Evening star., 1935-02-05
RELIEF b|LL.A|MS
TOLD BY BYRNES.
Employment Stressed as
Principal Objective by
Forum Speaker.


of the pending s4,880, 100000 relief
bill was made last night by Senator
James F. Byrnes, speaking in the Ma
tional Radio Forum arranged by The
Washington Star and broadcast over
National Broadcasting Co. net
work.
These objectives are, the Senator
said, first, to return to the States
the duty of caring for the disabled
unemployed, and, second, to put an
end to the national system of direct
relief. or the dole if you prefer to
call it by that name" At the same
time the Senator drew the sharp dis
tinction that the contemplated pro-
gram is not primarily one OF public
works. but of relief employment
Public works are involved, he said,
because they furnish the desired en-
ployment.
It is because of this distinction, the
Senator concluded, that the FUNDS
must not be earmarked for speclnc
projects Congressional agreement on
such projects would be utterly I'M
possible" he warned, and would serve
only to delay Inauguration OF pro-
gram needed Immediately.
Text Of Address.
The text of Senator Byrnes' ad-
dress follows:
Ladies and gentlemen: We Will
soon be in the third year of the
Roosevelt administration. 1t is not
nv purpose to review the accomplish
ments which have already been at
tanned for the benefit Of the people
of this Nation. Evidence of re-
turning prosperity is found in every
walk of life. The administration Is
greatly encouraged over the progress
which has been made. 1t is moving
forward with its program to make life
more secure and happy for the aver
age American who in years past has
suffered because of governmental
policies which have resulted in having
in our midst too many "overprlv-
ileged" and too many underprivileged. d.
In this Nation with its immense
resources every man should have an
opportunity to work Because OF the
depression a large body OF American
citizens have been denied that oppor-
tunity. 1t is on this subject that I
wish to talk with you tonight. In
continuing his efforts to provide jobs
for able-bodied citizens, President
Roosevelt has proposed huge work
relief program for the employables
on the relief rolls. This new program
is embodied in the bill which has
already passed the House and is now
pending in the Senate.
The measure will bring about i'm
portant changes in the Federal Gov
ernment's policy in dealing with the
unemployment problem and I wish to
thank The Washington Star and the
National Broadcasting Co. for this
opportunity to explain to you the in
tent and purposes of this legislation.
Objects of Legislation.
The object of the legislation is
first, to return to the States the duty
of caring for the disabled unemployed
and, second, to put an end to the ma
tional system of direct relief, or the
dole" if you prefer to call it by that
name.
There are 100000 persons. most
of whom are heads of families, on
direct relief. OF this number 100000
persons are classed as unemployables.
The duty of caring for these will be
returned to the States. 1t is realized
that many States cannot Immediately
provide the revenue to take care of
all their unemployables. In order
that no one will suffer during this
change of policy. the bill provides
that, of the total authorized appro-
priation of s4,88O, ,000000 the sum of
$3.50 100000 will be used to continue
Federal direct relief during the taper
ing-off process. Those who have
studied the problem are convinced
that caring for the unemployables
can be more intelligently and more
economically handled by the States
and local governments. BY keeping
the administration and the financing
of direct relief close to the COM
munity. there is less danger of relief
rolls being packed with persons who
do not need relief, but who desire
to live at the expense of their neigh
bors.
Would Eliminate Inequalities.
BY returning the burden of direct
relief to the States and local govern
ments, we can eliminate the inequali-
ties under which deserving needy
people have been denied relief. Upon
the relief rolls there are 100000
persons who are able to work and
anxious to work This legislation pro-
poses to give them jobs instead of
cash and grocery orders. The 5,000,-
900 persons receiving direct relief
today are paid an average of $24 per
month. Some receive as high as
per month. The smaller amount is
paid in cases where the recipient has
other income. 1t represents only tie
contribution of government toward
an income necessary to support the
beneficiary. The average of all pay
ments is s24 per month.
1t is the proposal of the President
to put an end to this system and
give them jobs instead of cash. He
proposes to give them jobs upon use
full projects and to pay them more
than the direct relief now paid, but
less than the prevailing wage as it
has been heretofore determined.
There is no provision in the bill as
to the scale of the wage to be paid
At this time, it can only be estimated.
It is estimated that the average wage
thus paid will be approximately $50
per month. Again, I emphasize that
1t will be the average. Skilled workers
will receive more and unskilled work.
ers less. the wage varying in different
sections of the country. Fifty dol
lars per month will mean that the
average amount per year will be 5000.
For 3.500,000 workers, this represents
an expenditure for labor alone of
S2,100,000, 900 and leaves balance of
$1,000, 100000 to be spent for material
and transportation of material.
Generally Anxious to Work.
I know it is said that many of those
receiving direct relief do not want to
work. It may be true that in each