8998 ·coNGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE NOVEMBER 19 PUBUC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS By Mr. DOUGLAS: adorns the pathway of our time. But H. R . 6062. A bill granting an increase of chiefly are we bound to praise Thee for Under clause 3 of rule XXII, public pension to Emma Grace Bence; t,o the Com­ bills and resolutions were introduced and mittee on Invalid Pensions. Him whose homeless feet have pressed severally referred as follows: By Mr. HARRIS of Arkansas: our path of pain, whose hands have borne H. R. 6063. A bill for the relief of the the burden of our sorrow, that we might !By Mr. COCHRAN: Clark County Lumber Co.; to the Committee learn to help each other in every dark­ H. R. 6049. A bill to exempt from State and on Claims. local taxes the sale, purchase, storage, use, or ened hour of life. By Mr. HARRIS of Virginia: Teach us, Thou Cause of· Causes, to consumption of tangible personal property H. R. 6064. A bill for the relief of Linda for use in performing defense contracts; to Wright Ward; to the Committee on Claims. thank Thee when Thy hand bestows, to the Committee on Ways and Means. By Mr. SULLIVAN: bless Thee when Thy love withdraws, and, By Mr. CRAVENS: H. R. 6065. A bill for the relief of Michael though at last our lives may seem to end H. R. 6050. ·A bill to amend paragrt>.phs 1 J. Bates; to the Committee on Naval Affairs. with dreamed of joys that still are only and 2 of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief dreams, with hopes deferred, and bless­ Act of 1940; to the Committee on Military ings seen for others though not on us Affairs. PETITIONS, ETC. By Mr. CULKIN: bestowed, make us content to know that H. R. 6051. A bill to enable dairy farmers in Under clause 1 of rule XXII, petitions if our souls but dwell in faith's.untroubled certain drought areas ·to maintain their pro­ and papers were laid on the Clerk's realm we shall one day wake to thank duction of milk needed for defense purposes; desk and referred as follows: Thee for the rapture of that radiant to the Committee on Agriculture. 2055. By Mr. CULKIN: Resolution of the morn when from every shadow of our By Mr. GOSSETT: Drought Committee of the Northern New doubt or disappointment we shall find H. R. 6052. A bill to return certain retired York Counties, urging the New York State release, and sorrow and sighing shall flee emergency officers to the rolls, with pay; to Farm Bureau Federation, the State defense away. the Committee on Military Affairs. committee and the depart.w.ent of agricul­ By Mr. KEFAUVER: ture and markets to go on record favoring In the Master's name, we ask it. H. R. 6053. A bill to amend section 2800 of the Fulmer bill for relief of the northern Amen. the Internal Revenue Code; to the Committee New York dairymen; to the Committee on THE JOURNAL on Ways and Means. · Agriculture. On request of Mr. McKELLAR, and by By MI. PLAUCHE: 2056. Also, resolution of the Cloth Window H. R. 6054. A bill providing a franking Shade Workers Union, No. 20684, Oswego, unanimous consent, the reading of the privilege to soldiers, sailors, and marines dur­ N. Y ., protesting against any and all taxes Journal of the proceedings of Monday, P1g existence of the unlimited national emer­ on their wages by the Govern­ November 17, 1941, was dispensed with, gency; to the Committee on the Post Oftlce ment; to the Committee on Ways and Means. and the Journal was approved. and Post Roads. 2057. By Mr. KRAMER: Petition of the MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT­ By Mr. REECE of Tennessee: Associated Farmers of Kings County, Han­ APPROVAL OF A BILL H. R. 6055. A bill to amend section 2800 of ford, Calif., demanding that Congress remove the Internal Revenue Code; to the Commit­ the cause of much of the trouble between Messages in writing from the President tee on Ways and Means. employer and employee by the immediate of the United States were communicated ,ay Mr. WADSWORTH: repeal of the Wagner· Act; to the Committee to the Senate by Mr. Miller, one of his H. R. 6056. A bill to regulate in the United on Labor. secretaries, who aJso announced that on States Court of Claims for payment for 2058. Also, petition of the Democratic the use of inventions by or for the Govern­ Youth Federation of California, urging that November 15, 1941, the President had ment; to the Committee on the Judiciary. lend-lease aid be given nations fighting Hit­ approved and signed the act

PERMISSION OF COMMITTEE ON LABOR taxation to offset inflation and pay a greater , The might not be exactly according TO SIT DURING SESSIONS OF HOUSE part of defense costs. to Army standards but they would serve the purpose until others could be provided. Mrs. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Chief unanimous consent that the Committee Executive that something must be done Mr. Speaker, that was a lot of good on Labor be permitted to sit while the to prevent inflation. The President and common sense. It has been estimated House is in session, during all of next the Secretary of the Treasury feel that that the cost of equipping one soldier week. by taking money away from the people with clothing and personal necessities for The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there through taxation they will have less to the first 6 months of service will be $45. objection? spend and that by reason thereof the On an 18-month service period the cloth­ There was no objection. demand for goods will not be so great as ing allowance thus would be $135 and for The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under to cause unreasonably high or inflated 3 years $270. special order heretofore made, the Chair prices because of scarcity. All of us agree WHITE recognizes the gentleman from Missouri .that when demand exceeds the supply of Now, everyone knows that a regular [Mr. BENNETT] for 30 minutes. any article, the price thereof becomes soldier has never had a clothing allow­ EXTRAVAGANT ARMY PURCHASES INDI- high. In this connection, Mr. Speaker, ance anwhere near this sum. No Member CATE AN A. E. F., INFLATION, AND I desire to point out the fact that the of Congress knows in complete detail RUIN Government itself is doing the very thing just what quantities we are buying of Mr. BENNETT. Mr. Speaker, ruthless that brings inflation. The excessive pur­ personal equipment. I have studied the dictators govern many countries, and, as chases by the War Department have had purchases since August 1940 and am con­ a result of ambition to extend their more to do with starting the inflation vinced that the Quartermaster Corps has power, war more destructive, cruel, and spiral than anything