<<

1950 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 14933 COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE with the House on the disagreeing votes Senate amendments thereto, and concur Edwin M. Gill, to be ·collector of internal of the two Houses thereon, and appoints in the Senate amendments. revenue for the District of North Carolina. Mr. MCKELLAR, Mr. THOMAS of Oklahoma. The Clerk read the title of the bill. COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS Mr. RUSSELL, Mr. McCARRAN, Mr. The Clerk read the Senate amend­ Charles M. Johnson, of Nort h Carolina, to O'MAHONEY, Mr. BRIDGES, Mr. GURNEY, ments, as follows: be collector of customs for customs collection Mr. FERGUSON, and Mr. WHERRY to be the Page 2, line 5, strike out "or" and insert district No. 15, with headquarters at Wil­ conferees on the part of the Senate. "and". mington, N. C The message also announced that the Page 2, strike out line 8. IN THE NAVY Senate insists upon its amendments to Page 2, after line 8, insert: To be placed on the retired list with the rank the bill

.- 1950 ..... CONGRESSIONAL RECORD--HOUSE 14969 General MARSHALL. I did not say that. I regret more than I can say that political completely divorce Generai Marshall said the role of mediator. manipulation has drawn this man, with from the military altogether. The lan­ So Marshall-himself did not think he this splendid character and reputation, guage is intended for that purpose, so went over there to form a coalition gov­ into the political maelstrom. I regret that he will not be subject to court-mar­ ernment. this for his own sake. The political ma­ tial, and he cannot be ordered around. Then let us see what else he says. I nipulation is on the part of those who He gets completely free of all military would like a fell ow who would stand up want to use his great and good name to attachments, as far as the statute is firmly on our far-eastern policy, and I protect their departments, not only from concerned. want a good, firm and definite policy in criticism for past mistakes but to have Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan. Mr. the Far East. If the President does ap­ him as sacrosanct, a man of such stature, Chairman, will the gentleman yield? point Marshall at this time, he had bet­ that even to criticize what he does is Mr. VINSON. I yield. ter say to the country what that policy called politics. We can see the technique Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan. Is ·it is. The record further reads as follows: here this afternoon; even calling atten-: the purpose of the gentleman to cut off Mr. FULTON. There is no inference here on tion to this palpably political maneuver debate on this section? the Philippines or Indonesia that you in any is charged as politics. He is being thrust Mr. VINSON. No, sir. It will be a way favor a coalition government? into this civilian political appointment pleasure for the committee to have the General MARSHALL. I did not use the word with a military title and a nonpolitical advice of the gentleman from Michigan. "coalition." My conception was a two-party aura and odor of sanctity, to prevent Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan. Will it government. Where they got into complica­ criticism of past or future mistakes. be possible, if a man gets time, to be tions over there was as to a coalition cabinet We are asked to make this possible by heard? rather than a two-party government. a one-man law, even before his name is Mr. VINSON. I will be delighted to I think there wai; . a very serious affair I there in the misunderstanding of terms. A sent to the Senate. am opposed. We hear the gentleman. coalition cabinet was one thing and a two­ thereby repeal a good law, or set it aside, Mr. . Chairman, may I make this obser­ party government was another. or break it or bend it, I am opposed to vation: I desire to offer for information repealing this wise law that puts a at this· time a ·new section, section 3, Now watch how I asked him how firm civilian over the military in the military which I propose to off er when we finish he is against putting the Communists in departments. There were two reasons other places, and his answer-without with section 2. for this law requiring 10 years of sepa­ I a::;k unanimous consent that the comment: ration from military service before a man amendment may be read now for infor­ Mr. FULTON. But to clear the air now with could become civilian Secretary of De­ mation, in my time. our problems in Indonesia, there is no feel­ fense. One was to prevent military dom­ The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, ing on your part to recommend a two-party ination of our Government, of our De­ cabinet government with the Communists the Clerk may read the amendment for in it or what the Communists might have fense Department. The other was