Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-28
Payne's Statement Opposing
Federal Fund Releases
Storm Organization Ac-
cused of Politics.
CARAWAY SAYS HOOVER
SHIRKS RESPONSIBILITY
Robinson Declares Congress Will
Form Own Agency for Admin
istration of Aid for Sufferers if
Present System Will Not Work.
Many Criticisms Made,
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The American Red Cross and
the Senate came into bitter con-
fiict today over the proposal Of
the latter to appropriate $25,000,-
900 out of the Federal Treasury
for the relief of suffering in this
country.
John Barton Payne, chairman
of the Red Cross, before sub
committee of the House today de-
clared:
ut was unanimously voted that
1t is the sense of the Central Com
mittee that the Red Cross is in a
position adequately to complete
the task it has undertaken in the
drought-Stricken areas, and it
hereby assumes responsibility of
completing said task without pub
lie appropriations"
"And it was further on action
unanimously voted that it is the
sense of the Central Committee
that the Red Cross cannot &C
cept the administration Of funds
for general relief purposes as pro-
vided for under the terms of the
bill which has passed the Senate
and is now pending in the House
Of Representatives"
Storm Follows Statement.
Immediately after the Senate met
today the statement of Mr.. Payne's
was read to Senate by Senator Caraway
of Arkansas. The storm burst without
further delay.
Senator Caraway charged that the
Red Cross has ceased TO be an in
dependent organization Of mercy ana
has become a political asset OF the
President of the United States"
The Democratic leader of the Senate,
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, author
of the amendment to the appropriation
bill providing S25 900 900 to be expend-
ed by the Red Cross, declared that 1.-The
policy of the President Of the United
States and of the Red Cross implies
that no measure of relief, appropriated
for by Congress, is to be carried out, no
matter how bad conditions may be-
come.
at call upon the members Of the
Senate" continued Senator Robinson,
.'to repudiate a policy which implies
that the men who are in charge OF
the executive branch of the Govern
ment and of the Red Cross decline TO
take any steps to relieve suffering, ir-
respective of how bad conditions be-
come.
"If the Red Cross refuses to measure
ND to its standards of the past and
refuses to administer appropriations
made by Congress, the Congress of the
United States will find its own agents
TO administer these funds" said Sena-
tor Robinson, pounding his desk.
Importance Is Stressed.
The D.mocratic leader declared that
II the administration had exercised
ordinary intelligence and had acted
promptly, 1t would have required far less
money to relieve suffering than Will
now be the case"
1T is far more important than the
passage of appropriation bills and a
local prohibition enforcement bill TO
put through this measure Of relief Tor
the suffering in this country. The &C
ton of the Red Cross in refusing TO
administer funds provided by Congress
has done more to discredit that organ
ization than anything else possibly could
do. know that Mr.. Payne has said
that Federal appropriations OF tnlS klno
are blow at the Red Cross which relies
upon voluntary contributions"
The Democratic leader said that II
the matter were allowed TO come To
q vote now in the House the appropria-
ton would pass by two-thirds vote.
He said that the hearings before the
House subcommittee on appropriations
were for the purpose of delay and pre-
venting favorable action on this APP
preparation. And. with great emphasis,
he repeated the warning that Congress
would find "a better agency than the
Red Cross If that organization persisted
In its present attitude"
Hoover Said TO Be Sinking.
When Senator Caraway brought up
the statement made by Mr.. Payne before
the House Committee he charged Pres
ident Hoover with seeking to hide be-
bind the Red Cross, while he was shirk-
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