else. I submit, be­ cast caution to the winds and is buying ghastly than ever seen before drenches fore you lower the American standard of in the expectation of equipping an army the earth with blood of men, women, and living by increasing the cost of living, of not less than 10,000,000 men. I base children. In a time like this no nation the Government had better put its own my belief on the great quantities of cer­ is safe unless well prepared to defend house in order. If the present policy of tain special equipment bought. For in­ itself. the War Department continues, we will stance, some one must be out to train a During the campaign of 1940 I prom­ have scarcity of consumer goods and thus million cooks and bakers for the Army. ised the people of my district if they inflation regardless of th3 amount of If not, why have they bought over $3,- would elect me to Congress I would sup­ spending money we may force from the 800,000 worth of cooks' and bakers' port plans for strong national defense people by taxation and in spite of any and ? This is really something arid that I would do ·an in my power to price-control bill. The investigation I to think about. In the old days in the keep our country from taking part in have conducted has uncovered some Regular Army the cooks, bakers, kitchen other people's wars. Mr. Speaker, I startling facts, and I am convinced that police, and everybody else who worked ·have kept that promise, I have willing- the administration is really planning an with preparation of food was satisfied to ly supported every bill for our own na­ expeditionary force of 10,000,000 men. use sterilized flour sacks for and tional defense but I have not, and will This, or graft, or incompetency consti­ towels. This dolling up Army cooks and not, surrender the right to insist that we tutes the only explanation of these pur­ bakers in white every time they pre­ secure a dollar's worth of labor or rna- chases in view of General Marshall's as­ pare a meal will not be of any conse­ . terial for every dollar of the taxpayers' sertion before the Senate Military Affairs quence when it comes to actual war. So money we spend. I am shocked, there­ Committee, we can defend the Western why should we buy enough uniforms to fore, to learn, that our defense program Hemisphere with approximately 1,720,- dress up the whole Army like a bunch of is managed by bunglers and honey­ 000 men. You pay your money and you Chicago white wings? Imagine an army combed with graft, inefficiency, and take your choice. Bewildering as most with every other man a cook or baker. waste. Since the second World War Army purchases are, because of the im­ In this city of Washington, containing started, Congress has .passed bills ap:.. mensity, present purchases have never over 1,000,000 souls, there are bakers who propriating more than $47,250,000,000 been equaled before in this country, even prepare bread, cakes, and pies for the for the defense of our country and to in time of war. My information is from ' · population here each day. Do you think help friendly nations. Yet, we are far official sources only. these bakers spend a million dollars a from the goal we hope to reach. Over A GENERAL SPEAKS year for coats and trousers? Do you $7,000,000,000 more is requested of Con­ think all the cooks in Baltimore, Wash­ Gen. Johnson Hagood, speaking before ington, and Philadelphia, for that matter, gress today. the . Military Affairs Committee of this Mr. Speaker, ·I have devoted consid­ spend a million dollars per year for their House on April12, 1933, pointed out that coats and trousers? This is a good time erable time to a study of our whole de­ it was neither advisable nor necessary to fense program. Because I favor ade­ to think things over. Where will these accumulate huge reserve stocks of cloth­ cooks' and bakers' uniforms wind up? quate national defense and am the ­ ing, shoes, and equipment. He said: resent~tive of 300 ,000 people, I am not Surpluses, you know where they go. content to help authorize expenditure of Reduce clothing and equipment in the When the emergency is over we will have hard-earned savings and fail to see what hands of troops to the minimum peacetime an army store in every town and city of is accomplished thereby. I do not be­ requirements. It is manifest that whatever the land selling the surplus stocks in a lieve that any of our people will com­ else the Government may do in the matter of post-war depression just as we saw fol­ preparedness, it should have on hand, if pos­ lowing World War I. plain about burdensome taxes if neces­ sible, a large quantity of arms, ammunition, sary for national defense. The tax load uniforms, and so forth, and of distinctive MOSQUITO NETTING is already far heavier than any of us ever articles of equipment, such as cartridge belts. expected to see and it will be increased It is equally manifest that there is no mili­ During the 14 months and 10 days next year. However, the people have a tary necessity for maintaining corresponding preceding Armistice Day, 1941, the War right to complain when the administra­ stocks of other military supplies, such as Department spent more than $8,000,000 tion shows no genuine disposition to cur­ sho3s, underclothing, barb wire, typewriters, for mosquito bars and netting. The esti­ and similar property which the country at mated yardage is forty million, or enough tail nondefense spending and wastes a large could p:-oduce on short notice. to make two strips of cloth from Canada large percent of funds appropriated for The effort to make each soldier an indi­ national defense. I have complained to Mexico and two strips from the At­ vidual depot of reserve supp!ies was carried to lantic to the Pacific. Think of it. Thirty about this before and I shall continue to such excess in the last war that one man complain as long as this condition exists. arrived in France with nine pairs of shoes. yards of mosquito netting for each of a But even in ordinary tim<;s soldiers can be million five hundred thousand soldiers. TAXES FOR PRICE CONTROL WILL LOWER LIVING And the purchasing is still going on. STANDARDS seen with .four pairs of shoes which have never been worn. In a recent letter to the chairman· of BLANKETS AND BED CLOTHING the House Ways and Means Committee Further arguing against the building From September 1, 1940, to November the President said: up of reserve stocks of shoes, General Ha­ 11, 1941, the War Department purchased We must take immediate steps to absorb good, speaking of ordinary shoes avail­ $80,330,991 ·worth of blankets and bed a large amount of purchasing power through able in any store, said: clothing. Now, no one can claim the 1941 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9013 emergency found the Army without blan­ 495. Since none <>f the Army purchases put the into. purchases kets. There were millions of blankets of and are either or straw, include 14,190,-ooo pairs of service shoes, left -over from the first World War. Some it may be assumed that the hats and caps 400,000 pairs of leather , 2-30.000 of them were sold by the quartermaster purchased come principally from the pairs of rubber boots, 1,450,000 pairs of depot at Je1ferspnville, Ind .