Evening star., 1933-02-28
SMITH TEST|F|ES
At SENATE HEARING
Former Candidate for Presi-
dent Covers Multitude Of Is
sues Before Committee.
Continued From First Page.)

ton work.
"A reconstruction bond issue" he
said, which would sell the same as
we sold Liberty bonds, would bring back
lots of the money now in hiding.
Make an appeal to their patriotism
and you could float a good sized bond
issue. which would help a lot toward
getting over this trouble In the next
generation"
Engages in Conversation.
Smith appeared in the committee
room several minutes before the hear
ing began. Democratic, Republican and
members Of the committee
clustered around him, talking. before
Chairman Smoot called the committee
into session. Women predominated In
the crowd that packed the big commit
tee room.
Reading from q memorandum, the
former Governor opened with discus
sion Of unemployment in New York
State, which he said was alarming.
II was in Albany when the Confer
ence of Mayors was going on" he said
"and as I heard the different mayors
came to the conclusion that unem-
ployment is as wide now, if not wider
than in 1882"
las far as New York goes" he said
II see nothing in the immediate future
to give it any great relief. Therefore
I want to discuss public relief-con-
struction projects"
Made work." As he called emergency
public construction, rs not working out
so WELL" he said.
Sees Little Return.
II fail to see the taxpayers are get
ting much return from made work The
commissioner Of public welfare informs
me we are coming to an alarming sit
uation."
Did the State provide that money
for work relief?" asked Smoot.
The State gave some and the r. F. c
gave some," Smith replied.
Turning back to the relief problem
Smith said:
The 100000, 900 for direct relief will
soon be exhausted. The Senate has
passed a bill for $500 100000 more
That bill should pass the House and
become law.
We're going to be in bad shape by
the end of June unless We get some
more money"
Smith told the committee that none
Of the relief loans could be used to buy
adding:
IF some reasonable part Of that
COULD be used for material. We could
have something to show the taxpayer" q"
Couldn't the State provide that?"
asked Smoot.
by the time this $500, 600 900 from
the r. F. C. becomes available the State
money will be gone" replied Smith.
Cnnofnr porly1ou ockaA Cnnith ~
Of public subscribed funds for charity,
for materials and for buildings was
not frowned upon.
That's the way the people feel about
it," responded Smith.
War Debts Moratorium.
Expanding as he went along. with
but few Interruptions, Smith urged a
long moratorium on foreign debts in
return for increased purchases in this
country and lowered tariffs, broad pow
ers to the President to reorganiDe the
and q one-year moratorium
ON farm mortgage foreclosures.
II still feel the way did last Spring
about the foreign debts" he said.
I'VE ought to declare everything of
for long time-say, start with five
years.
But We have got to do something
about the tariff before anybody will do
any business with US. don't believe
in high tariff 1t should be only what
is necessary to take up the difference
between cheap labor abroad and the
high-class labor in this country"
America could say to Europe: You
buy some of our cotton, wheat and
articles and In accord
ance with the amount Of good Will
shown us. we will help you.
Smith told Smoct the debts were con-
tracted when Europe was better able
Of Utah interrupted to say Smiths
philosophy" was "eminently wise at
this time"
Favors Russian Recognition.
st don't know any reason for not
doing it," Smith said regarding recog-
milton of Russia There's no use trad
ing with them under cover. We are
doing business with them through the
Amtorg Trading Corporation. We
might just as well be represented there
and they here and do business IN the
open.
I'VE should not be against them just
because they have a. government we
don't like. Jefferson told us any time
we don't like this Government we could
tear it down and build another one" :"
He told Barkley friendly relations
with Russia would result in that 'coun-
try buying lot of wheat here"
Smoot said Russia was exporting
wheat herself.
"Yes," Smith replied, "but it's all
going over to the Far East for those
soldiers there. They are buying some
things in this country now"
Smith said he didn't think Russia
would make any headway with this
Communism"
Citing instances of incipient move
nents elsewhere, including those In the
United States, Smith said:
! half dozen crack-pots get out on the
street corner and holler. but that has
been going on since was boy"
smith said he favored giving the
President as broad powers as possible to
and reorganize the Govern
nent departments and did not believe
such powers would make the Executive
! dictator. adding:
IT am not in sympathy with all this
talk about dictators, monarchs and
Kings when you give the President
power to run the Government as a
private undertaking"
Sees Rail Consolidation.
Turning to the railroads, Smith pre-
dicted a time when there will be con-
,olidation of all the railroads.
But it won't be consolidated rail-
way system" he added. 1T will be q
transportation system Of
Ill carriers.
1.-THE railroads have been talked OF as
he arteries of the Nation for so long
hey think they can carry through great
big capital structures.
"They can't do it."
Smith looked on the proposed four
system consolidation plan advocated two
Or three years ago "as the beginning of
= consolidation such as have sug-
yested."
After it is Effected, he told Senator
Barkley, II would consolidate these four
into one great group.
"Td have one man at the head, with
men under him to look after the re-
yional routes"
10 avprosead fto opipior that y,a,h.