Evening star., 1946-05-05
Fred A. Britten, Former Leader
Of Big Navy Bloc, Dies at II
CoIorfuI Ex-PugiIist
Voted Against War
Declaration in 1917

Fred A. Britten. "a. for many
years a Republican member of
Congress from Illinois, died last
night at Bethesda Naval Hos
pital after an illness of several
months.
The veteran legislator, whose Serv-
ice in the House extended from 1913
to 1885, made his home here at 1883
Sheridan Circle Mrs. Britten was
with him when he died
Best known nationally as a Big
Navy advocate, Mr. Britten served
as chairman of the House Naval. AZ
fairs Committee from 1923 to 1881.
A rough and tumble debater ne ad-
vocated Navy expansion back in the
early 20s when the emphasis was on
scrapping battleships rather than
building them.
Voted Against War in 1917.
He also opposed prohibition and
was one of small group in Congress
voting against the resolution in April,
1917, which declared war on Ger
many.
Earlier Mr.. Britten helped lead the
fight which preceded congressional
approval of the huge 1916 naval
program and he bitterly opposed
what he termed scrapping of this
program under the Naval Linita-
tions Treaty of 1872. IS :. <aa q.
Before entering politics as an al
derman in Chicago, where he was
born on November 10, 1871, Mr..
Britten was star athlete and at
one time was amateur lightweight
boxing champion He also was 4
crack runner and swstnnRr.
In 1898. when he was conducting
an importing and exporting business
in Chicago and Washington, he told
an interviewer he saw little to ap-
prove in the New Deal policies of
President Roosevelt, but he did like
the naval construction program.
When he became chairman of
the Naval Committee he helped
movement which resulted in an act
of February 13. 1929, providing for
construction of Is cruisers.
Sought to Legalize Beer.
Mr.. Britten worked consistently
for the repeal of the 18th Amend
ment and offered as a compromise
a bill to legalize beer with an al
coholic content of 2.5 per cent.
He voted against the World War
resolution after he had unsuccess-
fully tried to amend 1t so that no
American soldiers. except volun-
teers. would be allowed to fight in
Europe, Asia or Africa without the
consent of Congress.
Mr.. Britten was a formidable
opponent in debate. He could
think on his feet" and his verbal
barbs frequently irked Republican
colleagues as well as Democrats.
Outside the legislative chamber,
Washington knew him as genial
man. about and a jovial host.
His parties were famous and at
tracted many notables.
Because of his gift for debate Mr..
Britten often wss used by Repub-
lican minorities to heckle the oppo-
sition. On April 2l, 1884, he charged
that Junior brain trusters' were
meeting nightly in "the little red
house in Georgetown" to frame
"the communistic legislation we all
talk about in the cloakroom."
Pressed for details, he said those
who met there included Thomas G.
Corcoran and Benjamin Cohen, then
Government lawyers, and two Fed
eral Trade commissioners, James NJ
Lands and DR.. Frederic c. Howe.
The latter was consumers counsel
for the Agricultural Adjustment Ad-
ministration.
The house proved to be a red
brick, octagonal structure President
Grant once used as summer resi-
dence. Mr.. Corcorsn admitted he
lived there.