Washington, May 7.
Administration supporters in the House of Representatives yesterday defeated an effort to prevent trans-for of several Axis ships to Britain by a vote of 161 to 131.
While the House was debating the measure, which authorizes the President to use seized Axis ships in any manner he sees fit, the U.S. Maritime Commission ordered immediate repair of 24 Italian and two German vessels recently seized in American waters.
The non-interventionist plan to limit Presidential powers was in the form of an amendment by Representative Francis D. Culkin, Republican of New York, who sought specific prohibition against sending Italo. German vessels into the war against their owners.
The debate preceding the vote was bitter. At frequent intervals Republicans and Democrats took turns booing speakers, who alternately declared the bill would be a virtual declaration of war and that it would only be a common sense effort to assure America's own defence by aiding Britain.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.