Evening star., 1934-06-04
ROOSEVELT TAKES
LEAD TO SUPPLY
RELIEF IN DROUGHT
Summons Legislators of IS
States to Meet Him
Tomorrow.
AUTHORITY FOR FUNDS
IS APPROVED BY HOUSE
Activity for Aid Is Hastened BY
Expression of Fears of
Food Shortage.
By the Associated Press.

by lne ASSOCIATED Press.
President Roosevelt, assuming per-
sonal direction of the Federal drive
to aid drought stricken farmers, to-
day summoned Senators and Repre-
sentatives from IS States to meet
with him tomorrow to discuss re-
lief plans.
Out of White House council had
come word earlier that additional
relief cash would be sought. and that
the work relief program probably
would be extended. Mr.. Roosevelt was
expected to discuss this with the con-
sressional delegations
The House. meanwhile, approved
the supply bill providing s1.178.00O.-
600 and potential relief expenditure
OF up to six billion dollars.
Representative Buchanan. Demo-
crat, OF Texas, asserted this measure
provided ample authority for provid-
Ing funds for drought relief.
Senator Robinson, the Democratic
leader, and Representative Byrns of
Tennessee, the House majority chief,
will head the delegations at the white
House tomorrow.
food shortage Seen.
Drought relief activity was hastened
by report that unless rain falls
or Federal aid is advanced quickly. a
food shortage will result in at least
one stricken section.
The Weather Bureau TODAY predict
ed few light local showers in the
drought area during the next SO hours
and continue tioy, of the tan.na-..,,.
which receded from last weeks high
point over the week end.
Showers which fell in scattered parts
OF the Midwest and North Central
States. bringing relief from the heat,
eased the situation, but did not pro-
Vioe any general or adequate relief,
President Roosevelt opened confer
ences with his aides to size I'D the
situation and outline relief plans
within matter of hours after re-
| turning to the Capital this morning.
Senator Robinson, after an earlier
White House parley, said he expected
message from the President within
day or two on drought relief and
predicted legislation on that subject
The amount to be recommended.
he added, has not been determined.
Estimates from interested quarters
have ranged between $500,000 900 and
81 ,o0o, 200, 900.
Famine Held Imminent.
Every resource of the Emergency
Relief Administration today was CEN
tered on getting food and work relief
into the drought areas.
1t became know that one Federal re-
lief representative telegraphed Harry
L. Hopkins, relief administrator, on
Saturday that unless immediate assist
ance Is forthcoming or there are no
drought-breaking rains within the
next two weeks, a famine Is imminent.
| This telegram was reported to have
, stirred both the relief administrator
and the President.
Hopkins. Rexford Guy Tugwell. As
| sistant Secretary of Agriculture;
| Chester C. Davis. agriculture admin
istrator, and William I. Myers, COVER
nor OF the Farm Credit Administra-
ton. made up today,s White House
war council against the drought.
Mr.. Roosevelt called for latest re-
ports on the situation in the arid
Northwest States and then the group
took up plans for future relief.
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace is
out in the Midwest as the Govern
ment's ace investigator. so Tugwell
took his place at today's conference.
He and the other farm agency off,
cials drew a picture Of drought havoc.
ranging from acute distress in North
Central States to lesser damage in
nearly every State except the Atlantic
Seaboard and extreme Southeast.
1t showed live stock emaciated for
want of water and food, grasshoppers
and chinch bugs doing untold damage
in the wake of the heat and dryness.
thousands of acres of planted grain
| lying ungermianted or blighted and
hundreds of farm communities praying
for rain.
Wallace to Begin Tour.
The proposed congressional appro-
priation would furnish food and work
to farmers, feed for live stock and for
age seed for planting when rain
| comes. 1t also would move thousands
of head of live stock out of the area
to be slaughtered for food for the
needy In other sections.
| Secretary Wallace planned to be-
| gin his inspection tour from Omaha
today. later reporting to President
Roosevelt. He is to meet DR.. E. w.
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