• last spring manufacturers indicated in the survey arctics, 6,992 pairs of ski boots, and an for as little as 15 cents each. I have seen made by the Bureau of the Census. The assortment of winter flying Ehoes, .felt these blankets. I have inspected them, Army purchases of hats and caps in the boots, and overshoes. SUfficient footwear and I know they were sold without much period from September 1, 1940, to No­ is on hand to provide ea.ch soldier with consideration as to the cost of replace­ vember 11, 1941. total $7.802,824. Thus 10 changes. ments. Army demands, as indicated by the con­ D;KAWERS AND tracts, amount to over 50 percent of the normal hat and purchases by the The War Department has purchased The Army officers must expect stormy almost 32,000,000 pairs of cotton drawers days ahead, for they have purchased entire civilian population, men and boys. Thus the hat and cap business has been and 10,000,000 pairs of woolen drawers. $30,484,269 worth of raincoats, overcoats, Purchases of 20,000JOOO cotton under­ and mackinaws during the past 14 brought a temporary boom through the bonanza of Army contracts. do not match the drawer purchases, months. but no reason was given for the dis­ CLOTH KHAKI COTTON TROUSERS crepancy. ·These total purchases, costing When it comes to buying cloth, either The khaki cotton trousers are the sol­ about $27,000,000, would provide every cotton or woolen, or duck, the dier's stand-by. Durable and easily enlisted man in the Army today with Quartermaster Corps has the all-time cleaned, they are one of the best items of about 50 items of underwear. record. On September 15. 1941, in one issue clothing. Between September 1, A1so ordered from Carson, Pirie & Scott single day they placed orders of 39,464,- 1940, and November 11, 1941, in addition & Co., of Chicago, were 10,678 fancy 540 yards of cotton cloth, to the stocks on hand, the Quartermaster union suits at $6.42 each. khaki color, at a cost of $23,334,474. As Corps has bought about 14,000,000 pairs That the Army is being prepar-ed ·to near as I can estimate, the War Depart­ of khaki cotton trousers to take care of expect casualties is indicated in an item ment has bought over 600,000,000 yards one and a half million men. These trou­ for $3,042,534 worth of bath , of fabrics during the past 14 .months, sers, averaging 65 cents per pair, manu­ pajama suits, and convalescent suits. $9.511,329 enough to reach around the earth 14 facturing cost, account for of SHIRTING CLOTH AND SHIRTS times or manufacture 130,000,000 uni­ the funds spent for personal equipment. forms. The and of 35,- But khaki cotton trousers are not the During the period between September 868,000 yards of cloth during October. onlY kind of trousers Uncle Sam has been 1, 1940, and November 11, 1941, the Army 1941 cost $4,303,051. buying for his boys. bought 27,198,197 yards of flannel ­ Mr. ROBSION of Kentucky. Mr. -TWILL TROUSERS ing cloth. On October 18, 1941. the War Speaker, will the gentleman yield? The Army in this same period pur­ Department announced the Philadelphia Mr. BENNETT. Yes. quartermaster depot was asking for in­ chased almost 4,000,000 pairs of herring­ formal bids on 12,600,000 yards of flannel Mr. ROBSION of Kentucky. Has the bone-twill trousers for $2,622.425. gentleman anything on what they paid a shirting. Thus the Army contemplates yard for the and cotton and other WOOL- TROUSERS the purchase of nearly 40,000,000 yards fabrics he has referred to? I would like They also bought serge and contracted <>f flannel shirting. This, I am informed, very much to have that. for the manufacture of wool trousers. is sufficient material to manufacture 30,- Mr. BENNETT. I have given the yard­ The contracts so ffl.r executed are for 000,000 flannel shirts. Again I say, it age of cloth together with the cost and it about 5,265,178 pairs at a cost of looks as if we are getting ready for a can be figured from that. $3,947,884. bigger Army than now authorized by law, Mr. KNUTSON. :Mr. Speaker, will the WINTER COMBAT TROUSERS The 27,079,347 yards of flannel already gentleman yield? The winter combat trousers are an­ bought cost the Government $48,504.~47. Mr. BENNETT. Yes. other new item. So far, <>nlY $206:260 The supply for which bids have been Mr. KNUTSON. Does it occur to the has been spent for about 240,000 pairs. asked will undoubtedly cost another $25,- gentleman that ·perhaps the ·New Deal WIN'l'Elt COl\OlAT 000,000. Thus, the cloth alone for shirts has bought all this cloth to cover up their for our enlisted men will cost about $73.- The winter combat is another 500,000. This is only part of. the cost, for mistakes? ·new item. So far, only 100,000 have been Mr. BENNE'IT. They could not hide the flannel has to be shrunk and made up ordered from the Philadelphia depot at into shirts, all of which costs more money. very well under mosquito netting but the a cost of $110,773. gentleman's point may be well taken with So far the Government has spent .$5,162.- respect to some of the other items bought · SOME SOCKS 788 for the actual manufacture and pro­ or "on order.'' During the last 14 months, at a cost curement of flannel shirts. S:nee the ac­ HUMAN BLOOD of $15,340,470, the Army has bought tual contract cost of making each shirt 77,807,626 pairs of socks, or more than is around 50 cents, the sum so far spent In United States Department of Labor 50 pairs, for each of 1,500,000 men now in ind:cates that over 10,000,000 shirts have Bulletin 260 you will find that in only 6 the Army. been turned over to the Quartermaster days, from October 20 to 25, the Army Mr. PLOESER. Mr. Speaker, will the Corps. bought $1,026,250 worth of human blood gentleman yield? KHAKI COTTON SHIRTS 'for transfusion purposes. This is only a Mr. BENNETT. Yes. small part of that already bought and yet Mr. PLOESER. Would the gentleman While the woolen or flannel OD shirt is to be purchased. Guess why? mind quoting again the :figures in re­ the accepted field shirt, for garrison and PEACHES spect to the tremendous number of socks summer service the khaki cotton shirt is During the week of Septerr_ber 27 to that the Army has produced? worn. Since the manufacturing cost of October 4, 1941, the Quartermaster Gen­ Mr. BENNETT. I say that during the khaki cotton F>hirts varies, but averages eral's office bought canned peaches in the last 14 months, at a cost of $15,340,470, about 50 cents, it is estimated that the amount o .. $877,616.79. the Army has bought 77,807,626 pairs of $7,989,254 spent for khaki cotton shirts placed not less than 15,978,508 shirts in CAP AND HAT PuRCHASES socks, or more than 50 pairs for each of the hands of the Army in the period be­ The Department of Commerce, Bureau the approximately 1,500,000 men now in the Army. tween September 1, 1940, and November of the Census, in a report issued Decem­ 11, 1941. ber 28, 1940, gave the data ~.