Evening star., 1941-02-07

posed of without the consent of
Congress-"
Mr.. Fish said that without his
amendment in the bill the President
can dispose of the American Navy,
and he added:
If he does it will be an act of
war, and unless we adopt this
amendment we are delegating away
our war powers"
Mr.. Fish quoted authorities on
constitutional law to uphold his con-
tention that Congress would dele
gate to the President its war powers
under the terms of the pending bill.
The people fear that something
may happen" he said which would
lead the President to give away
to the British part of the Navy
That would be an act of war and
whatever part of the Navy was
transferred to the British might
eventually be used against us, if
Britain should fall and the Germans
take over the British Navy"
Mccormack Assails Idea.
Representative Mccormack strong
1y opposed the Fish amendment.
He charged that Mr. Fish recog-
Ilized the need of aid to Britain as
a defense measure for the United
States, but that he constantly
wanted to limit the amount of aid
Under this amendment" Mr.
Mccormack said, you could not
transfer mosquito boat"
There was applause from the
Republican side.
oh. yes" said the Democratic
leader, that is what comes from
the Republican side President
Roosevelt, as you all know, loves the
Navy. He has built it up until it is
the greatest Navy in the world, al
though in 1888 it stood fifth on the
list"
Answering Mr.. Flsh'S charge that
Congress was turning over its war
powers to the President, Mr.. Nc
Cormack declared that as COM
mander in chief of the Army and
Navy, the President has the right
to send the Navy and troops any
where he wishes and that the Con-
stitution gives him that power.
On motion of Chairman Bloom,
debate on the Fish amendment was
brought to a close by vote of 153
to 103 along strict party lines. With
debate closed, a standing vote de-
feated the Fish amendment. l61 to
81. A teller vote was demanded.
The result was 1873 noes to l23 ayes,
and the amendment was rejected
An amendment offered by Repre-
sentative Hope, Republican, of Kan
sas specifically empowering the
President to include as part COM
pensation for American supplies
trade concessions to benefit Ameri-
can agriculture was voted down.
Mr. Hope admitted that under the
terms of the bill, the President
probably already has the power to
negotiate for such trade concessions
and to seek to obtain by Great Brit
ain normal imports of agricultural
products from the United States.
Representative Kee, Democrat, Of
West Virginia argued that since the
power already exists in the bill,
there was no need to adopt the
amendment. On teller vote the
amendment was rejected. 1853 to 106.
Mott Amendment Beaten.
An amendment offered by Repre-
sentative Mott, Republican. of Ore
gon. which would specifically declare
that all provisions of the Neutrality
Act remain in full force and pro-
vide that neither the President nor
any other Government agency, un-
der the authority of the bill, shall
send or cause to be sent an Ameri-
can merchant ship to belligerent
port and through any combat area
until the President by proclamation
declares that such nation has ceased
to be a belligerent or that such area
has ceased to be combat area. On
division, the amendment was voted
down, 81 to 81.
A third amendment turned down
by the House was offered by Repre-
sentative Costello, Democrat, of CAL
ifornia. The amendment sought to
obtain from Great Britain some Of
its possessions in the Western Hem
isphere in part payment for aid. Mr..
Costello argued that the American
people we're entitled to receive in re-
turn something of value"
The Costello amendment was de-
feated on a teller vote, $50 to lbs.