Evening star., 1934-02-11
c. WA BILL FIGHT
HOLDS UP FUNDS.
Failure of Conferees to
Agree Prevents Action
on Measure.

Failure OF House and Senate con-
ferees to agree on the $3.50. 600, 900
relief appropriation requested by
President Roosevelt leaves the Civil
Works Administration without funds
with which to begin the new week,
Administrator Harry L. Hopkins re-
vealed yesterday.
At the same time Leroy A. Halbert,
director of the emergency relief divi-
sion of the District Board of Public
Welfare, announced that "curtailment
of c. w. A. funds, coupled with ex-
treme cold weather and other condi-
tions," had put approximately 1000
additional families on his rolls since
the first of the year.
The thing that held up action by
the House conferees yesterday was
their refusal to accept an amendment
requiring Senate confirmation of State
directors of the C. w. A.
May Withdraw Amendment.
However, the bill will be taken
back to the House for a vote on the
amendment which was added by the
Senate. If the amendment is re-
jected-which is considered likely by
most observers-Senator Mcclellan,
Democrat of Tennessee, probably will
move to have it withdrawn
On the other important Senate
amendment-one providing for dis
ability compensation for c. w. A.
workers-the House conferees reached
compromise. Under the compro-
mise, a maximum of $500 would be
paid for deaths, SIS month for in
juries and nothing for illness En-
ployes would be entitled to free hos
pitalization. however. This, the con-
ferees estimated, would cost about
s5,000000, bringing the total cost of
the amendment to approximately
$l4 900 900.
Despite the lack of cash, possibility
of having to lay off the 100000
c. w. A. workers was not regarded
seriously by Hopkins. who expressed
confidence the appropriation meas
ure will be approved before the next
pay day. He added, however, that in
some States the last C. w. A. funds
oA SoAy AAaNC bOCil PdAo OQI.
Increase is Defeated.
The bill went to conference yester-
day. after 1t had been approved by
the Senate. Efforts to increase the
fund to S2,500,000,0 1000, with $4,000
000,O00 set aside for C. w. A. projects
exclusively, was defeated after long
debate
While the conferees were consider
ing the measure, Hopkins awaited a
call from the House Expenditures
Committee, Chairman Cochran hav-
ing agreed to summon the admins
traitor for an explanation of how
c. w. A. money has been handled, Ito
quiet" some members of the group.
Previously, Representative Clifford,
Republican, of Massachusetts,. had in
sisted on questioning Hopkins. who
| recently appeared at a hearing held
by the Senate Committee on the ap-
preparation bill.
More Seek Aid.
Halbert's statement said:
Our records show that, either be-
| cause of cold weather, the necessity
| for C. w. A curtailment or other
| factors. 946 families have applied to
have their cases re-opened so that
| they might obtain aid Since the
| first of January, 4.059 families never
previously on our rolls have registered.
making a total of 5,005 families.
These are additional to such as are
| already receiving aid.
Meanwhile, every effort is being
expended to give prompt aid Rules
| and regulations are stretched when
| ever it is possible to do so in order
to prevent suffering. Social workers,
| clerks and others are bending every
energy to answer calls for help"
Normally, 200 coal orders are is
sued per day. Last Thursday, how
ever, $50 orders were issued; on Fri
day, 1000 we're sent out, and yester-
day morning found 35 trucks-five
| times the usual number-making de-
/ liveries from the Government fuel
! yards.
, At present, Halbert said, 1850
I open cases are on the rolls of the
emergency relief division an increase
| -