-n the manu­ Mr. PLOESER. Then, Mr. Speaker, I facture of men's and boys' caps, except trust that we will get an Army with a GLOVES AND MITTENS felt and straw, for the entire United good . In the period from September 1, 1940, States during the year 1939. The Bureau SHOES to November 11, 1941, the sum of $12~- reported that 270 establishments were Mr. BENNETT. Mr;Speaker, the War 672,000 was expended by the War Depart­ engaged h manufacture of such head­ Department has purchased more than ment for gloves and mittens. Some of geal· and that the total value of their 16,000,000 pairs of shoes and other foot­ the fur gloves cost as mueh as $15.72 per products for 1939 amounted to $11,605,- gear at a cost of $59,510,075 to date, to pair and some of the cotton gloves as 9014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE NOVEMBER 19 little as 31 cents per p:iir. The various eral is simply carrying out orders that 3,000,000 work suits______$3, 159, 979 types of gloves purchased from Septem­ come from above. 2,000,000 work coats______2, 580. 075 4,000,000 work trousers______4, 396, 242 ber 1, 1940, to October 23, 1941, were: · Mr. BENNETT. I thank my colleague 400,000 herringbone twill work "6,000,000 leather gloves ______$6, 494, 604 from Missouri for his contribution. suits______575,086 200,000 horsehide gloves______257, 665 I want to say that if this country keeps Miscellaneous mechanics' work 5,000,000 wool gloves______5, 079, 289 following the advice of the corLgenital suits------728, 818 230,000 cotton gloves______69, 152 spendthrifts much longer this Nation will, Fur mittens______275, 740 1rotal------11,440,200 Winter flying gloves______105, 989 indeed, be W!'ecked. Mocha leather gloves______3, 327 Mr. MICHENER. Mr. Speaker, will WOOL SERVICE COATS Total ______12,285,766 the gentleman yield? In the period from September 1, 1940, Mr. BENNETT. I yield to the gentle­ to November 11, 1941, the Army spent In 1939 the products of the entire glove man from Michigan. $22,801,930 for wool service coats. Since industry amounted to but $69,377,000. Mr. MICHENER. I did not hear quite · the cost averaged around $4 per , it The Army purchases already amount to all the gentleman said. Has· the gentle­ may be assumed that they have bought approximately one-fifth. of the entire man includerl in his list of purchases for over 5,700,482 wool service coats for one business. Woolen and knitted goods have the Military Establishment the item of and a half million men. been seriously affected by these great human blood? HERRINGBONE TWILL JACKETS Government purchases, and an inspec­ Mr. BENNETT. I gave those figures a In addition to the coats, herringbone tion of reports would make any man few moments ago. Yes, sir; they bought twill jackets numbering 3,478,000 have shudder who is acquainted with the fa­ $1,026,250 worth in the 6 days from Octo­ been bought. This, I am inclined to be­ miliar spiral followed by inflation. ber 20 to 25 this year. It is for trans­ lieve, represents only manufacturing cost, for the Army has been buying millions of BARRACKS AND FIELD BAGS fusion purposes. Mr. SHORT. If the gentleman will yards of herringbone . The barracks bag is used by every sol­ dier. A million men will need a million yield further, of course, I think the Quar­ termaster General is really to be con­ During the period under discussion the bags. The Government evideutly is look­ Army spent $4,860,240 for canvas leg­ ing ahead to big things. Between Sep­ gratulated upon the fine work that he is doing, because he is simply acting under gings. Since the average cost was about tember 1, 1940, and November 11, 1941, orders from someone above. I happen to 70 cents per pair, this means that in ad­ they have spent $3,535,2G2 for· barracks dition to the previous supply, not less bags alone. Since the barracks bags cost know General Gregory, the Quartermas­ ter General. I know him to be a very . than 6,900,000 pair of leggings have been about 50 cents each, this indicates that secured for present and future use. the supply now on hand is over 7,000,000. fine man and a very able man, but we might as well be frank and forthright During the same.Period the sum of $749,- and hon· c.;t with the American people and One million nine hundred and fifty­ 296 wa~ spent for field bags. This bought, accordmg to official press releases, about tell them the truth instead of trying to three thousand eight hundred and three 800,000 field bags. corkscrew them into this war through the dollars were spent for black and khaki­ The SPEAKER pro tempore. The back door by indirection anc: trickery. colored neckties. Since the cotton khaki time of the gentleman from Missouri has Mr. 'BENNETT. I thank the gentle­ ties cost, from 4 to 8 cents each and the expired. man. I am not attacking any individual, black ties around 23 cents each, I esti­ Mr. SHORT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan­ but am simply giving the facts and hope mate less than 13,000,000 ties were that whoever is at•fault will be brought bought. imous consent that the gentleman be HANDKERCHIEFS allowed to continue for 10 additional to task. Every Member of this House knows that the Quartermaster General, From my study of purchases by the minutes. War Department, I estimate that over The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there with his great responsibilities, cannot objection? personally look after all of this . 