The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-12
President Putting
 On Finishing Touch
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 that pork and cheese might be among the foodStuffS to be sent to the de1nocracies. Britain is said to be short of those products.
 MT. Roosevelt will accompany his $7 ,000, ,000, 900 cash request today with a letter to speaker Sam Ray burn in which congressman hoped to find further details of the aid program.
 MT. Roosevelt will speak to the nation over the major radio net works later this week, giving a gen. eral report on his plans and acc complishments under the new aid program. But he is not expected to 90 into detail.
 The President set a speedy pace for translating the extraordinary powers of the Lend-Lease program Into action when he signed the bill less than two hours after congress sional action was completed by the House.
 Today Congress prepared to match him in speed.
 Ready by Tuesday
 House leaders scheduled hearings for tomorrow on the British aid ap- proprtation, and promised to have it ready for floor consideration by next Tuesday.
 There was a possibility that final congressional approval might come the following week, although some Senate iSolationists have said they would go over the request with ex- treme care--a procedure which might take some time.
 Sen. Gerald P. Nye, R., N. D., an opposition leader, was considering an amendment for a $7OO0, ,00O, ,0OO tax program to put British aid on a 'pay-as-you-go" basis. Other men- bers said Sen. Robert M. LaFollette, Prog, Wis, was considering sim- liar plan.
 New pledges of speed were not confined to MT. Roosevelt and the congressional majority. Defense of- ficials, already working over time to raise industry from peacetimc levels to war production highs, prC...cted that their agencies would be tripling their facilities in order to adminiS- ter the mounting rearman1eat pro- gram.
 Four Essential Steps
 These officials forecast at least four essential" steps that would be taken soon to increase produc- ton:
 1. A speed-up in spreading out defense work among sub-contrac- tors. Offlce of production manage ment leaders pointed out that most of the first $9,000, ,000, 900 in defense contracts went to only 600 prime contractors. although there are about 100000 potential producers.
 ?. A board expansion of MT. Roosevelt's program for building 200 ugly duckling" cargo vessels 1T, order to help meet British needs for additional shipping. MT. Roosevelt has discussed the problem with Chairman Emory s. Land of the maritime commission.
 3. Additional curtailment of civil ian consumption of certain ma terials needed for war production by the imposition of mandatory priorities. The OPM has invoked such priorities on aluminium, ma chine tools, magnesium, nickel and neopreme (synthetic rubber). Tung- sten may be the next on the list
 1. Creation of a commission to coordinate the activities of the State, Treasury, Navy and War de- partments, the Office of Export Con- trol and the OPM, with a "new ver- sion" of the British purchasing mission. The commission would seek to eliminate wasted time en- countered in previous dealings with British buyers.
 Coordinate Plans
 It was understood that MT. Roose- welt has told to Coordinate plans for acquisition and creation of additional ship facilities" to transport strategic and critical ma terials, and to consider requests for other countries or their nationals to obtain more tonnage.
 The demand of Senators Nye and La Toilette for more taxes to pay for the aid program, won the sup port of Senator Burton K. Wheeler Democrat. Montana, who said the $7,000, ,000, 900 was only the beginning of what would be asked.
 'The American taxpayer" he said must make up his mind now that we have given the President power to carry on undeclared wars all over the world, that he is probably going to have his taxes doubled and the national debt will be $100, ,000,- 000, 900 instead of $65, ,000, 900 900 if this war lasts for any length of time"
 We haven't thought this thing through" said Nye. "The latest news is that France is becoming desperate over the food situation and apparently is headed toward an alliance with Germany against Bri- tain. I expect that in a month ali Europe will be united against Eng land. That means we ourselves may have to face all Europe some day"
 Senator Robert A. Taft, Republi- can, Ohio, said the Presidents re- quest represented a larger lump sum appropriation than we should make for anybody under present