Evening star., 1933-03-12

when he said: When the Congress
sional Record Is laid on the desk Of
President Roosevelt tomorrow, he will
look over the roll call and I charge
you Democrats to be careful today"
Woodrum was interrupted with shouts
to know whether he had intended his
remark as threat from the White
House.
Representative Sirovich Of New York
said: Does the gentleman speak for
the President?"
"Of course not" replied Mr.. Wood
rum. What I am saying is that we
must back up the President. He will
deal sympathetically with all classes Of
veterans and Federal employees If ever
a man has occupied the White House
whose heart has gone out to the dis
abled and the distressed, that man Is
IN the White House today"
Prompt Action Demanded.
The debate was opened by Repre-
sentative McDufie, who sponsored the
economy bill In the House. Declaring
the emergency was great and demanded
prompt action, Mr. McDuffie told the
House that within so days the rate Of
interest the Government was compelled
to pay on short terms had jumped from
This is no time to talk about group
legislation and selfish interests" said
Mr.. McDuf1ie. TT Is time to think Of
the Nation"
He said that the Presidents message
demanding that the Government budget
be balanced by drastic economies was
one Of the boldest ever sent to a Con-
gress by a President. After pointing out
that accumulated deficits over four
year period would amount to $5,000,-
100000. he continued:
"You can't tell me that the men who
were willing to lay down their lives in
time of war to preserve the Nation will
not now make some sacrifice to save It,"
Representative Rankin Of Mississippi
was the first opponent Of the measure
sidering the bill, and declared himself
a better friend Of President Roosevelt
than those advisers who had urged him
to send in the economy bill.
What this bill means" said Mr. RAN
kin. 'is taking bread from the mouths
Of the disabled veterans and their de-
pendents."
He said that $4,000 900 900 had been
poured into the banks through the Re-
construction Finance Corporation.
Representative Patman of Texas and
Representative Browning Of Tennessee
poured hot shot into the bill and its sup
porters. charging that it was an effort
to make the veterans pay the cost OF
balancing the Government budget
Browning said that in his opinion "the
sheep are going to be sheared and then
gutted." He insisted that compensation
for tubercular and other "presumptive"
cases would be eliminated under the
"Do you think your President Is going
to do that?" demanded Representative
McGugin of Kansas, Republican, q sup
porter Of the bill.
II think he will use all the power
he has asked for in this bill" shot back
Browning.
Have you no faith in your Presi-
dent?" asked Mrs. Norton of New Jer-
sey. who was seated in the front row
Of the House benches. -..
IT have" replied Browning, "but what
would be the sense of his asking for
this authority If he were not going to
use it?"
Declared "Too Drastic"
Representative Lundeen of Mime
sofa, Farmer-Labor, told the House that
the bill was too drastic" He said
that the big bankers and the rich were
ranged on one side in this fight and
the veterans and the Federal employees
On the other.
Representative McGugin said there
had been a lot of talk about the Re-
construction Finance Corporation law
and how wrong it had been.
IF that law was wrong. it is an argu-
ment for the passage of this BILL" he
said. You can't make right out Of two
wrongs
"The Government has been running
behind for three years and has spent
more money than it received. The
salaries of members of Congress have
been paid out Of money borrowed from
the banks"
Foresees Imitation.
He said that unless steps were taken
to put the Government finances on
sound basis there would soon be
plenty Of imitation of the currency.
If we go on and don't reduce ex-
penses of the Government, the dollars
you pay the veterans may not be worth
dimes. They may be the same dollars
but they won't buy any more food and
Representative Blanton of Texas,
Democrat, said:
II have never been a rubber stamp
during my service in this House. But
in war times voted for every propo-
sition the President sent up here. j
will support the President today In
this emergency 100 pen cent. The loyal
veterans in my diselet want me 10