20,000,000 cotton handkerchiefs were re­ There was no objection. But somebody in that department is ' ceived for the $1,143,459 spent for that carrying out orders and wasting the peo­ item. Mr. SHORT. Mr. Speaker, .will the· . • TOWELS , gentleman kindly yield? ple's substance in a manner ·never seen! before in the hi~tory of the· world. I ' Bath and face towels cost $1,481,97B, Mr. BENNETT. Yes. · agree that if the ·administration wants an to which I do not object. Since "clean­ Mr. SHORT. Mr. Speaker, everyone A. E. F., we ought to be told about it now~ liness is next to godliness," !.hope our . knows, of course, that statistics are more On the other hand, if w.e are not going. boys always keep clean, out of trouble, or less dry and uninteresting. No one to have an army of sufficient size for and out of other people's wars. can get very much excited or emotionall3 aggression, we C\Ught not to be buying FIELD DESKS . wrought up over a table of logarithms or equipment for one. Congress and the The troops have been provided with any set of figures that are presented, but people are not being told the whole truth, 12,000 field desks. Some cost as much it seems to me that the gentleman from jt appears. · as $20.72 each. The total spent amounts Mis~ouri has done a valuable piece of · Mr. MICHENER. I was especially im­ to $209,000 for this item of field equip­ work for the membership of this House pressed with the item of blood. We can ment. and for the country at large. It shows speak' in a .jocular way about socks and SPECIAL ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT , that he has been very diligent and pains-: mosquito netting and' 'clothes, but when Besides the . regular items purchased taking and careful in amassing this array we consider· the fact tlia:t over a million, : for the sleeping comfort of the soldi~r. of figures, and more than any speechesj . dollars' worth of human blood has beent th& War Department~ has bought sleepi~g. . that have been made by Members of .. purchased for transfusion purposes, to be; bags costing $1,431,3Q9 and waterproof­ Congress or by high administrative om-: - beddi_ng· rolls costing $821,459. cials, I think that the figures ·and facts,, used where the boys have been wounded• and gassed and maimed, it seems to me . the data, that the gentleman has pre­ this program presents· a serious aspect to sented to us here this .afternoon speak In order to take care of the soldier in most eloquently and convincingly that our people. the frozen waste.s of Ala .sk~;~., Siberia, or we are preparing to build an army of Mr. BENNET!'. I thank the gentle­ elsewhere in the world, parkas, both of five or six million men, although the man from Michigan. He is right. canvas and fur, have been purchased. Chief of Staff says that an army of a WORK CLOTHING The prices vary greatly on this item, but million and a half men can successfully · During the training period and when in to November 11, 1941, the sum spent for defend the Western Hemisphere. I think the field the Army does a great deal of parkas amounts to $2,266,497. The prices that is a conclusion that all of us are work. Work clothes of various types are run from $7 to $24.25 each. It is esti­ forced to reach from the gentleman's provided for the men.. During the period mated that 225,000 have been acquired, very able address. I am sure that the from September 1, 1940, to October 23, including 519· fur parkas at $114.82 each. gentleman from Missouri does not want 1941, the sum of $11,400,200 was spent for FIELD JACKETS to criticize unduly the Quartermaster - work suits, coats, and trousers, as fol-· ·One of the newest items of issue to Corps, because the Quartermaster Gen- lows: .the enlisted men of the field forces is the 1941 CONGRESSIONAL RECQRD-HOUSE 9015 field jacket. While we have only about But so far I have found none of these the entire Western Hemisphere approxi­ one and a quarter million men in the symptoms in the Medical Corps. mates only 1,720,000 men and that he, Army who would normally be is_sued this Imagine, if you can, gentlemen, the and the Commander in Chief, have long special item of clothing, the Quarter­ Medical Corps spending over half a mil­ denied to Congress and the people any master Corps has bought them by the lion dollars for clinical thermometers intention of sending another American million. In fact, in 1 day, the orders alone. Their purchases, and these are expeditionary force of millions to the placed were for 1,633,000, which is more not all of them, between November 19, .slaughter pens of Europe, Africa, or than enough to eqUip every man in the 1940, and November 11, 1941, amounted - Asia. Army, including officers. The total pur­ to $600,772. These orders, and repeat or­ Condensed summary of clothing and personal chases of field j'ackets to October 23, 1941, ders, were divided among eight firms in comfort items purchased by Army, Sept. 1, in round numbers, were 4,225,000 for New York and New Jersey. I am in­ 1940. to Nov. 11. 1941 $7,425,491. formed that buying in large quantities Shoes, boots, and footwear, TABLEWARE a good clinical thermometer may be 16,000,000 pairs ______$59, 510, 075. 00 An interesting item is the tableware bought for about 33 cents. This means Underwear, shirts and draw- that has been bought. For knives, forks, that they have bought more than a mil­ ers, 72,000,000 items______37, 056, 905. 00 and spoons the Army has spent $1,877,660 lion and five hundred thousand ther­ Wool service coats, 5,700,482_ 22,801,930.00 for an estimated 12,000,000 articles of mometers, or one for each man in the Socks, wool and cotton, 77,- silver-plated ware. Army. Enough, in fact, if the truth were 807,626 pairs ------15, 340, 470. 00 Raincoats, all types, estimate, UNUSUAL PURCHASES known, to make every taxpayer's · tem­ perature rise a point or two. I predict 4,000,000 ------14, 099, 986. 00 Among articles of doubtful utility to a there will be a lot of skeletons in the Work clothing, approximate- fighting army we find such things have ly 10,000,000 items______11, 451, 585. 00 Medical Corps closets when this emer-· Gloves and mittens. all types, been bought as. shotguns, clay pigeons gency is over and the facts are fully re­ and skeet outfits. One order for clay approximately 12,000,000__ 12,672,237.00 vealed. And, by the way, they bought Barracks bags, 7,000,000_____ 3, 535, 262. 00 pigeons alone amounted to $30,520. One a few skeletons at that, $5,750 worth, to Field bags, 800,000______749, 296. 00 order for skeet outfits amounted to $9,- be exact. Khaki cotton trousers, 14,- 940. From looks of these purchases, we FOR TEETH 000,000 pairs------9, 511,320.00 are getting ready for a shotgun war Food charts have been bought for Herringbone twill trousers, somewhere on the sporting front. Or, approximately 4,000,000 maybe, a shotgun marriage of democracy $255,525. Dental chairs represent $418,- pairs______2,622,425.00 460, and other dental equipment cost $3,- Wool-serge trousers, 5,265,- and communism, all on account of a lit­ 837,953. Of this latter figure $1,548,953 tle monarchy. 178 pairs------3, 947,884.00 was for forceps alone. The total amount Khaki cotton shirts, 15,978,- WOOL TOQUES spent for hospital equipment and sup­ _508______7,989,254.00 A very recent item introduced into plies is well over $50,000,000. Not bad Flannel shirts, 10,000,000. 