The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-08
LIMIT ON TRANSFER
OF WAR SUPPLIES
OKEHED BY HOUSE
Continued From Page One)

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nounced that no more concessions
would be made.
They had successfully beaten off
republican proposals that the
President be forbidden to transfer
any part of the Navy to other coun-
tries without congressional con-
sent, that no new deal labor laws
we're to be suspended under the
measure and that Soviet Russia be
specifically excluded from the ma
tons which might be helped.
Taber Offer Plan
Then, just at the close Of the
day, Rep. Taber of New York,
ranking republican member of the
appropriations committe, arose
with an amendment to restrict to
$500, 600, 600 (cost value) any trans
fers of defense items on hand or
for which money had been appro-
priated.
This puts a ceiling he said,
upon the things that may be sold.
given or traded away that now be-
long to the Army and Navy. And
I mean the vessels Of the fleet,
planes, guns, ammunition and per-
haps other things"
At that point, Chairman Bloom
(D-NY) of the foreign relations
committee interrupted to ask if
the gentleman from New Y ork
would agree to a substitute amend
ment' which he was about to pro-
pose.
Taber heard the amendment
read. There followed a few min
utes of argument as to the amount
of the 1941 appropriations. In the
course of that, Speaker Rayburn,
who obviously was behind the
move, said from the floor that he
had had the total computed and
that it lay between $12, 900, 900, 900
and $13, 900, 900, 900. A few minutes
later the Bloom proposal wen
through on a roaring voice vote in
which both sides of the chamber
joined.
Satisfied"
II am satisfied to go along" Ia
err said, because it does not per-
NIT havoc to be played with those
things which we have in our Army
and Navy and does not destroy u
W capacity to defend the United
States of America 4
Administration leaders explained
later that they expected many
votes to flow to their side of the
issue as a result of their gesture.
Republican after republican, and
a few democrats as well have COM
planned vehemently for weeks that
under the measure the President
could dissipate the entire military
and naval establishment in an eff
fort to bulwark England and thus
leave the country defenseless if
England should ultimately fall.
The leadership thought the amend
ment would effectively remove op-
position of that nature.
Throughout the week, it had been
making concessions to one group
or another, in an effort to swing
as many votes behind the bill as
possible for the sake of the effect
which they felt a rousing big
majority might have on the other
side of the Atlantic and Pacific
as well.
With the amendment in, it was
generally thought that the way had
been cleared for comparatively
easy passage of the bill some time
tomorrow. Another major issue re-
manned to be settled, however. in
the form Of al amendment by Rep.
Eaton GRIND which would limit
the overall cost of the British aid
program to $500 900, 900.
Wide Powers
(The bill gives the President
wide powers to have war imple-
ments and other supplies produced
and to lease, lend or otherwise
dispose of them to nations whose
defense he considers vital to the
defense of the United States.
Throughout the days considera-
ton of amendments, party lines
we're much In evidence, and in