Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-19
Wagner Praises Step.

low Ills course.
Wagner Praises Step.
Opening the debate, Senator Wagner,
Democrat, New York, sponsor for the
measures which have tentatively joined
congressional and administrative ideas
in the field. declared that for the flrst
time the Government was contemplat-
ing "a direct attack upon the difficulties
of the depression by actually initiating
and financing a construction program
He estimated that 100000 workers
would be added to construction pay
rolls on a 30-hour-a-week basis, II the
$4,000 600, 900 bill went through, and
that indirectly its employment results
would reach even further. He ex-
planned as well the measures authori-
Zation Of Finance Corporation loans to
public and quasi-public bodies for the
purpose of instituting expenditure on
projects of an income-earning charac-
ter. and the limitation-over which
Senate strife is assured-Whlch refuses
to let the advances go to private and
competitive industry.
Business men cannot operate with
confidence so long as prices continue
to decline" he said Business cannot
resume its stride except in response to
a demand for commodities by persons
mand cannot originate as long as mil
lions are without wages. Normal ex-
pendtures by even those at work can
not be expected as long as the prospect
of continued employment is uncertain"
Senator Norris, insurgent Republican.
of Nebraska. beside whom Senator La
Toilette took seat. amendments IN
hand, joined the debate.
Expects Hoover to Change.
"By now. expect. President Hoover
has become convinced that something
else than psychology is necessary to
combat this depression" he remarked,
after congratulating Senator Wagner on
the principles of the measure advanced.
At expect he has grown little tired OF
telling us to watch for that will o. the
wisp prosperity around the next corner.
His method of meeting unemployment
is now proven to be perfectly made
quate, and it is to be expected as the
fact becomes clearer that presently he
will broaden out
But if We are going to prepare ef-
fectively for this emergency we shall
have to have a program large enough
to do it. We shall have to face the
eventualities Of years to come"
Senator Wagner interrupted to sug-
gest that there was reasonable as
surance" that the President would &C
cept the bill before them, and that a
danger of veto lay in any expansion OF
its figures.
I'VE shall have to chance that" SeAa-
tor Norris returned. "As I said, we can
expect to see him broaden out pres
emily"
Senator Reed. Republican. of Penn
sylvania. proffered first amendment
to the bill, which would allow the War
Department to take from the funds
contemplated S15,000,000 to meet the
cost of construction which has been
eliminated from the Regular Army ap-
preparations bill.
Amendments Studied.
An executive session pushed the de-
bate over until tomorrow, with the La
Toilette amendments laid out for study.
These contemplate S. 100000 gen.
eral bond issue, superinlposed upon the
Wagner $500o0o000 issue already in
the bill, and propose to distribute the
funds on highways. on railroad grade
crossing elimination. and upon every
other form of public construction.