to pre­ the information of the Committee. called a coalition government? vent political infiltration into our Armed There was no objection. General MARsHALL. I have not been in­ Forces. We did riot want to have our The Clerk read as fallows: volved in that. generals and admirals playing politics, so as to get into the Cabinet if things Amendment offered by Mr. VINSON: Page Mr; FuLTON. You do not want us to infer 2, after line 18, insert a new section as fol· that you are in favor of such a thing now? took the right turn. lows: I am trying .to help yo-q. You want the But it.is said that General Marshall's "It is hereby expressed as the intent of !ndochinese Government to stand on its own case is an ·exception. No one will claim the Congress that the authority granted by Government alone, and we want the Philip­ that a few years of retirement, still as this act is not to be construed as approval pine Government to stand alone, do we not? . - . General of the Army, has changed him by the Congress of continuing appointments And what was General Marshall's an­ into a civilian sort of person. The 45 of military men to the Office of Secreta!'y o! years of military habits, thought and Defense in the future. swer to me OI) Jµne 7, 1950? It was: "It is hereby expressed as the sense of the · General MARSHALL. I assume so. activity have molded him into what he Congress that after General Marshall leaves is-a splendid old soldier. He will not the Office of Secretary of Defense no addi­ The CHAIRMAN. The Chair recog~ change. G:t:anting he has an exceptional tional appointments of military men to that pizes the gentleman ·from Ohio [Mt. record, exceptional prestige, he is not Office shall be approved." \7miYS]. indispepsable except politically. Many Mr. VORYS .. Mr. Chairman, as the able civilians have been named on the Mr. VINSON. Mr. Chairman, if there Chair has just ruled, this is one-man is no further debate on section 2, I offer :floor today who could do the job. It is the amendment adding the new section legislation. The Supreme Court held his name, his reputa1.iion, that is being that the .Congress could not pass one- · drafted. 3. man legislation putting a man off the Mark my words, this exception will es­ The CHAIRMAN: Does the gentleman Qovernment payroll,. in the Dodds, Wat­ tablish a precedent. from Missouri [Mr. SHORT] desire recog:. son, and Lovett cases; but here we are . When I made the point this aftern.oon nition? passing one-man legislation, to put one that in this bill he is continuing to hold Mr. SHORT. No; I wish to offer ail. man on the payi·oll-not on one payroll his army status and pay, we were told amendment adding section 4 following but two Government payrolls at once; to that the exceptions already made in section 3 if it is adopted. continue him on the military payroll, that line have created a precedent. In Mr. VINSON. If there is no further wfth all the perquisites of a general only a few years we wm ·find that this debate on section 2, I offer the amend­ of the Army, and at the same time put new exception has created a precedent .ment which is at the Clerk's desk. pim on the civilian payroll as a Cabinet that will rise up to haunt us. This is the The Clerk read as fallows: officer.· · way the welfare state turns into the Amendment offered by Mr. VINSON: Page I cherish the long personal acquaint­ warfare state. · 2, after line 18, insert a new section as fol­ The CHAIRMAN. The time of the lows: ance, the friendship I have had with "It is hereby expressed as the intent of General Marshall since I first ·met him gentleman from Ohio [Mr. . VoRYS] has the Congress that the authority granted by when I came here in 1939. He was then expired. this act is not to be construed as approval Deputy Chief of Staff. I found him in The Chair recognizes the gentleman by the Congress of continuing appointments personal contacts not a cold man, but from Georgia to close debate. of military men to the Office of Secretary of genial and friendly. I found him in offi­ Mr. VINSON. Mr. Chairman, I ask Defense in the future. cial appearances before our committee 'that section 2 now be read. "It is hereby. expressed as the sense of The Clerk read as fallows: 'the Congress that after General Marshall efficient, helpful, and wise. We all know leaves the Office of Secretary of Defense no of his great reputation. I have taken SEc. 2. In the performance of his duties as additional appointments of military men to Secretary ·of Defense, General Marshall shall that Office shall be approved." some part in bipartisan activities in the be subject to no supervision, control, re· House with reference to our. defense and striction, or prohibitio.n (military or other­ · Mr. VINSON. Mr. Chairman, in the foreign affairs legislation. · I have been wise) other than would be operative with 'committee report the committee sought criticized by