30,- army clothing is the wool toque de­ to look after the needs of a peacetime 000,000 more on order for signed by one of the men who went to army composed of only the flower of the an additional $48,712,71L_ 5, 163, 788. 00 Parkas, 225,000 ------2, 266, 497. 00 Little America with the Byrd expedi­ Nation's manhood. Field jackets, 4,225,000______7, 425, 491.00 tion. While I do not intimate we are ON THE HORSE AND BUGGY FRONT Canvas leggings, 6,900,000 going to send an A. E. F. to Antarctica, pairs______4,860,240.00 or even to the Arctic, nevertheless, the· Some years ago military experts said Neckties, exceeding 13,300,- Army has bought 16,444 wool toques for the horse was obsolete in modern war­ 000, as of Nov. 17, 194L___ 1, 953,803.00 $100,700. Now a toque is some kind of fare. They forgot the horo:;e was still a Handkerchiefs, approximate- a cross between a and a . It is polo and society necessity around Army ly 20,000,000______1, 143, 459. 00 just another piece of experimental equip­ posts. So, here we are preparing for a Jackets, herringbone twill, horse and buggy and polo contest. I do 3,478,000------2, 583,397.00 ment someone saw fit to have tried out Tableware, silver-plated, _12,- _ at public expense for national defense . . not know the total amount spent for horse equipment but the purchase of 000,000 articles______1, 877, 660. 00 Cooks' and bakers' uniforms, saddles up to April 30, 1941, amounted to While nearly every man who goes into approximately 1,000,000 __ _ 3,800,000.00 over $450,000. Sixty-one thousand hal­ Wool torques, 16,444 ______100,700.00 the Army has some kind of a , the ters cost $148,000. Blankets, bedclothing, etc __ _ Army seems to need quite a few watches 80, 330, 991. 00 WHAT'S THE SCORE? Beds, cots, mattresses, etc __ 22,654,390.00 for the defense of the Nation. In fact, Overcoats and mackinaws __ _ 1'6,384,283. 00 they !Jought $396,830 worth in the last The War Department seems to have Winter combat trousers ____ _ 206,260.00 13 months. ' anticipated every possible ·want and com­ Caps, hats, and ___ _ 7,802, 824.00 SODA FOUNTAIN fort of our soldiers, asleep or awake, from , , etc ____ _ 3,042,534.00 The War Department has bought some head to foot. With this policy I am Jn. Flying suits, jackets, trou- soda fountains with carbonators, to be accord. But, I ask again, in all fairness,· sers------2,364,545. 00 us€d in the District of Columbia where how many men are we buying for? The Sleeping bags ------1,431,309.00 authorized stren2th of the Regular Army, Waterproof bedding rolls ___ _ 821,459. 00 the ·brass hats live·, for· the modest sum Towels ______1, 481, 977.00 of' $73,417.50. the Regular Army Reserves, the-National Winter combat jackets ______Guard in Federal service, and the selec­ 110,773. 00 ORGANS AND HYMNALS Watches------­ 396,830.00 tive service trainees, including officers, is Soda fountains------73, 417.50 The War Department has bought not over 1,600,000 men. 2,400 folding organs and great quanti­ By way of summary, I will set out here Total ______369, 565,257. 50 ties of hymnals. That is fine. I want in table form and compiled from the War our soldier sons to go to church. How­ Department's own releases, r_list of Army NoTE.-Purchase prices frequently include ever, I pause to wonder how much re­ purchases from September 1., 1940, to No­ only the cost of cutting, making, and trim­ ligion they can get from these hymnals ming the clothing items, because. the Gov­ vember 11, 1941. It should oe noted that, ernment supplies the cloth and linings. and word books which cost Uncle Sam this discussion and these startling figures as much as $39 each. Yes, if there is that do not include purchases by the Navy, Summary of cloth and fabrtcs purchased by much graft in buying hymn books I won­ Marines, and Coast Guard. Each of the United-States Army from Sept. 1, 1940, der just how qualified from a moral these branches of the service has a story to Nov. 11, 1941 standpoint the Army officers are to say all its own. Too, it should be remem­ Wool-serge cloth, 39,000,000 what churches our boys can and cannot bered that Army officers buy their own yards (20,500,000 yards under attend. uniforms, that these figures are for a bid Oct. 18>------$101,512, 478 MEDICAL CORPS HAS "!'HE BUYING COMPLEX 14 Flannel shirting, 27,198,197 period of less than months, that the yards· (12,600,000 yards under Usually in an organization the size of buying is still going on, and that the bid)______48,712,711 the present United States Army there Arniy had much equipment before this Wool . overcoating, 6,800,000 will be units that practice the principles current buying spree started. Further, y& ds______16,035,541 of thrift and economy. They will · spend that the size of the Army estimated by Wool lining cloth, 12,000,000 frugally and they will buy cautiously. General Marshall as adequate to defend ya~ ds------18,268,842 9016 CONGRESSI.ONAL RECORD-HOUSE NoVEMBER 19 Summary of cloth ana fabrics purchased by have also bought 9,728,552 additional LAND PURCHASES the United States Army from Sept. 1, 1940, hand and bath towels in the hist 3 days. While the Government owns hundreds to Nov. 11, 1941--Continued But, this story has no end. of millions of acres of land in the West­ Elastique cloth, wool, 2,000,000 CAMPS AND CANTONMENTS ern and Southwestern States, much of yards----~------$5,970,930 Mr. Speaker, I realize that the matter which would be su:table for training an Elast!que}ards______shirting, 500,000 _ army and good for little else, very .little, 837,500 of army camps and cantonments has little , 2,500,000 yards ______8,746,575 to do with a bill designed to curb ex­ comparatively speaking, was used for Doeskin, 489,000 yards ______1,982,575 cessive purchases and thus retard or pre­ such purposes. On the contrary, during Mackinaw cloth, wooL..: ______159,529 vent inflation. However, I do think that the fiscal year which ended last June 30 ~ersey ______---- 89,700 a few words relative to waste, graft, and the War Department acquired by pur­ Wool suiting, 862,146 yards ____ _ 2,102,244 inefficiency exhibited in the purchase of chase, condemnation, or transfer 7,647,- Wool cloth, 100,000 yards______264,625 land and building of training centers and 551 acres of valuable farm land, and in ~aki cotton-twill uniform ordnance plants fits very nicely with a addition thereto leased an additional cloth, 45,158,892 yards______25, 723, 448 1,177,506 acres for long terms. Some o_f Herringbone-twill cotton cloth, discussion of purchase of supplies by the 49,823,000 yards______16, 331, 864 War