Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
PASSAGE Of RELIEF
APPEARS CERTAIN
House Opposition CrumbIes
After Senate Approves
S25,o00,000 Fund.

Continued From First Page)
to enable farmers in drought areas to
raise new crops.
Persistent reports that some of the
House leaders we're weakening in Their
opposition to a food appropriation
brought from Chairman Wood of the
House Appropriation Committee, re-
ton that the House would not consent
to it. According to his views, the two
houses will deadlock.
Senator Watson indicated the mo-
ton to postpone until February re-
Quired two-thirds and would fail. How
ever, reconsideration will give a num-
Der of Republican Senators chance
that the appropriation should not be
made until the Red Cross has been
given opportunity to show whether ii
can raise the $10,000000.
Chairman Wood of the House de-
clared the same principle and policy
are at stake as when the House re-
jected the $15,000,00O food loan amend
ment initiated in the Senate.
I'VE held and still hold that direct
relief would dry up sources of private
charity to which the Nation has always
Wood Acceptance of the Robinson
amendment would be a long step to-
ward converting the American Red
Cross into a mere distribution agency.
Moreover great doubt exists as to
the need of any such large amount as
SIS. 100000. Distress does exist and
the American Red Cross is handling
the situation valiantly. Our latest re-
ports are that S10.000,000 which the
President and John Barton Payne have
asked of the country through private
contributions would be ample But
already the Senate agitation is holding
back the Red Cross canvass for con-
tributions. 1t has created doubt as to
the part the Federal Government is to
play
Against Direct Relief.
1T would be well for the States,
counties, cities and towns to realize at
once that drafts are not to be made on
the public treasury. The President is
against this policy leaders of welfare
bodies are against it, and unless I am
greatly mistaken the House is against
it, Adoption of policy to extend direct
relief after century Of dependence on
private charity would have deadening
effect on our sources of generosity. We
might just as well discontinue our
charities and abandon community
chests and other admirable agencies"
Chairman Wood charged advocates of
the $25, 000, 900 food appropriation with
a purpose to force an extra session quite
as much as to relieve suffering.
Chairman Wood thought it possible
to avoid an extra session by passing a
resolution continuing the appropriation
bills under cloture. He said that while
this would cause some projects to go
by the board, it would be preferable to
an extra session, which most persons
would regard as calamity"
Representative Tilson, Republican
leader in the House, said: There is no
more reason why we should vote for
this 5000, 900 than for the $4,000 900
it and I shall oppose it to the best Of
my ability hope that when the
vote comes the House will feel the same
way II is a bad principle, and If it
prevails the country will suffer from 1t
for many years to come"
None Passed Yet.
The Interior Department appropria-
ton bill is one of IL supply bills ap-
preparation funds for the operation OF
the Government in the next fiscal year
which will have to be adopted by March
unless there is to be an extra session
of the new and evenly balanced Con-
gress-that is, unless the administra-
ton forces should succeed in forcing
through a continuing resolution to re-
new current appropriations in the next
year where necessary.
None of the II supply bills has been
finally enacted by Congress to date, and
the short session expires March by
constitutional limitation.
Action of the Senate came suddenly
yesterday while many Senators were at
lunch. However. a quorum had been
called Just before the amendment was
acted on. In spite of the quorum call,
a number of Senators at once left the
chamber. expecting further debate.
With discussion seemingly halted, Vice
President Curtis put the motion on
passage of the amendment and 1t was
promptly carried.
Senator Reed was taken by surprise.
So was Senator Vandenberg OF Michi-
gan, who was planning to propose as a
compromise the plan loan of $25, 900, 900
to the Red Cross to be used to supple
ment the funds raised privately as 1t
might be needed. This compromise
plan and also the postponement program
was the outcome of a number of in
ton Senators.
McNary Asks Reconsideration.
After the amendment had been
adopted, Senator McNary, assistant Re-
publican leader, pleaded that inasmuch
as some Senators desired to speak fur
ther on the amendment and had not an
ticipated an immediate vote, the vote
taken be vacated and the subject recon-
sidered. Senator Robinson said he did
not wish to take advantage of any
Senator, but the subject should not be
reopened unless a time was fixed for
a vote. He said he did not want any
imputation of snap judgment" and if
Senator McNary wanted the amend
ment reopened he would not stand in
the way of it.
Senator Smoot, however, called halt
on reopening the matter by Directing.
He declared the Interior bill was the
only measure out of which the far West
would benefit, that 1t carried over $54,-
100000 for roads and other matters in
the Far West and he wanted it ex-
pedited
Questioned by Senator Robinson,
Senator Smott admitted the Robinson
amendment would pass the Senate on
roll call.
Overwhelmingly" asked Senator
Robinson.
1T would carry" said Senator Smoot.
For few minutes 1t looked as If the
Robinson amendment was finally dis
posed of by the Senate and definitely
attached to the Interior bill. Then
Senator Reed filed his motion to re-
consider the vote on the Robinson
amendment and left the whole question
in midair
Just before recessing until tomorrow.
Senator Robinson pressed for DISPOSE
ton of the motion to reconsider and
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