The Pittsburgh Press (January 4, 1941)
CONGRESSMEN OPPOSE BLANK CHECK FOR AID
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Roosevelt ready to ask for unlimited power to help Britain
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By John R. Beal, United Press staff writer
Washington, Jan. 4 –
The new Congress indicated today it will give President Roosevelt strong bipartisan support of greater aid to Britain but will resist granting him unlimited authority to handle it.
Word that Congress probably would be asked to give blanket power to the White House for operation of the current “lend-lease” plan for producing British war materials was carried to the Capitol by Senate Majority Leader Alben W. Barkley after he conferred with the President.
Crystallization of the Congressional attitude toward the proposal awaits Mr. Roosevelt’s State of the Union Address Monday when he is expected to develop the British aid plan in greater detail. Several Senators, however, expressed immediate opposition to “blank check” power.
Nye Demands Inquiry
Mr. Barkley said the administration’s program has not yet been translated into legislative form but that he understood it would put no limit on the extent of American aid to Britain.
Senator Gerald P. Nye (R-ND) said he would demand an investigation of British Empire resources in this hemisphere before Congress authorizes any such plan. He said he believed Britain has large investments here, in Canada, and in Latin America that could be used for arms purchases, and that there is no need for the U.S. to undertake to pay for its needs.
Senator Nye characterized as “a guess” Treasury estimates that British investments here might total $5-7 million, asserting that these amounts “might or might not cover one-fourth of the actual figure.”
Seeks Income Tax Hike
Senator Guy M. Gillette (D-IA) said he was not interested in the details of the President’s proposal since he opposed the plan from the outset. Other Senators, including Robert M. La Follette (P-WI) and Robert R. Reynolds (D-NC) contended that blanket authority would mean that Congress had relinquished its participation in the national defense effort.
Mr. La Follette and Tom Connally (D-TX), members of the Senate Finance Committee, called for an increase in income taxes for persons in medium brackets – from $5,000 to $50,000 – to strengthen the government’s ability to pay for the defense program. Both emphasized they did not believe present exemptions of $500 for single persons and $2,000 for married couples should be severed.
There was almost universal acceptance of the contention that aid to Britain is the safest course for the U.S. to follow in its attempt to combat the spread of totalitarian power and still avoid active involvement in war.
House Speaker Sam Rayburn, in a speech following re-election as presiding officer, harked back to the World War days when, he said,
The center aisle did not divide the patriotism of this House.
During this Congress, on issues involving the national defense and the safety and security of America, I expect again to see us act with practical unanimity, regardless of party.
House Minority Leader Joseph W. Martin Jr. (R-MA) said his party was “100 per cent” for national defense.
We are ready to go along on proper aid to Britain. We will insist, however, that the money be expended wisely and that there be no waste.
While attention centered on the “lend-lease” proposal, other avenues of possible aid were not overlooked.
Chairman Andrew J. May, of the House Military Affairs Committee, said he would introduce on Monday a bill to repeal the Johnson Act barring loans to debt-defaulting nations which stands as an obstacle to the granting of credit to Britain. Mr. May did not have the repealer drafted in time for introduction yesterday as he originally planned.
Chairman Sol Bloom, of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a radio speech last night, suggested the possibility of amending the Neutrality Act to aid the British further. Without advocating such a course, he pointed out that amendment of domestic laws is no concern of foreign governments.
Both Houses in Recess
The manner and means of helping the defenders of human liberty are matters for the United States to decide in its own way. When changed conditions make it expedient to change the law, Congress is always free to act. Certainly it would not be wise for us to tie our hands by adhering to a law that interferes with our best interests.
Both houses of Congress were in recess for the day, and will not complete the opening ceremonies of the session until the middle of next week. On Monday, before Mr. Roosevelt’s address, the houses will meet in joint session to count the electoral college ballots. On Tuesday, Congress will receive the annual budget message.
The House got most of its preliminary organization out of the way yesterday by electing Mr. Rayburn as Speaker and renaming all present officers. Senate Republicans and Democrats scheduled caucuses today to complete their organization for the session.
The Democrats have four places to fill on their steering committee and must name a new party whip to replace Senator Sherman Minton (D-IN), who was defeated for re-election.
Republicans, in view of their small minority, may not offer a candidate for the office of President pro tempore which was left vacant by the death of the late Senator Key Pittman (D-NV) because the Democratic candidate, probably Senator Pat Harrison (D-MS), is assured of the post.
Senator Spurns Colleague
Only one unusual incident marked the opening day. It took place in the Senate when Senator Hiram Johnson (R-CA), veteran non-interventionist, shattered a 33-year-old custom by refusing to allow a colleague to escort him to the well of the chamber to take the oath of office.
It is customary for the other Senator from the same state to show this courtesy, but Mr. Johnson spurned the services of Democratic Senator Sheridan Downey, California’s junior Senator.
Another threatened incident was averted when William Langer, former governor of North Dakota, was allowed to take his seat in the Senate “without prejudice” pending an inquiry by the Privileges and Elections Committee of his fitness to serve.