Department. the land under lease, however, ~as of Cotton uniform cloth, 61,060,000 The whole situation may well be sum­ such a character that the rents in 25 yards______28,927,79~ marized by quoting from Report No. 480, years will exceed the value of the land Wind-resistantyards ______cloth, 10,720,000 _ part 2, of the Senate committee set up itself many times over. Mr. Speaker, 5,557,447 under Senate Resolution No. 71 to investi­ many more instances of mismanagement, Cottonyards ______lining cloth, 32,000,000 _ gate the national-defense program. The graft, and· waste could be given, but ex­ 8,001,499 report says: amples serve only to confuse the subject. Cotton-twill cloth (tent), 22,- May I sum up by saying this bungling 285,000 yards ______5,540,532 The cost of World War camps per man naki cotton cloth, 48,000,000 was only $216, whic:t was the subject of great . in selection and construction of camps yards ______·------9,4~3,987 criticism at the time as being excessive in and cantonments alone is estimated by Cotton , bleached and un- amount. The present camps are not perma­ authorities to have cost our tax-burdened bleached, 32,300,000 yards___ 6, 971, 482 nent camps. Approximately 427,113 men will citizens over $100,000,000. Cotton cloth, 40',900,000 yards__ 14·, 771,933 be housed in tents, at an average cost of IN CONCLUSION $481' ·per man, and 739,324 men will be Canvas786 yards padding, ______cotton, 6,303,- _ 1,064,841 housed permanently in barracks at an aver­ Mr. Speaker, I .am not unmindful of Felt, under-collar lining, 12,000 age cost of $697 per man. In the opinion of the fact that remarks I have made here yards ______·------'------.72,531 the .committee, this is an extremely high today will be both approved and criti­ lnsigni'a felt, :5,000 yards ______·91, 398 figure. cized. I can- take it either way. Un­ Covert cloth, 280,000 yards ___ _ 655,841 I agree it is too high. fortunately, w~ have among us .p1any. Cotto., webbing, 8,350,000 yards. 835,509 who . are so intolerant and un-American Cotton jean cloth, 3,000,000 READING FROM THE RECORD as to brand any criticism of the current yards------~------~------­ 666,057 Mr. Speaker, the manner in which in­ , tent and 0. D., administration · as political and an aid 64,000,000 yards ______22,256,845 competent men were often employed at ·to foreign powers. But, I feel that it is parachute cloth ______2,107,425 high wages, paying big membership fees my duty to be informed and to inform Airplan~ cloth ______, ___ _ 477,921 and dues to private· organizations for the my constituents or employers ·as fully as Ordnance Cloth ______497,346 Muslin ______privilege of working on public projects possible. They sent me to Wash~ngton Target cloth ______62,728 being paid for with their own tax money, knowing that I would be on the job and 258,675 · is familiar to all. In this connection, I alert to protect their interests regardless Miscellaneous cloth ______104,594 shall cite only one typical but illuminat­ of politics and with an eye on what is Mosquito netting, 40,000,000 8,000,000 ing incident. In connection with testi­ best for America. yards ------mony about construction of Camp Bland­ I submit, Mr. Speaker, that the War Total ______363,144,944 ing, on page 1115, part IV, Hearings of Department should either voluntarily, or the Truman National Defense Investigat­ by compulsion, provide Congress with an Mr. Speaker, after arranging the fore­ ing Committee, we find the following dis­ accurate list of all articles bought. _If going tables I have learned that just last cussion between Senators Brewster and these abuses, a few of which I have Saturday, November 15, 1941, the War Truman and H. J. Steelman, construction pointed out in this speech, are not Department has placed another rush or­ manager for the contractors who were stopped now, when this emergency is der. This particular order to which I · doing this particular job on a cost-plus over there will be a repetition of the refer is for $34,000,000 additional uni­ fixed-fee plan, that is, the more the job scandals 'of World War· days. Already, form and shirt materials. Thus we see cost the larger their fee: I fear, the day- will return when there that t.he total expenditures which I have Senator TRUMAN. Is it true that certain men will be an Army and Navy store at every been able to discover since September 1, were induced to join the carpenters' miion cross roads in the Nation trying to un­ 1940, and enumerated here, amounts to and to pay a $50 fee and then were a:nowed to load these surpluses on the people as war $766,710,201.50. go out to the woods and sleep a: _d not work profiteers and millionaires sit back in This does riot include many items pur­ at all, yet draw their pay.? ease on the bags of money filched from Mr. STEELMAN. That i:; true. There were our pockets while attention was focused chased in the last few days as the spend­ men found sleeping. We had 5,000 carpenters ing and buying continues its merry pace. working, so-called carpenters. on other matters during·this emergency. For your information, a few of these Senator TRUMAN. Saw-and-hatchet men is With all of this graft and fraud tak­ items, however, not includeti in my sum­ wha't they are. · ing place you may well ask if our Army, mary include-150,000 more bathrobes, 690 Mr. STEELMAN. Well, plowboys and straw­ like th~t of the late Republic of France, more folding organs at $45 each; 1,046,- berry pickers. is so rotten at the heart as to jeopard~ze 000 mattress covers at $1.50 each, . and Senator BREWS!I'ER. They signed up with the the national safety? I do not think so. . tot·a.ling $1,569,000. This latter purchase union before they _went . to work on the pay However, some changes are in order. roll usually? was all made in just 3 days' time. I nnd Mr. STEELMAN. Yes, sir. After the recent maneuvers in the South, that the total expenditure to date for Senator BREWSTER. And paid $6.50 down? several officers, including some generals, clay pigeons is $45,000. ·In the last few Mr. STEELMAN. Whatever it was. were quietly fired for demonstrated in­ days they have bought 1,700,000 adqi­ Senator BREWSTER. Then a dollar a day competence. Yet, it is apparent, incom­ tional field caps for a total of $314,000. until they had paid their $50? petence ~Y exist in the Army an(! not Also, 50,000 aluminum stock soup pots, Mr. STEELMA,N. Either that or so much a be confined to field maneuvers. To be enough for an army of 6,000,000 men if week after .the first week's wages. specific, it would appear that some of the one soup pot is used by each company as Senator BREWSTER. Yes; and the same pro­ typewriter, swivel-chair generals are in­ cedure was followed