Evening star., 1932-02-09
J0BLESS AID HELD
OBLIGATION OF j. S.
Senator Buckley, on Radio,
Says Democrats Want
Local Control.

Democrats believe the unemployment
situation is national calamity and
that the Federal Government has an
obligation to help in relieving the dis
tress Senator Bulkley, Democrat, of
Ohio. declared last night in urging en-
actment by Congress of the Democratic
measure to appropriate S750,0000 900 for
unemployment relief-half for loans to
States and an equal amount for road
construction.
Senator Bulkley spoke during the
National Radio Forum, arranged by
The Washington Star and broadcast by
WRC and a coast-to-coaSt network of
associated National Broadcasting Co.
stations. He cited four reasons for
sponsoring the Democratic substitute
for the La Follette-Costigan bill now be-
fore the Senate, which would set aside
$375, ,00O,0 900 for direct Federal relief.
Praises Relief Advocates.
Senator Bulkley also praised the ef-
forts of Senators La Toilette. Republi-
can, of Wisconsin and Costigan, Demo-
erat, of Colorado in showing the neces-
xity for Federal aid and expressed
hope that they would see the "futility"
- that drafted by Democratic leade-~
.tips.
She text of Senator Bulkley's address
exows:
There is pending in the United States
= :ate a bill presented by Senators La
toilette of Wisconsin and CoStigan of
Colorado to provide for cooperation by
rhe Federal Government in relieving the
hardship and suffering caused by unem-
ployment. This bill authorizes the ap-
preparation of S375OOO,OO0 to be dis
tributed among the States, partly in
proportion to population and local
emergency relief contributions, and
partly by ALLEGATION in proportion to
tration created by the bill. This board
would be authorized to prescribe the
methods and personnel to be used by
the States in the distribution of funds
allocated by it. and would have power
to revoke ALLEGATIONS if. in the opinion
of the board. the allocated funds were
not being properly used.
Favors Substitute.
A Democratic substitute to this bill
will be offered. differing not at all from
the La Follette-Costigan bill in the un-
derlying purpOte to relieve suffering and
hardship, nor in the amount made
available - S375,OOO.OO0 i but differing
fundamentally in the placing of re-
Sponsibility for the relief and its ad-
ministration. and adding an additional
1915 900 900 to relieve unemployment by
employment.
The substitute provides for loans to
the States rather than for direct con-
tributions from the Federal Treasury
Under it loan may be made to any
tot Goo
ernOr that the amount of the loan is
necessary for emergency relief. and that
it cannot be otherwise obtained The
proposed Federal aid will be available
only upon such representation by a
Governor, and it is. therefore. clear that
the Federal Government will not be
called upon at all except in cases of real
necessity. Since many States are pre-
vented by legal and constitutional lin
it2tionS from borrowing. We recognize
that it is not practicable to require from
State repayment agreement which
would be legally binding. and so we re-
quire only that any Governor asking
this aid shall pledge himself to do what
he can by way Of recommendation to
the LEGISLATURE and to the people of his
State that advancements made to meet
this emergency shall be repaid This
moral obligation may be discharged by
actual payment by the borrowing State,
or by deduction in the future from
such States share Of Federal aid for
highWay construction
l am invited to speak tonight in SUD-
port of this substitute and the Demo-
cratic attitude toward Federal COOP
Grafton in the relief of UNEMPLOYMENT
and suffering. I have been chosen for
this task because I have elaborated
with Senators Walsh of Montana and
Black Of Alabama. in the preparation
OF the bill which I have just outlined.
and which will be offered as a substi-
tute for the so-called La Follette-C Cos
tigan bill. This substitute was pre-
pared under the direction of the Demo-
cratic Steering Committee and the
Democratic Policy Committee Of TIE
Senate. and has been approved by those
committees
Explains Changes
Why should there be a substitute?
short statement OF the Democratic
principles involved in this question will
make apparent the necessity for pro-
posing a substitute bill We believe
that the existing crisis is a national
calamity and that the Federal Govern
ment has an obligation to help in re-
lieving tie incidental distress We be-
lieve that Federal relief must be made
available whenever necessary to pre-
vent starvation and suffering. Federal
aid however, should be only last re-
sort. Responsibility for direct relief
of the needy must always be primarily
a local responsibility, and this principle
must be always insisted upon through
out this great emergency. Not only
must there be local responsibility for
providing such relief, but there must
be complete local authority in its ad-
ministration and distribution. and our
viewpoint is utterly opposed to the
domination of local relief administra-
tion by any board or bureau in Wash
ington. Finally, Democratic Senators
want tie opportunity to vote for
measure which has a chance to become