Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29
GARNER HITS BACK
At HOOVER CHARGE
AND SPEEDS RELIEF
Applies ''Pork Barrel" Appel
Iation to Reconstruction
Corporation.
CALLS PROPOSED GAS TAX
PUBLIC WORKS BALANCE
Declares Democrats Did Not Expect
Cooperation From President in
"Beneftting Masses"

b. the Associated Press
Speaker Garner slapped back yester-
day with singing thrust at President
Hoover and steadily moved forward with
plans for speeding his relief bill through
the House.
In vigorous reply to the Presidents
charge that the public works phase of
the Speakers two-billion- dollar relief
bill was pork barrel legislation, Garner
asserted that the same appellation might
be applied to the Reconstruction Cor
poration for which non-partisan sup
port was elected by Mr.. Hoover
The Texan said the tax he proposed
on gasoline would prevent public works
from interfering with balancing the
budget.
Not Received as Surprise.
president Hoover's opposition to the
bill to relieve restitution, to broaden the
lending powers of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation and to create en-
ployment by authorizing and expecting
a public works program was not uneX-
pected," Garner said.
receive real cooperation from the Presi-
dent in any matter benetlting the
masses and those who might be termed
the middle class of American people,"
he declared
Garner said the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation act, sponsored by
the President. could logically be referred
to as pork barrel" for the banks,
insurance companies, railroads and
financial institutions, if the appellation
were applied to his public works
program.
Declared Inconsistent
The Speaker added that Mr.. Hoover's
campaign speeches in 1923 urging a
billion-dollar building program, illus
trate the utter inconsistency of the
Presidents present attitude"
Garner issued his statement shortly
after Majority Leader Rainey made
public a summary of the revised bill
which increased the total from S2,146,-
S74,468 to S2,309, 084,33 or by $780,
2O9,86
AS it goes to the Ways and Means
Committee, the bill provides a total of
S1,2G9,0S4,337 for public works con-
struction, including Federal buildings,
highway and waterway Improvements;
Sl,000,0 100000 increase in the funds
of the Reconstruction Corporation for
loans to States. political subdivisions
and private industry, and S100,000,000
for direct relief.
A new section authorizes the Recon-
struction Corporation to finance the
sales in foreign markets OF surplus
wheat, cotton, tobacco, wool, mohair
and other agricultural products.
A tax Of one-fourth of a cent a gal
Ion on gasoline estimated by the
Speaker to yield S42, 100000 would be
sufficient, he said, to meet the interest
and sinking fund requirements of bonds
to be issued by the Treasury under eX-
listing law to finance the public build
ing program.
Hearings Tuesday.
Hearings before the Ways and Means
Committee will begin Tuesday, with
Garner as the first propOnent to teSti-
fly. Opponents will be heard WedneS-
Gay and Secretary Mills and Charles G.
Dawes, president of the Reconstruction
Corporation, will conclude administra-
ton testimony Thursday. Indications
are the measure will be brought up
early in the following week
Printed copies OF the revised measure
were made public today, showing that
but S373, 402, 900 was allowed for public
buildings, as compared with S410,782,-
900 in the original bill approved by the
Democratic conference Thursday. The
reduction amounts TO S37.380,CO0
Rainey, member Of the Ways and
Means Committee. who introduced it,
said there were undoubtedly a number
of errors in the bill relating to the
public buildings, which were to be cor
rected before it was reported to the
House. The list of projects was OBJ
tanned from recommendations of the
1nterdepartmental Board, he explained.
planned
total of s421 $50 1863 for rivers
and harbors is carried in the bill as
against S222.O0oO0O in the original
draft, the increase of Sl99.589, 869 being
accounted for largely by including
Sl16,500,000 for deepening the Missis-
sippi River channel from the mouth of
the Ohio River to Minneapolis, and
500. 100000 for improvement of the
Tennessee River.
Flood control draws $3.50, 692,4 68, in
Guiding S176, 226.223 for the Mississippi
River and S4,466,245 for Sacramento
River in California.
A total Of S227 400 600 is allotted for
Federal highway aid. Of which Sl50,000,-
600 is to be leaned to the States to
match on $3.50 basis Federal funds