with all other trades? is customary. The Army h~s . bought Mr. STEELMAN. Yes, sir. competent too,. if not downright dishon­ $251.868 worth of platinum for .the medi­ Senator BREWSTER. You employed all to- est. It is our duty to help expose these cal corps. That ought to make a lot of gether some.thing around 30,000? · few and their works so that the public tooth fillings. The Army has bought - Mr. STEELMAN. Thirty-five thousand, or. can have confidence in· the great major­ 100,000 butcher knives for $35,000. They something like that. · ity of public ··servants who are able and 1941 ·coNGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9017 faithful to their trust. On this evidence, cause that committee is going to con­ and Coast Guard disabled in line df duty Heaven help our Republic if generals, ex­ sider that sort of legislation very inten­ as a direct result of armed conflict, while . posed as incompetent, should get elected sively, engaged in extra-hazardous service or to Congress; · Mr. SHORT. Of course the gentle­ while the United States is engaged in More accurate words were never man is getting this permission by unani­ war, and for the dependents of those spoken than those uttered by candidate mous cozYsent, so I do not see how it can who die from such cause, and for other Roosevelt in 19~2. I quote: establish a precedent. purposes." Too often in recent history liberal govern­ Mr. SUMNERS of Texas. Well, it COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE ments have been wrecked on the rocks of does not bother me if the gentleman tells loose fiscal policy. We must avoid this me it is all right. The Committee on Agriculture will danger. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there have hearings on Monday, November 24, objection to the request of the gentleman 1941, at 10 a. m., in room 1324, House Mr. Speaker, no government has per­ Office Building, on various bills· pending manently survived. Shall we permit. our from Virginia? There was no objection. before the committee for relief of dis­ Republic to be wrecked on rocks of loose tressed agricultural areas. fiscal policy? EXTENSION OF REMARKS In the dark and difficult days which Mr. MARTIN J. KENNEDY. · Mr. CoMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE lie ahead for our Republic, let it not be Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that A.ND FISHERIES said that the Congressman from the I may extend my own remarks in the The Committee on the Merchant ·Ma­ Sixth Missouri Congressional Di.strict RECORD and include therein a short eu­ rine and Fisheries will hold a public hear­ failed to recognize at a distance, and logy on former Justice Brandeis. ing on Tuesday, November 25, 1941, at 10 point out to the people, those unwelcome The SPEAKER pro tempore. • Is there a. m., on House Joint Resolution 246, to . cotisiris, excessive army purchases, infla- objection? authorize the Maritime Commission to tion, graft", debt, taxes, price control, and There was no objection. sell two merchant vessels to the Govern­ war, that have wrecked many a nation Mr. MARTIN J. ' KENNEDY. Mr. ment of the Republic of Eire. and which-unless the door is closed upon · ·speaker, I make the further unanimous­ them now-will make of the America"n re­ consent request that I be permitted to EXECUTIVE ·coMMUNICATIONS, ETC. publics a wreck the like of which this extend my remarks in the RECORD and . . world has nev.er seen. include therein ·a copy of a letter that I 1088. Under clause 2 of rule XXIV, a [Here the gavel fell.J am mailing tonight to the Governor of letter from the Attorney General of the REREFERENCE OF BILL -my State concerning conditions in that United States, transmitting a recommen­ dation with respect to the title of the Mr. SMITH of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, · part of New York called Harlem. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there United States to certain land claims by I desire to submit a unanimous-consent the Northern Pacific Railway Co., was _request. objection? There was no objection. taken from the Speaker's table and re­ I would like the attention of the ferred to the Committee on the Public gentleniari from Texas [Mr. SuMNERs], ENROLLED BILL SIGNED Lands. chairman of the Committee on the Judi­ Mr. KiRWAN, from the Committee on ciary, and the gentleman from Michigan Enrolled Bills, reported that that com­ REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON PUBLIC [Mr. MICHENER]. On yesterday 1' intro­ mittee had examined and found truly BILLS AND RESOL~ONS duced H. R. 6066, having for its title to enrolled a bill of the House of the follow­ diminish the cause of labor disputes in . Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of ing title, which was thereupon signed by committees were delivered to the Cler}c defense industries. That bill was re­ the Speaker: ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary. for printing and reference to the proper H. R. 4795. An act to amend the Hawaiian calendar, as follows: After consultation with the chairman of Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended,· . the Committee on Labor, I find that it is Mr. McGEHEE: Committee of conference by amending sections 203 (4), 208 (3). 209, . on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses. the purpose of that committee to give 213, 215, 220, and 222 thereof and by adding thereto a new section to be numbered sec­ H. R. 1852. A bill for the relief of Fred . consideration to that type of legislation Weybret, Jr., and others (Rept. No. 1423). during the next week. The committee · tion 225, all relating to the powers, duties, and functions of the Hawaiian Homes Com­ Ordered to be printed. feels that it cannot give consideration Mr. McGEHEE: Committee of conference mission. to that bill because the bill is not before on the disagreeing votes of the two House~. the Labor Committee. ADJOURNMENT H. R. 4270. A bill for the relief of Margaret I therefore ask unanimous consent, Mr. Mr. SMITH of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, M. Cutts (Rept. · No. 1424}. Ordered to. be Speaker, that the Committee on the Judi­ I move that the House do now adjourn. printed. . Mr. McGEHEE: Committee of conference ciary be discharged 'from further consid­ The motion was agreed to; accord­ on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses.. eration of the bill H. R. 6066, and that ingly . A bill for the relief of Auto­ it be rereferred to the Committee on the House, pursuant to its previous order, matic Temperature Control Co., Inc. (Rept. Labor. adjourned until Friday, November 21, No. 1425) . Ordered to be printed . .The SPEAKER pro tempbre