Evening star., 1932-06-30
ASKS BILLION CUT
IN FEDERAL COSTS
U. S. Aid to States for Job
less Relief and More Pub
lie Works Backed.
BY FRANCIS Nj. STEPHENSON.

CHICAGO, June 80 Gp-The Demo-
cratic party will go to the country this
year with a militant platform, sensa-
tional in its fiat declaration for repeal
of the eighteenth amendment, and con-
spicuouS in a never before attained
brevity.
Only the prohibition plank, which
carried also a demand for immediate
Volstead act modification to legalize
beer and other beverages, had received
approval-by more than four to one
of the entire convention in the session
which ran past midnight, but adoption
of the rest today was assured. Contests
still were faced on three planks, favor
ing cash payment of the bonus, be-
metallism and protection of depoSitorS
in Federal reserve banks.
The party's extreme wet declaration
came to the convention as ma ajority re-
port through the surprising 35 to II
vote of the Platform Committee yester-
day afternoon. 1t swung through the
convention 93434 to 21334, against the
minority report calling for submission
OF repeal amendment to the States,
without party recommendation.
BilIion-Dollar Economies Demanded.
Besides prohibition repeal, the plat
form demands drastic change in eco
nomic and governmental policies" and
among other things advocates:
A billion-doll cut in Federal ex-
penditureS with the States making a
Jealous effort to achieve proportion
ate result" and balanced budget.
A competitive tariff for revenue" and
repeal of presidential power to change
rates.
Flat opposition to cancellation of war
debts
Federal aid to States for jobless re-
lief when States exhaust their relief
funds and expansion of necessary and
useful public construction.
Unemployment and old-age pension
insurance, under State laws.
Refinancing of farm mortgages at
low interest rates. extension of farm
co-operatives, control of crop surpluSeS
and every constitutional measure" to
give the farmer prices in excess of
cost"
Would Regulate Exchanges.
Maintenance of a sound currency and
an international conference to consider
the rehabilitation of silver.
Federal regulation of security and
commodity exchanges, interstate utility
company rates, and holding companies
selling securities in interstate commerce
Generous treatment Of war veterans
and their dependents, without men
tioning the bonus
Relief Of depositors of suspended
banks and prohibiting the use of their
money for speculation Ito the detri-
ment of local credits; also restriction
of Federal Reserve facilities for 'Specu-
lative purposes"
Armament reduction, adherence to
the World Court with the pending res
ervations, and non-interference in the
internal affairs of other nations.
An adequate Army and Navy, but one
In times Of peace which viii not burden
the people "by an expenditure fast ap-
preaching a billion dollars annually"
Free Philippines Favored.
Philippine independence and ultimate
statehood for Porto Rico.
Better protection for labor and the
small producer and distributor under
the antitrust laws and ''use Of the
Nations waite power in the public in
terest."
Speeding up of administration Of
Justice through simplifcation of legal
procedure.
STRENGTHENING of the corrupt prac--
tices act and continuous publicity OF
campaign expenditures.
The j. I.400-Word platforn-shortest in
modern political history-condemns IN
strong terms the Hawley-Smoot tarf,
Improper and excessive" use OF cam
paign funds, utterances of high public
oficials designed to influence stock
prices. "extravagance' of the Farm
Board. ''usurpation" of power by the
State Department in passing upon 1or-
eign securities foated in this country
and paid lobbyists.