Evening star., 1942-02-01
264 Billion Navy Bill
Expected TO Pass
Senate Tomorrow
Worship Leasing Plan
Modified in Biggest
Appropriation Measure
Bv ]. A. o'LEARY.

BY ]. A. O'LEARY.
Senate passage of the biggest ap-
preparation bill in history, giving
the Navy SIG, ,495, ,265, ,474 for con-
tinued expansion of its war strength
during the next 18 months, Is ex-
pected by tomorrow night.
A possible source of controversy
over the leasing of warships to Al
lied nations was avoided when the
Appropriations Committee, before
approving the bill yesterday, modi-
fed a broad leasing provision the
Budget Bureau had recommended.
AS the bill was amended, none OF
the Nays present ships could be
turned over to another country, but
the President could lease some OF
the 1,799 new ships to be built
out of an emergency appropriation
of $500, ,0O0,O 900 in this bill. The ulti-
mate limit of cost on these new
ships was fixed at $4,000, 900 900.
The original proposal would have
applied to any ship, transfer OF
which the President deemed to be
in the interest of national defense.
Committee members pointed out the
restriction will not interfere with
use Of existing naval vessels IN any
theater of the war, but means tnat
they would retain their own crews
and their American status.
No Testimony on Leasing.
Although there were reports that
1t had been planned to lease some
existing ships to Latin American
countries under the original broad
provision, committee members said
there was no testimony to that
effect in the Senate hearings.
Senator Overton, Democrat, OF
Louisiana, in charge of the big
supply bill, said he believed the
amended ship-leasing provision is
satisfactory to the Budget Bureau
and the administration.
The Senate Committee added So
5OO,0O0,000 to the $4,000 ,0oo, 600
total allowed by the House when
It passed the bill several days ago.
Most of the Senate increase is TO
speed up the production OF planes:
Congress, during the last week
sent to the President $l2,5O0,O0O,-
600 supplemental Army supply DILL
largely to provide for $4,000 planes,
so that If the Navy bill passes IN
its. present form this Government
will have pledged approximately
SAG 900 900 900 within two weeks to
provide for its fighting forces IN
the war against Axis aggression.
Plane Output Speeded.
When the Navy bill was In the
House Committee, officials testlneo
their aim at that time was to IN
crease the output of planes TOR the
NAVY from 500 to $500 a week, or
$4,000 for a year. The Senate m
creases have further speeded that
program, but the committee tnus
far has not announced how many
planes are provided, in all.
With Senate additions, the olll
carries approximately $4,000, ,0OO,0oO
for aircraft and the ordnance to
arm the planes, and about s8.oOo'-
600 900 for continuing the building
of surface war vessels.
OF the SIG, 6,495 ,265,4 ,474 Senate
total. s23, ,738 1865, ,474 is cash ana the
remainder contract authorizations:
II covers the remainder OF this flscal
wear and the new year commencing
July l.
commenting on the ship-leasing
question. Senator Norris, ,1nde-
pendent, of Nebraska, said ne Wouio
not favor leasing American naval
vessels. even to Latin America, at
this time.
Patrol Plan Preferred.
"I would rather that we patroLed
Latin American coasts ourselves In
cooperation with the forces OF those
countries" he said. I'VE have mace
defense of the Western Hemisphere
our responsibility"
Chairman Connally of the Foreign
Relations Committee said he would
have no objection to turning de-
stroyers or other light craft over to
Latin American countries. but no
major units of the fleets at this
time.
Transfer of lease-lend matrelals,
other than ships. could be made to
Allied nations up to a limit of ST.
600. 900 900 out of this Navy bill.
Asked if he thought this bill would
meet the Navy's requirements for
the remainder of this session OF
Congress, Senator Overton said no
predictions could be made in a'war
Of this magnitude He added his
own belief that it may become nee
essary to consider enlarging the
Marine Corps, and to provide the
Navy with more blimps for patroll-
i,,1 %L1 nan Re c,,hn- rino dpfoc.