Evening star., 1934-08-26
new DEAL RELIEF
ST|RS CONFLICT
Program, Already Under At.
tack, May Be Further
Extended.
By the Associated Press.

The shift is not to be defensive,
however, as with N. r. A. and A. A. A.
Rather 1t is toward expansion with
two main detectives: A Winter pro-
gram of work relief instead of the
dole, and ways and means for long
range solution of unemployment.
Emphasis is on avoidance of mis-
takes of the C. w. A. last Winter, and
on removing the "E" from F. E. r. A.
to make what amounts to permanent
instead of emergency Federal Relief
Administration.
The recent return from Europe Of
the energetic relief chief, Harry l..
Hopkins, sharpened expectation Of
transformations. Better co-ordina-
ton of relief activities is urgently be-
ing sought.
Once President Roosevelt and Hop
kins reach conclusions on pressing re-
uuirements, If they have not already,
action as to the immediate future is
looked for. Beyond that, too, lies the
shaping of historical social reform
recommendations to the Congress
elected in November.
Await Leagues Influence.
The attitude of the newly formed
American Liberty League on the gi-
gantic costs to property owners who
pay the taxes doubtless will be
awaited. None can now foresee what
influence it may come to command.
The magnitude of what confronts
the administration can only be sug-
gested by figures: An estimated
100000 dependent upon Federal
relief, well over a billion dollars spent
by the F. E R. A. alone and tens OF
million more the weekly cost; some
5000 Federal work rooms or factories
employing 100000 who were on direct
relief: 25O,00 bales of cotton, 10000
900 cattle and 100000 sheep and
goats to be paid for from Washington.
Several developments are immi-
nent. The Surplus Relief Corp, also
headed by Hopkins and intent upon
resolving the paradox of hunger and
cold in the midst of surplus food, cot
ton and wool, has accelerated its ac-
tivity. Maintenance of the new pace
so long as surplus problems remain
is predicted in informed quarters.
Expenditures to Increase.
With an estimated $120,000000 a
month F. E. r. A. expenditure now,
the rate is slated to be stepped up in
the colder months. Only 5000, ,000, 900
remains in it's till, so the President
will have to dip into discretionary
funds until Congress appropriates
more. Whether Congress will vote
immense amounts so readily again is
in dispute.
In the supreme effort to supplant
as much direct relief with work re-
lief as possible, fresh report on needs
in the drought-aff1icted areas will
figure. Other immediate beneficiaries
are expected of F. E. r. A. to include
100000 needy college students and
10000 jobless teachers.
adult unemployed are to be put on
such jobs as park and street improve
ments, insect control, prevention of
soil erosion. Students, at maxi
mum pay $40 month. will help
public nutrition work, instruct litter
ates, give medical or dental aid to the
poor when required, possibly conduct
public forums. The teachers will
conduct nursery and adult education
classes.
Seek Accurate Information.
Coincidentally, Hopkins and other
presidential counselors await reports
on how social security may best be
fUrthered. More accurate informa-
ton on poverty and unemployment
is one goal. Estimates of the present
d. jobless range as widely as 100000
and 100000.
The studies will be used for
planning some such set-up as would
embrace year-in-and-year-out ad-
Unstable public works, unemployment
insurance, old-age pensions and de-
Capitalization of industry. Senate
and House will labor over at least
parts of that for weeks on end. The
inescapability of some joblessness at
sll times will be argued.
So far as can now be judged, the
administration does not consider at
tacks on its policies formidable
enough to diverge from the general
course The dominant disposition
seems to be to study and act, leaving
the ultimate verdict to public opin-
ion as registered in Congress.
Major factors in the verdict in
evitably will be operation of the
Roosevelt principles that the Federal
Government can let none hunger and
that the distributive system should
obviate want amidst plenty. The
stupendous cost to the taxpayer also
has to be reckoned.
Policies Subject of Debate.
New deal mechanisms being ad-
ministered on those principles could
extend helping hand from infancy
until death, if one had no place else
to turn. Their wide ramif1cations
and potentialities are the subject of
increasing debate in the political
campaigns.
On the opposition side are arrayed
contentious of Socialism. paternalism
unconstitutionality, sitting of pri-
Vate initiative, competition with pri-
vate business, RECOMMENDATION, ex-
travagance, threatening national
credit, un-Americanism, political
Vaccinations and bureaucracy.
The administration position re-
mains that its relief efforts are a
Federal duty until and unless pri-
vate industrial activity takes up the
unemployment slack.
Republican Chairman Fletcher
says millions are being lured anc
seduced into dependence upon the
Government for their living"
Democratic Chairman Farley dis
putes this view and asks whether
''the rules of industry are prepared
to meet the problem occasioned BY