The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-09
A Comnromise Relief Bill


The Garner relief bill, passed by the house, is a
pork barrel which should not become law
The Hoover relief plan is good but does not go far
enough. A compromise is necessary.
That compromise is provided by the $4,000, 900
Wagner bill, which reported favorably by the
senate committee Wednesday. 1t will pass the SEN
ate if the administration obstruction. 1t should
be ACCEPTED by the house conrees and signed by the
President.
Fortunately there no longer is disagreement over
the need of federal unemployment relief. 1t should
have been provided two years ago. But the admin
istration and the conservative Democratic leaders
insisted that private charity could do the job.
When it was proved by the Presidents own experts
that philanthropy giving only one-quarter of the
relief funds, and that local and state governments
were providing three-quarters, it argued that
the latter could go on carrying the load
A year Of deepening misery has been required
to show washington that local government funds in
many states are exhausted and that others have
reached the limit of their borrowing power But now
that this is clear, there is a general willingness in
congress to provide unemployment aid before
adjournment.
This laudable motive was chiefly responsible for
passage of the defective Garner bill under the worst
gag rule since the infamous ralroadng of the Haw-
ley-Smoot tariff monstrosty.
Aside from its invitation to pork barrel grabs the
Garner bill is inadequate because while carrying
s23OOoOOOOO for nominal relief, the actual jobs or
food provided for unemployed would be relatively
small. 1t concentrates too much the form Of pub
lie works, which furnish minimum of labor.
Both the Hoover and Wagner plans have the adj
vantage of turning the bulk of the expenditure
OO0-to producing construction prof.
ects That is in addition to the $30OOOOoO0 advances
to states for immediate relief.
The main dispute in the senate between the adj
,oiuistration and the Democrats is over the added
Ssoo 1000 bond ISSUE which the Wagner bill would
devote to federal public works. There are good rea-
cav. ,ybv the President should break the deadlock
by accepting this provision
In the first place. he, as well as congress- ALREADY
has authorized the projects for which this money
,uo,,ld be used Second, about half these projects
ou, ore in the appropriation bills to be covered by
taxation.
II &c not asking much of the President, in the
,4st If compromise to accept that remaining $780,
100000 for approved public works-especially since
the Democratic Wagner bill incorporates virtually all
the Hoover plan.
1-Dis wagner compromise bill is the answer to the
u,,sston whether the unemployed Will get quick re-
,os r. is the answer to the question whether con-
-~o.s shall remain in Washington until after the
.oorot,c convention and turn the session into
PARTISAN campaign free-for-ah.
II Is the answer to the question whether dead
looked congress- in desperation finally Will take 'ne
Garner bill or something worse.
Tho time has come for the President to get out OF
A.. wow and let the Wagner relief bill become law