Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-02
House Switch
0KsCIaims Of
Philippines
By ROBERT X. WALSH
Star Staff Writer


Star Staff Writer
The House looked more hos
pitable to Philippine President
Macapagal today because of
its l94-35 vote to pay $73 mil
lion in war damage claims to
So, 900 Of his countrymen.
That vote late yesterday re-
versed a 201-171 vote against
a somewhat similar measure in
May.
Unlike the earlier bill, the
legislation which now goes to
the Senate would require per-
sons or corporations receiving
more than $25, 900 to reinvest
the additional amounts in the
Philippine Islands for econom-
ic rehabilitation purposes.
MacapagaI Criticized
Debate was far less critical
Of the claims procedure thar
it was three months ago
President Macapagal neverthe-
less came in for severe criti-
ciSm, not only by House mem
bers who continued to oppose
the bill but also by several who
voted for it as an improvement
over the original version.
AS a result of the adverse
vote in May, the Philippine
President cancelled a SEIZED
uled visit to the United State:
in June. He was quoted Later
as saying he would make the
visit if the House acted ia.
vorably on the new bill.
The new and the old bill,
provide for payment of the
unpaid balance of World Wal
II damage claims already ap-
proved under the Philippine
Rehabilitation Act of 1916
Since that year approximately
1889 million was paid on those
approved claims but $73 mil
lion still remained. Leaders OF
both parties urged passage Of
the bill.
Representative Zablocki
Wisconsin Democrat in charge
of the bill for the Foreign At
fairs Committee, emphasized
that 1t was not a foreign aid
bill.
He and Representative Judd
Republican of Minnesota, ex-
planned that it was essentially
an authorization to pay Philip
pine citizens and corporations
the balance of claims for eco
nomic rehabilitation. They
contended that the Unite &
States had a moral commit
ment" to pay the balance OF
the claims which had been in
vestigated and approved by q
commission.
Feared WindfalI to Few
Representative Hays, Ohio
Democrat who voted againS'
the first bill. said he did 81
because he was convinced i
would be a "windfall" for 1
few big claimants. While sup
porting the new bill he salt
President Macapagal did no
show himself a very steadfas
friend of the United States
in reacting so vehemently t,
the House action last May.
I'm view of the antics ant
actions of the President of thu
Philippines" Mr.. Hays said
"he didn't make it any easiel
for some of us to vote for thi.
bill today. His action was ap.
prehensible. and I am voting
for the bill not because Of
what he did, but in spite Of
it."
Several others were ever
more bitter in their remarks
Representative Johansen, Re-
publican of Michigan, de-
nounced what he calle {
threats and ia ntrums tt
which we have succumbed.
Representative Gross, Republi.
can of Ohio, termed the bill,
"a gun-at-the-head" measure
He observed that a brewery
and race track were among the
eligible claimants.
Amendments Rejected
Before passing the bill. the
House rejected three amend.
ments proposed by Representa-.
tive Barry, Republican Of New
York. One would have provid-
ed that the entire $73 million
be given to the Philippine Gov
eminent as part of the foriegr
economic aid program.
Another would have cut the
payments to $55 million by
limiting each claimant to 9
maximum of $4,000. The thirc
would have reduced from
to 2 per cent the Service
charge" which any person
could receive for processing q
payment to any claimant.
The bill was passed by 9
standing vote. Mr.. Gross tried
unsuccessfully to obtain a roll
Icoll for the rarOrd hYIf uyo c