Evening star., 1941-02-05

Mr.. Kemper said. I'm only trying
to be helpful. I've answered your
question but you keep rephrasing it,"
Appropriations by Congress.
Senator Connally told the witness
the President could not spend any
more on the program than Congress
appropriated because you can't take
a dollar out of the Treasury until
Congress appropriates it"
There are lot of ways of beat
ing the devil around the stump"
Mr.. Kemper replied
That may be so with the Cham
ber of Commerce" Senator Con-
nally remarked, but there isn't with
Congress"
I'm not so sure" the witness said.
Later, he replied Il don't know"
when Senator Connally asked hum
about the meaning of language in
the bill.
There's a lot you don't know"
Senator Connally said
I'm doing the best l can" Mr..
Kemper said.
The witness told Senator Capper,
Republican. of Kansas that the ma
tional chamber had received no OBJ
jections TO the stand taken on the
British-aid bill from any of the
1853 local organizations
Col Charles A. Lindbergh. who
opposed the bill in the House hear
ings. was said this afternoon to be
back on the list of witnesses to be
called by the Senate opponents. but
Chairman George said he had not
been advised definitely when the
colonel would testify. Several days
ago it was announced Col. Lindbergh
had stated his position fully and
had no desire to duplicate unless
the committee wanted to ask him
questions. One Senate opponent
said today he expected Col. Lind
bergh would appear before the Sem
ate Committee. possibly tomorrow
Contending the lease-lend bill
would give the President power to
involve the United States in war, Mr..
Kemper said the chamber favored
instead the selling. leasing or giving
of military equipment to the British
Empire and other democracies now
or hereafter fighting aggreSSors.
without committing any recognized
act of war"
The chamber was willing. he said.
that credit or cash be given to
Britain and her allies. Also. he
added, it would support such fur
ther and additional aid as may be
possible, consistent with our own
defense requirements"
In advocating further aid how
ever. Mr.. Kemper said the chamber
wanted some limitations. These
were, briefly, that no act of war be
committed by the United States
that American ships be kept out
of war zones except with the eX-
pressed approval of Congress; that
no soldiers. or sailors be sent into
the war zone without prior approval
by Congress.
Mr.. Kemper listed five objections
to the bill which he said the Cham
Der entertained. In part. these were
that:
The President is specifically ex-
cluded from the restraining inf1u-
ence of any law.
The President can, without the
knowledge OF the Congress, and over
the objection of our Army, Naval
and air experts, deliver not only to
the British Empire but to other un-
named countries, all or part of our
Navy, all or part of our airplanes.
all or a part of our tanks, guns and
other military equipment.
Property Seizure.
while the bill is not clear ''' it
Is fairly debatable whether the
President can. regardless of law,
seize the private property of mill
tary character, or susceptible of
military uses, of any individual, firm
or corporation and turn such
properties over to unnamed coun-
tries
The President can spend public
funds or incur = on behalf of the
Government financial obliga-
tions not limited in the amount ""'
without the prior knowledge of the
Congress.
"The vast powers proposed to be
vested In the President. whoever
he may be, by this bill have no limit
as to time"
Quoting a statement of the cham
bers board of directors, Mr.. Kemper
said the group had agreed that If the
bill we're enacted into law it would
create "the possibility of this Ma
ton entering into this war without
further action by the Congress-"
Opposing the lease-lend bill as del
egating too much power to one man,
DR.. Valentine recommended to the