Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-04
HOOVER SENDS AIDE
ON RELIEF SURVEY
Col. Campbell Hodges Goes to
Little Rock to Ascertain
Extent of Need.
Continued From First Page.)

ing.
The President has been kept posted
daily as to the situation in Arkansas
as well as other drought affected areas,
principally through the agencies OF the
American Red Cross and the Agricul-
tural Department. These recently have
shown a serious situation existed IN
Arkansas, but that the problem was
being met by the Red Cross and the
local authorities.
But as these reports of human SUI
fering increased with each day during
the past few days the President deter
mined to institute a survey of his own,
the results of which would make 1t
possible for him to determine definitely
the true situation as to the extent OF
the suffering and the immediate need
for food and clothes and other help.
The President will be kept advised daily
by Col. Hodges 1t is understood that
Col Hodges might find 1t eXpedlent at
this time to extend extra assistance
in the form of governmental equipment
in the stricken area.
Will Make No Compromise.
The President is known to be giving
considerable thought to the situation
brought about by the long drought,
which is so closely linked up with the
unemployment problem, but he was
represented today by intimateS, VINO
should be in a position to know, that
he has not the slightest intention OF
changing his mind regarding the method
of extending relief to drought sufferers.
In other words, President Hoover, re-
gardless Of any Interpretation TO the
contrary based upon his atement yes
terday dealing with the subject, is going
to stand pat. He will not listen to any
suggestions Of compromise with those
members of the Senate who are urging
an appropriation of S25,OOOOCO 10 De
used by the Red Cross to feed human
sufferers. He is bitterly opposed to what
he considers governmental aid to char.
liable purposes, and will stand by his
faith in the ideals of the American cltl-
zens to the extent that he is satisfied
that the latter will be kindly and gem
erous and humane enough to subscribe
to the American Red Cross appeal In
this emergency.
This determination OF the President
Is understood to have been made very
clear at a breakfast conference at the
White House this morning, which was
attended by Senator Watson OF lndlana,
Republican leader, and Senator McNary
of Oregon. assistant leader, and waiter
Newton, one of the Presidents Secre-
tarieS.
Neither Watson nor McNary would
discuss the talk after the White House
breakfast. -.
They went to the President with the
compromise suggested to the Senate yes
teroay by Senator Harrison, 1cnocrat,
Mississippi. on the SOS, 000, 900 Red Cross
relief fund. which Mr.. Hoover and the
House Republicans have refused to &C
The Harrison proposal was that a
Feoeral fund be made available to be
spent only in the event that charitable
organizations found it impossible to ad-
minister relief.
The Mississippian put forward the
contention that the responsibility for
the extra session would be upon the
Republicans if the stand against any
compromise was insisted upon.
Compromise Sought.
Meanwhile negotiations looking to
COMPROMISE on the proposed S25, 000, 0oO
appropriation to buy food for the
drought-stricken and unemployed in all
parts of the country are being con-
Quoted quietly today The leaders at
the Capitol were unwilling to say what
would be the outcome or to predict
definitely that the deadlock between the
Senate on the one hand and the House
on the other over this measure OF relief
could or would be broken. Some OF
them, however, expressed hope that
eventually an agreement could be
reached.
"They will have to sweat for a while
longer before anything can actually be
done" was the opinion expressed by one
Of the Republican leaders.
One suggestion which has been adj
vanced both from Republican and
Democratic quarters in the Senate looks
to a compromise whereby the original
proposal of the Senate coalition, call
ing for an appropriation Of sl5,000.-
600 to be 4oaned to the people of the
drought-stricken area for food, be
adopted.
Much will depend on the attitude
which the House may take. If that
body declines to accept any measure of
compromise, a special session of the
new Congress appears TO be inevitable.
Much bitterness of feeling has been
aroused between the two houses.
Bill in Conference.
The Interior Department appropria-
ton bill to which was attached the
Senate amendment providing s25,o00,-
900 TO buy food for the destitute in all
parts OF the country, TO which the
President and the House have strenu-
ously obi cted, is still in conference be-
tween the two houses. The conferees
yesterday afternoon reached an agree
ment On most of the S nate amend
ments TO the bill. No action was taken,
hOWeye-, on the $25, 900 Senate
amendment II was intimatad today
that in all probability no report by the
cOnfere-s would be made as long as ne
gotiatiCns looking TO some compromise
on the relief amendment were under
way. Senator SmOot, chairman Of the
conference committee. might make
report TO the Senate tomorrow and ask
for the adoption of the partial agree
menJ on the bill
Those who have talked with the
President on this subject have gone
away convinced that not only will he
refuse TO agree TO a comprise in the
size CT the appropriation to be turned
over to the Red Cross 70 feed the suf
ferers, but would not agree to COM
promise along the lines of an appro-
priation to be used for the purpose Of
loaning sums to drought sufferers.
That part of the Presidents staU.-
ment yesterday dealing with the
drought sufferers in which the PreSi-
dent said that II thu anne should ever
come that the -S.untary agencies CT
the country, together with the local
and State governments, are unable to
find resources with which to prevent
hunger and suffering, he would then
ask the aid OF every resource of the
Federal Government to prevent starva-
ton. has been interpreted by many,
according 10 advices received at the
White House today. as meaning that
there is hope that the President could
be prevailed upon to agree to the
>sS25 coo 600 proposal or some like sum
10 be used as governmental charity.
This Interpretation according to the
White House, is entirely incorrect and
not at all consistent with the remain
der of the statement.
BLACKS ESTATE LARGE