Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-30

and under the direction of the Presi-
dent of the United States.
Representative Byrns of Tennessee,
ranking Democratic msmber of the
Appropriations Committee, will move to
concur in the Senate amendment, leav-
ing in the Red Cross but providing that
the Red Cross may expend this money
or pick some other agency to do 1t.
Mr.. Byrns PROPOSES also the follow
ing: "That If the American National
Red Cross shall decline to distribute
the money herein appropriated through
its regularly organized agencies in the
manner herein provided, then in such
vent the President of the United States
is hereby authorized and empowered to
Immediately designate some govsrn-
mental agency or other agency selected
by him, to make distribution of all or
any portion of said sum in cash or in
the purchase of said named supplies
as may be necessary to afford adequate
human relief in the present national
emergency to persons otherwise unable
to procure same"
Representative Cramton moved to
amendment and send the bill to con-
ference.
Seeks House Sentiment.
Immediately Representative Taylor
made a substitute motion to concur in
the Senate amendment with an amend
ment striking out the Red Cross as the
distributor of the $25,000,000 fund and
inserting the provision that the PreSl-
dent should expend the money.
Mr.. Cramton said that the Taylor
motion was subject to a point of order,
but that he would not make such a
point, prefering to get the sentiment OF
the House on this matter.
Representative Taylor, speaking in
support OF his motion, told the House
that it was time something was done to
carry aid to the hungry people of the
country. He said that he believed it
was unfortunate that the Senate
amendment had undertaken to bring
the Red Cross into the administration
of the proposed fund. He said that the
Red Cross had TO do with suffering all
over the world and that he did not
wish to do anything to diminish the
high regard in which that organization
is held.
Every patriotic citizen ought to be
ready to trust the President OF the
United States with the distribution of
this fund" said Representative Taylor.
"It would be impossible to place it in
better hands"
Representative Moore of Virginia
called attention to the fact that it
has been customary in the past to place
relief funds at the disposal of the Presi-
dent of the United States.
Legion Is Suggested.
The American Legion was suggested
by Representative Rankin of Mississippi
as the proper distributor of the pro-
posed $25,000,000 fund.
The American Legion has no organ
ization for the distribution of such
fund.-" answered Mr.. Taylor.
MI Alternately of North Carolina
asked Mr.. Taylor if he believed that
President Hoover would really admins
ter the fund in view of the fact that
he has declared himself opposed to such
a Federal contribution.
Mr.. Taylor replied that he had no
doubt that President Hoover would use
the money provided for the benefit of
the suffering people in this country.
Representative Blanton of Texas point
ed out that President Hoover in 1919
had expended a fund of $100,0000O0
appropriated by Congress for the relief
of suffering people in Europe and de-
clared that the President could not now
decline to spend money appropriated by
Congress for the relief of starving
Americans.
Recalls Hoover 1eSLlmOHy.
Representative Byrns of Tennessee
spoke in favor of his molten to concur
with an amendment declaring that 1t
met the objections raised by Chairman
PAYNE Of the American Red Cross. He
called attention to the fact that in
1924 President Hoover had testified be-
fore a congressional committee in favor
of a proposed appropriation of S1O,0OO,-
900 to feed the starving people in Ger
many, declaring that it they were not
aided there was danger of the children
Becoming degenerate. He said that the
House committee had favored the pro-
posal.
II want to see how the members of
that committee vote today" said Mr..
ByrnS.
The Tennessee member admitted that
President Hoover had advanced good
arguments against Federal contribu=
tions for the relief of suffering, but,
said Mr.. Byrns, Il refuse to apply these
reasons to suffering children"
Representative Luce OF Massachu-
Sets Republican, took up the cudgels
for the Cramton motion to disagree to
the Senate amendment. He insisted
that contributions were flowing rapidly
into the Red Cross since the country
had been treasured by President Hoover,
former President Coolidge and former
Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York that
the Red Cross would take care of the
situation.
Mr.. Luce charged that the proposal to
have President Hoover distribute this
25,00O, 900 fund was merely intended
to befog the real issue. He said that
members of the House who referred to
appropriations made by Congress for the
relief of the people in Europe did not
call attention to the different situations
that existed in Europe at that time and
the situations which exist in the United
States today.
Situations Not the Same.
1.-THE gentleman from Tennessee
would not say that the same situation
exists in Tennessee today as existed in
Russia at the close of the World War"