Evening star., 1944-07-28
Byrnes Asks Congress,
For Legislation Now
On Reconversion
TeIeeroms to BorkIey,
Mccormack Also Urge
Surplus Property Lows

War Mobilization Director
James F. Byrnes has called on
Democratic leaders in Congress
to take immediate steps to OBJ
tain legislation providing for dis
posai of surplus property and
establishment of a demobiliza-
tlon agency to formulate recon-
version policies when Congress
reconvenes August 2, it was dis
closed at his Office today.
The appeal was made in kilograms
to Senate Majority Leader Barkley
and House Majority Leader NC
Cormack, Revelation of Mr.. Byrnes
request followed similar letter to
Republican Senators by Senator
Vandenberg, Republican, of Michi-
gan, who said last night he believed
the war with Germany was near an
end. This view was disputed in a
message sent from Boston by Mr..
Mccormack, who expressed amaze
ment at the Senator's prediction
and warned that this is not the
time for responsible political leaders
TO build up expectation of an earlv
return to peace"
In his message to the leaders. Mr..
Byrnes earnestly" requested that
immediate legislative attention be
given to reconversion policies.
Opinion Is Changing.
Congress is scheduled to reconvene
Wednesday, but most leaders have
expressed the opinion that little
would be done before Labor Day.
This opinion appears to have
changed within the last 48 hours.
however.
Senator Vandenberg has sum-
moned Republican Senators to meet
here next Tuesday.
Meanwhile. Chairman Reynolds
OF the Senate Military Affairs Com
mlttee revealed that he had tele-
graphed members of his group YES
terday asking If they could be in
Washington about August / to con-
slider hearing on reconversion
bills. He said today that he had not
received sufficient replies to know
whether he would call the commit
tee into session.
May Sees Nazi Collapse.
Chairman May of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee ventured the
forecast that Germany would capit-
ulate by December /. Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma,
head of the Subcommittee on Mill
tary Appropriations, commented:
L don't see how Germany can last
through the rest of this year"
Representative Cochran. Demo-
crat, of Missouri. today issued a
statement saying that it is essen
tial" that members return next
week.
He emphasized that it was espec-
tally urgent to consider legislation
that will be helpful to employees
when contracts are cancelled as we'll
as on the disposition of surplus
property.
I'VE have failed to do anything
to prevent widespread unemploy-
ment when war plants shut down, !"
Mr.. Cochran said. Plants cannot
be reconverted overnight"
Some other views on war develop
ments:
Senator Wagner. Democrat, of
New York: MY feeling is the crack
up will come very suddenly. when it
comes. When generals in the Ger
man Army show signs of being ready
to quit, there must be the same kind
of feeling in the ranks"
Representative Peterson, Demo-
crat, Of Florida The end could
come any time now"
McKellar Optimistic.
Senator McKellar, Democrat. of
Tennessee: Its just a question of
little more time with Germany: !
don't see how they've stood up this
long"
Senator Chavez, Democrat, of New
Mexico: "The Nazis are being crowd
ed very closely now, and history
shows the Germans don't like te
fight on their own SOIL"
Much less hopeful were state.
tments this week by Secretary of Wa,
Stimson, Secretary of the Navy For.
restal and Admiral Ernest j. King
commander In chief of the fleet.