The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-09
G. O.P.
FOR DELAY IN
DROUGHT AID
Democrats of House Lay
Responsibility at Door
of Republicans.
WAGE ANGRY DEBATE
La Toilette Tells Senate
Suffering at Peak in
Small Communities.
WAGE ANGRY DEBATE

By United Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Respon-
sibility for continued delay in the
house on drought relief legislation,
which has been pending since Mon
day, was laid directly at the door of
the house Republican leadership to-
day by Democrats in an angry ex-
change on the floor.
Drama was lent the debate by the
participation of Speaker Longworth,
who had just previously turned over
the chair to Representative Tilson
rep, Conn.,.
Representative Bankhead (Dem.,
Ala0, directly accused Representa-
tive Smell (Rep., N. W, of delay
ing the bill by his failure to devise
special rule for it's passage.
The bill has been held up all week
by objections of Representative La
Gaurdia (Rep., N. W, who insists
food loans to city jewellers be spe-
ClIcdlly 1nCluQeQ.
/ AS the bill now stands, it calls for
$45,000,000 appropriation for stock
feed, ETC., plus a $15,000000 amend
ment added by the senate on Mon
day for human food.
La Toilette Assails Delay
simultaneously the issue came
sharply to the fore in the senate,
with pointed criticism of the adj
ministration's efforts both for
drought relief and for relief I'M
employment
Senator La Toilette (Rep., Wis., +,
read reports from widely scattered
communities tending to show dis
tress was widespread and in many
cases unreleved. He gave the senate
partial report on replies to
Questionnaires broadcast among
smaller cities all over the country.
ut is in these smaller places, =
he said, chat suffering has reached
its peak. There is less concentra-
ton of wealth and there are fewer
persons able to provide relief.
La Toilette told the senate he
had di stributed missionaries
among forty one states and had
received 303 replies. The bulk Of
the replies came, he said, tan
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Con-
necticut.
Condition Of Poor Desperate
President Hoover, he went on, had
hoped" distress would be avoided.
But it is significant" he said,
that after only month had
elapsed since the President esti-
mated unemployment at nearly
100000, Chairman Woods of the
emergency employment committee
said it was between 100000 and
100000"
He said Woods figure is only a
rough estimate, and presented to
the senate several letters from may
ors and welfare workers.
Mayor F. W. Latta, Dyersburg,
Tenn, informed him "the condi-
ton of the poor is desperate, with
hundreds applying for relief to
agencies which are impotent. There
is no work"
Things as Bad as War
The mayor of Jacksonville, Ind,
said "tlliS condition is as BAG. as
war Men and women are in need
and their children are suffering.
Many may die If we have a bad
winter, because of lack of strength
to resist Illness There has been too
much delay at Washington"
Bankhead began his speech by de-
manding to know from responsible
leaders of this house" when some
action might be expected.
1.-THE administration considered
this matter OF sufficient Importance
to recommend legislation" he said.
ut is matter of great Importance
juStifying prompt action. Thousands
of people are suffering and nothing
is being done.
1.-THE obstinacy of opinion of two
or three members is holding it up"
Asks Who Is to Blame
Representative Garner Dem,
Tex), minority leader, interrupted
to say that the bill could have
been referred to the appropriations
committee when it was received
from the senate, and could have
been brought back to the floor the
same day for action.
Speaker Longworth then took the
floor to say that he favored a spe-
cial rule such as suggested by Bank
head, whereupon the Alabaman
turned to Smell and demanded to
know why such rule had not been
| devised.
Smell retorted that he would call
his committee together to formulate
a rule when such action should be
formally requested.
Representative Blanton Dem.,
Tex), then pointedly accused Smell
of holding the bill, saying:
II have seen the chairman of the
rules committee with pocket
II