some because of my attitude respect to him if he were not an officer of to carry out that idea. We want it dis­ fn that regard but in such maters I be­ the Army. · tinctly understood that this bill shall lieve in putting patriotism ahead of Mr. VINSON. Mr. Chairman, I desire not be a continuing precedent for t~1e party. In view of my own experience, I to state that the purpose of that is to appointment of military men. We want 14970 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE SEPTEMBER 15 to adhere to the viewpoint expressed in tion which has been introduced by the he recall any time when we were not in the President's letter, civilian control. chairman. either a real or a synthetic emerg.ency, For that reason I want the sense of the What we are interested in primarily when we have not been in a great crisis, Congress affirmatively expressed not only today if after very troubled soul-search­ will he please rise and tell me when it in the committee report but also in the ing enough of us vote for this bill to was? No one is on his feet except those very heart of the hill. pass it, is not alone a series of military standing around the wall. None seems Mr. JAVITS. Mr. Chairman, I offer appointments, as we are to preserve the to recall such an occasion. a substitute. fundamental principle that the civilian Mr. O'HARA of Minnesota. Mr. Chair­ The Clerk read as follows: shall control the military. I feel that man, will the gentleman yield? Substitute amendment offered by Mr. JA­ the amendment submitted by the dis­ Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan. Does VITs: Page 2, after line 18, insert in lieu of ting·uished gentleman from Georgia­ the gentleman know when there was not the amendment offered by Mr. VINSON the and I yield to no one in my respect for a so-called emergency confronting us, following: him, for he has been generally gracious when the administration wanted to put "SEC. 3. It is the intent of Congress that the authority granted to the President by to me, a relatively new Member, as he is over questionable legislatior~? this act shall no"'; constitute a precedent or to all new Members in the House, but Mr. O'HARA of Minnesota. On June a reversal of the policy of our Government the substitute amendment that I have 24, 1950, the President said we were the that there shall be a civilian control of the submitted does deal with the question nearest to peace we have ever been. National .Military Establishment." of the paramountcy of civilian over mili­ Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan. He tary in our Government. The amend­ could not have really believed that be­ Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairman, a ment offered by the gentleman from point of order. cause shortly thereafter at the request of Georgia deals only with appointments the Security Council he sent our men to The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman will to the office of Secretary of Defense. state it. , fight in Korea and the general said: Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairman, I My substitute amendment. spells out not "Stand, fight, and die." Many died. make the point of order that the Con­ only that this shall not be a precedent, Mr. KING. Mr. Chairman, will the gress has no authority to appoint Gen­ but that there shall be civilian control gentleman yield? eral Marshall or anybody else; that is a over the National Military Establish­ Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan I yield matter for the Executive department. ment. Before I yield to the gentleman, to the gentleman from California. The CHAIRMAN. That is not a mat­ may I read again my substitute? It Mr. KING. I am afraid tne gentle­ ter for the Chair to pass upon and cer­ reads as follows: man by his presentation here has im­ tainly is in conflict with the rules. SEC. 3. It is the intent of Congress that the plied that the emergency was created by authority granted to the P.resicj.ent QY thi~ The point of order was overruled. act shall not constitute a precedent or rever­ his arrival here. The gentleman from New York [Mr. sal of the policy of our Government that Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan. With JAVITS] is recognized. there shall be civilian control of the National an apology to the gentleman from Cali­ Mr. JAVITS. Mr. Chairman, I sub­ Military Establishment. fornia [Mr. KING], may I suggest that mitted the amendment which I have pro­ his statement is.inane, nonsensical, and posed as a substitute for the amendment I respectfully submit it is both things childish. Few of the so-called emer­ offered by the distinguished gentleman rather than just the one that is the con­ gencies have been real. Actual or syn­ gressional intent. from Georgia, th~ chairman of the Com­ thetic they were all created by the ad­ mittee on Military Affairs, to him, and