Evening star., 1932-06-01
A. F. |. SUPPORTS
GARNER PROGRAM
!. TO PROVIDE RELIEF.
Labor Indorses Direct Aid,
Spokesman Tells House
Committee.
ASKS u. S. BUILDING
WORK BE PROLONGED
Declares Purchasing Power of
Masses Has Declined by
II Billions a Year.
By the Associated Prs

By the Associated Press.
The American Federation of Labor
today irdorsed the Gamer 5000 900. =
COO relief program in tes .mony before
tn House Ways and Means Committee
BY w c. flushing, its legislative repre-
sentative
flushing said that excluding white
collar workers there are more than
100000 men out Of employment"
Favor Direct Relief.
The American Federation of Labor
doe not favor a dole but during such
an emergency as now exists, with so
many persons out Of work, we favor
direct relief" he added.
The witness estimated that with
100000 men out Of work. and with the
average man having two dependents.
between Is and Is million persons were
in dire circumstances
Hushing said his organization had
donated large sums to help the unem-
plOyed. He predicted the $1,000 900
proposed by Speaker Garner for direct
relief would be totally inadequate un-
less Congress plans to appropriate more
funds at its December session
Urging that the building and water
way construction not be rushed. so that
employment may be prolonged. flushing
said work should BE- limited TO IS hours
a week by curtai!ing work days and
hours.
We had about given up hope Of get
ting any relief legislation enacted until
about two weeks ago" flushing said.
adding that since Speaker Garner had
gotten behind the move we have some
hope"
There is no doubt that relief is need
ed" flushing said. we have been telling
Congress for two years that the pur-
chasing power of the so-called masses
has decreased sl1 OOO0OO00O a year"
Later the committee heard opponents
TO provisions Of the Garner relief pro-
gram for improvement of the Upper
mississippi and Missouri Rivers and the
authority for the Reconstruction Cor
poration to advance money for the sale
ol surplus cotton IN foreign markets.
Opposes Waterways.
R H Ashton. chairman of the Ex-
cc.tlVe Committee of the Association of
Railroad Executives. declared additional
transportation facilities were unneces-
gary IN this country. particularly sub
sldiZed waterway transportation in COM
petition with railroads and other car
Tiers.
Cameron H williams of Gastonia. N.
c. representing the American Cotton
SnlpperG Association. asserted there is
no place on cath today in which pres
ent surplus stocks Of cotton can be dis
posed OF on any basis which will not
dlsplace like amount OF cotton NOV
ing in the normal course of commerce"
Meanwhile, prompt action by the Sen
ate Banking Committee on the $4,000
600 900 Democratic relief proposal was
indicated when the committee decided
to meet this afternoon to take it up.
When newspaper men inquired
whether hearings would be held en- the
measure. Chairman Norbeck replied, 1t
is pretty late in the session for hear
ings."
The bill, sponsored by five Demo-
cratic Senators headed by Wagner of
New York, calls for Sl4600OO. 900 to be
raised by issuing new Reconstruction
Finance Corporation Gebentures for
loans 10 States. municipalities and other
political subdivisions and to private cor
porations for self-liquidating construc-
tion projects; $40, 100000 to be raised in
the same manner TO enable financing Of
sales of agricultural products abroad:
100000 900 uut of present Reconstruct
ticn Corporation debentures to be loan
ed to States for relief Of distress. and
s5C0,000000 bond issue for Federal con-
struction.