Evening star., 1942-01-29
Early House Action
Forecast by Summers
On War Powers Bill
Senote Possoee includes
Free Postage for
Men in Armed Services
By J. A. o'LEARY.

ny D. ~ " LLhnIs
Early House action was predicted
today by Chairman Summers Of the
House Judiciary Committee on the
second war powers bill, passed by
the Senate late yesterday with an
amendment extending free postage
rights to the men in the armed
forces.
Representative Summers had hoped
that the House committee would
take up the measure today, but 1t
did not get to it during q short ses-
sion this morning.
OF the IA specific new powers the
bill confers on Government agencies
to speed up the war effort, Senate
debate centered almost entirely
around these three:
Free postage for the fighting
forces, relaxing of the Hatch Act
to permit members of political COM
mitteeS to become part-time Gov
ernment workers in civilian defense
functions and allowing Federal Re-
serve Banks to buy Government
bonds directly from the Treasury
instead Of on the open market.
Postage Issue Tangles Bill.
AS the bill came from the Senate
Committee. it limited the free post
age to men serving on foreign soil.
When a Republican. Senator Brooks
of Illinois, proposed to let all men
in uniform at home or abroad mail
letters without stamps. the Senate
worked itself into a parliamentary
tangle and more than an hour OF
acrimonious debate. as three Demo-
cratic Senators hastened to put
forward similar proposals they had
been working on.
The parliamentary snarl finally
was untangled by having the Senate
vote twice on amendments from both
sides Of the aisle that accom-
plished the same results in different
language.
The Senate first adopted the
Brooks amendment, "a to 8. 1t then
agreed to Democratic substitute
by Senators johnson of Colorado
and Mcfarland of Arizona. 56 to %.
In the midst of the discussion, SEN
ator Thomas. Democrat, of Okla
homa arose to point out he also had
bill pending to allow the Post
master General to work out special
mailing privileges for the fighting
forces.
Pictured ~ "Credit Battle"
At the heights of the debate, Sena-
tor La Toilette. Progressive, of Wis
consin described the parliamentary
maneuvering as "jockeying for the
credit" of having put the amend
ment through. Senator Clark, Demo-
crat. OF Missouri suggested, with a
smile. that the Senate enter into a
unanimous consent agreement. NAM
ing the postage amendment after all
the Senators who had bills on the
subject.
ine controversy over changing the
hatch Act was settled with a COM
promise. stipulating that persons
active in politics could not serve on
draft boards or in positions relating
TO the procurement or manufacture
OF war materials. 1t would modify
the Hatch Act to permit such per-
sons 10 Join In other part time
CIVILIAN defense work. without nav
or for nominal compensation, with
out severlng their political connec-
tions.
Several Senators expressed fear
that allowing the Treasury to sell
oonoS direct to Federal Reserve
banks' instead of in the open mar
ket. could lead to imitation but
Senator OMahoney, Democrat Of
wyoming, in charge of the bill.
said it was necessary to the war
EFFORT, and insisted the power would
not be abused.
Taft Limitation Defeated.
Senator Taft. Republican. of
Ohio, was beaten In an effort to
limit such direct bond sales to 30
day notes. and to not more than
$4,000. 600 1000 outstanding at a time.
He said the power was only needed
to meet temporary emergencies
that might arise in the financing
OF the war effort, and that his
amendment would meet that con-
tingency.
Senator Wheeler. Democrat. of
Montana, had water carriers in
cluded in the temporary wartime
powers conferred on the Interstate
Commerce Commission to regulate
the shipment of defense supplies
by rail or motor carrier.
Senator Clark, Democrat. of Mis-
souri, had the life d the bill limited
to the specific date of December 81.
1914, instead of six months after
the war.
Teeth in Priority Orders.
Among other subjects covered by
the omnibus measure are:
Establishment of criminal pen
alties for violation Of priority orders;
extending to the Navy the special
procedure already available to the
War Department for the speedy
requisitioning of private property
for defense needs; broadening the
Governments power to take over
machine tools in a factory when
they are needed on a defense job:
valves certain navigation laws of
the Commerce Department; makes
it easier for aliens who are serving
with the armed forces to become
citizens; changes the metallic con-
tent of the scent piece to save
nickel; authorizes the Treasury to
accept gifts for specific war pur-
poses, and authorizes Government
agents to inspect both the plants
and books of defense contractors.
~ S