Evening star., 1934-01-16
DEMOCRATS PLAN
PATRONAGE PROBE
Representative Lea Is Given
Power to Appoint II Men,
berS on "Jury."
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Appointment of Jury" Of - House
Democrats to look into the patronage
situation today was the solution offered
for series of job-getting complaints
from within the majority party.
A caucus of House Democrats, forced
upon party leaders last night by petl-
ton from 26 members reported al
most unanimous" adoption OF reso-
luton to this effect. The committee
will gather up complaints and make a
report.
The resolution pledged the caucus to
earnest cooperation with President
Roosevelt in attempting to improve
the efficiency and success of his rellel
program" but added objections had
been made against "the alleged IN
efficiency" of some of the personnel III
the recovery agencies. Several mem
bers contended privately that only %
per cent of the appointees IN some
agencies were Democrats.
Lea to Name l2.
The leader of the petitioning group
Representative Carpenter, Democrat. OF
Nebraska.-presented resolution calllhg
for the committee to confer win otter
members on the operation OF emer-
pencv relief agencies and their per-
sonnel.
The resolution was adopted. Repre-
sented Lea of California, chairman OF
the caucus. said. almost unanimously.
Lea was designated to appoint the IL
members and said he would do SO today.
The resolution provides that tins COM
mittee confer with and receive from
our members information concerning
the operation of these emergency rellef
agencies and the efficiency and hdellty
of their personnel. and which commit,
tee shall after due investigation ana
consideration. submit a report to this
caucus for such. if any. action as lhe
facts may be- found TO warrant
Lea said that as soon as the COM
mittee was ready TO report he would
call a caucus.
-Ehe preamble to the resolution said
tfisI members of this caucus have
received complaints Of the alleged In
efficiency. arbitrary attitude and unit
ness of some OF the personnel IN these
new relief and recovery agencies ana
it is charged that men III responsible
positions are unSympathetlc and there
fore ineffective in performing the duties
with which they are charged. and par
ticularly it is charged that in some
districts the agricultural credit aG-
ministration is SO unsympathetically
administered as to deprive farmers ol
that prudent and just degree OF RELIEF
the act was intended to afford
Pledges Cooperation.
The resolution also said that the ad-
miniStration was engaged in a gigantic
task for the relief OF distressed and the
restoration OF economic conditions OF
our country" and that "consulnmation
of this work has required the hasty
establishment OF large emergency or
carnations in the capital and through
out the United States,
1t also pledged the Democratic caucus
to earnest cooperation with President
Roosevelt lin attempting to improve the
efficiency and success OF his relief pro-
gram and We tender to the President
Our act of cooperation in the endeaVor
to improve the efficiency OF these OF
carnations and their successful al
miniStration"
During the meeting. Speaker RainsS
Representatives ByrnS, the Democratic
leader; Cox of Georgia. O'Connor Of
New York, Bankhead OF Alabama, IruAx
of Ohio. Eagle of Texas, Carpenter
Sirovich of New York, Parsons OF ILL.,
nOis and Adams Of Delaware spoke.
There were no fireworks" Lea said.
Everything was harmonious"
Lea said another caucus would be
called Wednesday TO t1ll vacancy on
the House Ways and Means Committee.
Many NOn-Demoerats Cited.
Although reports from the meeting
were that perSonalitie. were not freely
INDUCED in. IL WAS apparent that the
Public Works Administration headed
by Secretary IckeS; the Civil Works
Administration. under Harry L. Hop
kins, and the Labor Department. under
Secretary Perkins came in for the
brunt of the criticism.
Some of the speakers quoted statis-
tics to show that as high as rs per
cent of appointees in certain agencies
we're non-DemocratS and one member
said he believed one showing was as
high as 80 per cent