Evening star., 1934-12-27
ROOSEVELT SEEKS
RELIEF DECISION
AT PARLEY TODAY
Method and Cost of Pro-
gram Under Final Study
at White House.
CABINET AND COUNCIL
TO GATHER TOMORROW
President to Lay Message Scope
Before Advisers at Sched-
uled Session.
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
Ways and costs of carrying the Ma
tions heavy relief load were sub
jects of a White House conference
today between President Roosevelt
and his financial and relief advisors.
Seeking a final decision on the re-
lief program to be presented to Con-
greSs next week, Mr.. Roosevelt called
in Secretaries Morgenthau and Ickes,
Harry L. Hopkins, the Federal relief
administrator, and Daniel Bell, acting
director of the budget.
There were indications the Presi-
dent wants to eliminate direct Fed
eral grants and substitute working Jobs
for all able-bodied persons on relief.
Ready to put his important pro-
gram for the future of the New Deal
on paper, the President ordered his
calling list curtailed to a minimum.
Only callers directly connected with
the legislative program were received.
Cabinet and Council to Meet.
Tomorrow Mr. Roosevelt will lay be.
fore his Cabinet and possibly the en-
tire Emergency Council the ideas to
be embodied in his message to Con-
gress on the state of the union and
the budget.
In the opinion of some Democratic
leaders the session of Congress open-
ing next Thursday Will see major de-
bates over relief, the cash bonus and
N r. A.
They see other headline disputes
IN the making, too, notably imitation.
methods of handling unemployment
insurance and other social security
measures, and possibly the World
Court, but they said today the first
three are uppermost now.
While these leaders, who no not
wish just yet to be quoted by name,
sought to read the future and pre-
pare for 1t President Roosevelt con-
t1nued work on the message he will
deliver January 4. Some persons
close to the White House described
it as largely a middle ground" docu-
ment.
How many issues the message viii
deal with is not known, but most
observers believe relief and the future
of N. r. A. will be included. Whether
the President would have some sug-
gestion to make on the soldiers bonus
perhaps IN a later message-was a
subject causing speculation.
Cost Is Major Item.
As for relief, the size of the spend
ing and the question of dole VS..
made-work are considered leading
problems.
Unofficial talk of possible public
works appropriations has ranged as
high as $4,000, 900 900, but some men
prominent in Congress say privately
they look for request for not more
than $4,000, 100000 to $4,000, ,O0O, ,00O-
perhaps much less. This, they say,
would be move based on an expecta-
ton Of better business which would
tighten the Governments relief load.
The question who would win if it
| came to a last-ditch fight on the
bonus still arouses conflicting express
sions of opinion. While advocates of
immediate payment of the S2,20O,O ,OO0,-
600 claim enough support to pass it
even over presidential veto, oppo-
nents are saying it can be stopped in
the Senate. Whether a compromise,
such as payments to distressed ex-
soldiers, may be agreed upon only the
future can determine
Whatever changes the White House
recommends in the recovery act to
preserve it as a going concern after its
expiration date next June, Senate Re
puohcans OF the Borah school have
announced they will press for whole
sale shake-ups in policy, with restora-
ton of the antitrust laws heading
their list. Price and production con-
trolls are believed certain to be altered
If not scrapped entirely.
Senate Program Set.
The first day of the session, January
3, will be only formality for the Sen
ate. Being constitutionally a con-
tinuing body, its officers will take hold
where they left off last June except
that Senator Pittman, Democrat, of
Nevada. will have to be reelected
president pro tempore because he is
beginning new term.
In the House, not only must new
officers be named but new leaders. The
interest now centers on the fight for
the floor leadership. Representative
Byrns, Democrat, OF Tennessee, is
slated to be Speaker.
Four appropriations subcommittee
are working on as many supply meas
ures to run the Government depart
ments. All will be ready for the House
consideration in the first week or so
of the session. They are the Treasury
Post Office, four department Estate,
Justice, Commerce and Labor, Dis
trict of Columbia and independent
offices bills
Until the meeting next Monday Of
the Democratic Steering and Policy
Committees of the Senate, the pro-
gram for that branch will be uncer-
tain. Senator Robinson Of Arkansas,
the majority chief, is on record for an
early showdown on the protocols Of
American adherence to the World
Court. But whether this old issue will
be brought forth again hinges largely
on what Mr.. Roosevelt has to say
about it.
Both Houses are destined to expert
ence bids for currency expansions.
House and Senate blocs are organizing
to demand attention. All interested
in the subject in and out Of Congress
will attemDt In agree m O rroorov,