| Show T SENATE FUND CONTROL I UNDER AID BILl j New Amendment Grants Right To End Powers w WASHINGTON A S H I N March 5 UP The UP-The The senate Wednesday adopted amendments tightening control over the purse strings under the pending war aid billand bill billand billand and clarifying the right of congress congress con eon gress to end the bills bill's powers by a simple majority vote at any time The spending restriction would empower President Roosevelt to transfer to foreign countries up to worth of present or future army and navy material but would require that he obtain specific approval from congress be before before before be- be fore extending any further aid ald The new amendment was sponsored sponsored sponsored spon spon- by Senator James F. F Byrnes D. D S. S C. C as a reply to opposition charges that the measure constituted constituted a blank check for the president since the original draft had no limit on the amount of contracts contracts contracts con con- tracts which he he- could make before before before be be- fore asking congress congre s for authority or money Valuation Amendment A few minutes later the chamber unanimously approved an amendment amendment amendment amend amend- ment by Chairman Walter F. F George D. D Ga of the foreign relations committee to give army and navy chiefs the right to fix the value of equipment which could be loaned leased or given away from their stocks Foes of the measure had had- charged that the president under the original original inal provisions of ot the measure could set values of 1 on sa say a battleship and thus give th the tl entire navy away The amendment was adopted by voice vote There was no audible audible dissent Previously the senate had adopted adopt adopt- ed unanimously an amendment by its foreign relations committee perfecting the language of a house amendment permitting congress to end the presidents president's powers under the bill at any time by a concurrent concurrent concurrent concur concur- rent resolution of both houses Marks First Progress The action marked the first legislative legislative legis legis- progress on the measure coming after 15 days of general debate Acceptance of the amendment for ending presidential authority under the bill by concurrent resolution resolution resolution res res- came up after a bitter at- at on Page Four Cont Column 8 ri Three Senators Okeh Control Of oCl Funds as asI in I Aid d Bill Continued from Page One tack on the bill by Senator Charles W. W Tobey R. R N. N H. H If It congress does pot not act the pr presidents president's powers under the bill would expire automatically on June 30 1943 The senate adopted without objection ob- ob j a committee amendment which would terminate on June Tune 30 1946 the army and navy revolving revolving revolving re re- re- re fund created by foreign repayment of war aid r received from the United States and another another another an an- other inserting the usual clause that if any section of the act is declared de de- fd clar unconstitutional it does not affect the validity vl of other sections Expiration Time Senator Arthur H H. R. R Mich reserved the right to offer later an amendment to re reduce reduce re re- duce the bills bill's automatic expiration expiration expiration tion time from two years to one year There was some discussion of the ultimate validity of even the perfected amendment to permit congress to terminate the presidents president's presidents president's presidents president's dents dent's powers at any time Democratic Democratic Democratic Demo Demo- cratic Leader Alben W. W Barkley Ky offered no objection to the amendment but said he did not want to be committed to the theory that congress could repeal legislation legislation legislation legis legis- lation by a mere mere concurrent resolution resolution resolution reso reso- lution not requiring the presidents president's signature Senator Burton K Wheeler D. D Mont remarked that nobody can t tell 11 what the supreme court will do Sees Bill as Security After the vote on committee amendments the senate heard a speech by Senator Wallace H. H White Jr R R. Me who declared that a German victory would be bea a crushing disaster to the cause of freedom He urged enactment of the bill as a step toward preservation preservation preservation of Americas America's security and peace This bill in my considered judgment judgment judgment judg judg- ment responds to the faith and the conscience of the American people he said I believe it will contribute to our national security and so to our peace to the cause I of humankind here and elsewhere I to the preservation of our institutions institutions institutions and Ideals I Referring to charges by the opposition opposition opposition op op- I position that the measure confers dictatorial powers to the pre president prel- prel i- i dent det White said it does not surrender surrender surrender sur sur- render our American system or enthrone dictatorial powers The measure he continued continued continued con con- provides a time limit on the aid to be extended anti axis nations and congress retains control over the amount Of f aid by its power over future appropriations Thorough Discussion Senator Burton K Wheeler D. D Mont after an Informal opposition opposition opposition tion strategy m meeting Tuesday said his group would demand thorough thorough thorough thor thor- ough discussion of ot all amendments but would not filibuster The opposition opposition opposition op op- op- op position is appealing to the public to flood the senate with mail urging urging urging ing defeat or substantial modification modification modification tion of the bill biU The senate will take up committee commit commit- tee amendments which would 1 Tighten congressional control of in the aid program leaving Mr Roosevelt free to transfer transfer transfer trans trans- fer to foreign government Immediately Immediately immediately imme Imme- worth of army and navy equipment on oa hand or oron oron oron on order but requiring congressional congressional congressional approval of appropriations or authorizations for tor further trans trans- fers 2 Clarify a house amendment limiting the life of the bills bill's powers powers powers pow pow- ers to June 30 1943 but permitting congress to terminate the powers at an earlier date by a simple majority vote if the emergency has ended 3 End the army and navy revolving revolving revolving re re- re- re fund created by payments of foreign governments for aid after June 30 1946 |
