left 10 our so-called way
Of life or free enterprise or free
labor: This ought 10 be notice
10 the war mongers Of the coun-
try a. 10 what Is goins to hap
pen TO them"
Senator Homer T Bone Cd OF
Washington, noninterventionist
said:
'If we can give the President
power 10 requlSition our boys we
should not hesitate 10 give him
power Ia draft industry and per-
sOnal property"