Mr. VINSON. Mr. Chairman, will the ministration in power and usually for a when I did I asked him to consent to gentleman yield? political purpose. But be that as it may, it. He told me a short while ago Mr. JAVITS. I yield to the gentleman I will say to the gentleman, that I re­ that my amendment was unnecessary from Georgia. gret that -&he gentleman has been unable and that what was contained in it al­ Mr. VINSON. I may say to the gentle­ to recognize the political manipulations readj appeared in the committee re­ man from New York that of course this behind these so-c.alled emergencies until port on the bill. I said that I would is merely an expression of the Congress. I called them to his attention; the voters nevertheless offer my amendment and I That is all it is. The Armed Services of my district on the 12th of September, am doing so as a substitute-the basic Committee thinks the way we have ex­ and I represent the Fourth District of idea having been already put in the pressed it in the amendment I have Michigan, approved whatever I have amendment of the gentleman from offered is preferable to the way the dis­ done by 76 percent of the votes cast. Georgia. We all know that a commit­ tinguished gentleman expresses it. So I Did the gentleman do as well? tee report on a bill is not very persuasive will ask that the committee vote down Mr. KING. I have not checked: when it comes to determining legislative the gentleman's substitute and agree to Mr. HOFFMAN of Michigan. Very intent, and I am very glad to see that the the section as I have drafted it on behalf we·ll. My people do blame me, they do gentleman from Georgia has now seen of the committee. criticize me because they say: "Al­ fit to propose language in the bill which Mr. JAVITS.. May I point out in re­ though you have been trying to do cer­ expresses the congressional intent. sponse to that, there is only one point tain things, you have not succeeded." Mr. VINSON. Mr. Chairman, will the covered in the amendment of the gentle­ One gentleman, trying to haur another gentleman yield? man from Georgia. There are two cov­ constituent off my back, said, "Clare has Mr. JAVITS. I yield. ered by my amendment, civilian control been one of the best down there, maybe Mr. VINSON. Here is what the com­ and precedent. Both are equally im­ the best." The other replied, and I mittee said in endorsing that communi­ portant. May I also point out that I quote, "Well, none of them are worth a cation, referring to the President's letter worked out this language carefully before damn." to the committee: showing it to the gentleman from Geor­ Of course, I do not agree with that, be­ The committee wishes specifically to em­ gia, and that it is better than an obvious cause I respect my colleagues. phasize that the appointment of General improvisation. The point I wish to make is that the Marshall as Secretary of Defense is not in Mr. SHORT. The amendment is a offering of this amendment by the gen..: any way to be construed as a first step in a little eau de cologne to make the bill tleman from Georgia [Mr. VINSON] and continuing process of appointing military smell better. the offering of the substitute by the gen­ men to that position. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the tleman from New York [Mr. JAVITS] just Of course, it is a precedent now. That gentleman from New York has expired. proves the point that we all know, that is what I am driving at in my amend­ Mr. HOFFMAN · of Michigan. Mr. is, that this proposal is one which is dan­ ment, not to make it a ·continuing prece­ Chairman, I move to strike out the last gerous to the security of the Republic: dent. word. A reversal of our national policy fol­ Mr. JAVITS. I am glad to have that Mr. Chairman, earlier in the day in lowed since the founding of the Republic. statement of the gentleman from support of this legislation it was said a~ That is, putting a military man at the Georgia, but with all due respect to the it has become customary to say when un­ head and in control of all our civilian gentleman, and I have great respect for sound legislation was requested of Con­ activities of our war activities. Let the him, I have thought about this particu­ gress that the country is now confronted military men direct our . war program. lar language for some time, and I think by a great emergency. I came here in Let the production and transportation my amendment on this matter is su­ January of 1935, and if there is anyone on experts direct production and delivery perior to the obviou: ly hasty improvisa- the floor today who was here then, can of the needs of the Armed Forces. I say 1950 CONGRESSIONAL-RECORD-·HOUSE 14971 it is a confession that those who are sup­ The Clerk read as follows: . The question was taken; and on a divi­ porting, who are advocating, who are Amendment offered by Mr. SHORT: On page sion