Evening star., 1941-01-04

ences today. The Senate Demo-
Gratis also elected Senator Harri-
son of Mississippi to the Office of
president pro tempore left vacant
by the death of Senator Pittman
of Nevada.
By the Associated Press.
Ultimate approval of President
Roosevelt's lease-lend plan for aid
ing the British was predicted BY
Democratic leaders of Congress to-
day but they conceded that it would
have to stand the test of lengthy
debate"
Providing for the lease and loan
OF war equipment to Britain, with
repayment in kind or in raw ma
terials, such as rubber, on con-
cluSion of hostilities, the proposal
already has become the foremost is
sue of the day-old Seventy-seventh
Congress. Critics of administration
foreign policy asserted it would be
stoutly opposed
Among these, Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana announced
he would devote almost his entire
time to fighting the plan. Sena-
tors La Toilette, Progressive, of Wis
consin and Nye, Republican, of
North Dakota expressed opposition
to giving the President wide author
lty TO effect this type of assistance
10 Britain. Administrative chief
tains, on the other hand, expressed
confidence in eventual acceptance
Of the proposal by Congress.
Message Monday Awaited.
A closer drawing of the lines pf
the controversy appeared, however,
to await Mr.. RooSevelts presenta-
tion of his annual message on Mon
day and the introduction of legisla-
ton embodying the plan.
The Chief Executive planned to
work on the message over the week
end. Indications were that it would
deal chiefly with the paramount
problems of foreign policy. including
pressing questions Of aid to Britain.
in the same vein as his defense
broadcast last Sunday night.
Mr.. Roosevelt already has said
that legislation TO carry out the
lease-lend plan would have to be
fairly general in its provisions since
all the things to be done could not
be anticipated in writing the law
To this, Senate Majority Leader
Barkley added that the President
would ask for broad and unlimited
powers to make the plan effective.
Weekend Recess Taken.
Following initial organization ses-
slonS yesterday both House and Sen
ate we're in recess today. but meet
lngs of Democratic and Republican
Senators were called for the pur-
pose OF perfeCting the Senates
party machinery.
Other considerations than those
OF foreign policy we're beginning to
take shape. I
1t was authoritatively forecast
that within 10 days the Army would
ask Congress for approximately s4.-
00,000000 more to expand and
speed up the=armament program
Among the funds to be asked, it was
indicated, will be some for equip
ping and garrisoning Atlantic bases
being developed on sites acquired !
from the British
The 100000 figure repre- /
sented an upward revision of ST. |
100000, 900 in the Army's estimates /
of its needs for additional money
as unoffcially reported a few DAYS
ago. The new funds. if and when
granted, will go for assembling !
$500 bombers annually from parts !
manufactured chiefly in automobile |
factories and for various other pur-
poses, including new munitions
plants and so-called critical" equip
ment to round out supplies for a
force of 100000 men.
Barkley Talks of Tax Boost.
The question of how the heavy
defense expenditures are to be met |
was being much discussed. Sem
ator Barkley said that tax increases. |
expected to be sought by the ad-
mlnlStration this session. should |
make it possible for the Government |
not only to balance its regular" |
budget-eXClusive of defense items
but also to meet some defense
costs.
In other quarters. fiscal experts |
predicted the Presidents budget re-
port to Congress next week would |
show balance" between income
and normal" expenses for the fiscal
year beginning July /, 1941, and |
would include in normal" expenses
$1,000 100000 for Army and Navy |
costs which would have been in
Cured even in normal times.
AS for domestic questions aside
from those born of the defense
emergency. the Senate ma aiority |
leader indicated that the admin
tstratio might undertake to in |
crease Social Security benefits in
some categories by equalizing old
age benefits to the States. States
now pay various sums which are
matched by the Federal Govern
ment dollar-for dollar up to $40.
Various moves were initiated for
Congressional Investigations bearing
upon the Nations defense effort.
Senator Wheeler, as chairman of |
the Interstate Commerce Commit
tee, created a subcommittee headed |
by himself to ferret out foreign in |
fuences that may be delaying or
obstructing national defense" An