Evening star., 1941-02-04
Republican Asks
Limit on Funds,
Commitments
Tells House He Sees
No Threat to u. S.
Liberty in Terms
Earlier Story on Page ALL
Ry GOULD LINCOLN,

A ringing appeal by Representa-
tive Wadsworth, Republican, OF New
York for unity in Congress and in
the Nation behind the lease-lend
bill was vigorously applauded by the
whole House late today.
Mr.. WadSWorth told the House
that if two or three amendments,
designed to retain for Congress the
power of the purse" should be
written into the bill, he believed such
unity might be attained
IF we could say to the world"
said Mr.. WadSWorth, That's the
way the American people feel it
would be healthier primarily for the
United States, and it is America We
are thinking about first"
The amendments specifically rec
commended by Mr.. Wadsworth call
for limitation on the total amount
authorized TO be appropriated and
expended under the lease-lend bill,
and for a limit on the amount OF
future commitments which the Pres
ident may make under that bill
Mas Suggests Trade.
In a plea against the bill, Repre-
sentative Mas, Republican of Min
nesota, suggested England should
trade her Western Hemisphere pos
sessions to the United States in re-
turn for credit for war materials.
Mr.. Mas said the bill is not ma
tional defense measure nor has 1t
anything to do with increasing aid
to England.
at deals solely with how the Brit
ish shall pay for their military pur-
chases in the United States, he
said. unless there are hidden pow
ers in the bill which have not been
explained to Congress or to the
American people.
This bill will not get a single
airplane to England faster than
England would get that airplane
without this bill. This bill will not
speed up production of guns, air
planes, or anything else for either
Great Britain or our own defense" 4"
Following Mr.. Wadsworth, Repre-
sentative O'Connor, Democrat, OF
Montana took the floor in opposi-
ton TO the bill. He insisted that
England is not lighting our wal"
and that the United States should
look to its own interests first.
Mr., O'Connor warned that when
the war is over, even If England
wins, there may be no lasting peace.
When the war is over" he re-
marked, payday will come. Don't
forget that"
Sees No Threat to Liberty.
Speaking in support of the bill,
Mr.. Wadsworth said:
II do not believe bill of this sort
spells the end of liberty in America.
We will have three precious things
still-free speech, free press and free
elections. Armed with these, we can
maintain our liberty"
Prefacing his remarks with q
statement that the effort today OF
the totalitarian powers is to "spread
revolution all over the world and 10
overthrow social and economic con-
ditions which have existed in tbs
and other lands" Mr.. WadswortA
declared.
''I am impelled to reach the con-
clusion that the passage of this or
a similar bill will help the defense
of the United States"
when the United States faces an
emergency acknowledged by Cor
gress and the people, it is the hisn
function of Congress to summon
the resources and the power of the
Nation for defense. Having sum-
moned these resources and powers,
there is but one agent under the
Constitution of the United States
who has the right to exercise these
powers-the President of the United
States.
Great Powers Exercised Before.
1T is a great power. We should
put aside all personal considerations
in dealing with the matter. Great
powers have been exercised by
Presidents in the past, sometime
without waiting for the action Of
Congress. Thomas Jefferson ey-
(See DEBATE, Page 2-X9