Evening star., 1935-02-22
Roosevelt Group Expects to
Recoup Senate Defeat
by Labor.
EXCITEMENT MARKS
BREAKING OF 43-43 TIE
Veto Warning by Glass and
Presidents Letter Promising to
Uphold Pay Level Futile.
BULLETIN.

Administration leaders in the
Senate today were considering the
advisability of a motion to recon-
init the work relief bill to the
Senate Appropriations Committee.
BY such a maneuver 1t would be
possible to remove the McCarran
prevailing wage amendment and
limit the appropriation to the sum
needed for direct relief. An alter
native was a motion to reconsider
the vote by which the McCa-ran
amendment was adopted yester-
day, provided the Senators who
supported the McCarran amend
ment would make such motion.
By the Associated Press.
Striving to recoup after a defeat
In the Senate, Roosevelt leaders looked
hopefully to the House today to block
ultimate adoption of the McCarran
prevailing wage amendment to the
s4,sSO 100000 relief bill.
Not even a warning by Senator
Glass of Virginia that veto impend-
ed, nor a letter from President Roose-
velt asserting the bill would be ad-
ministered to protect existing wage
levels could swing the tide against the
amendment as the Senate approved
1t late yesterday by A to 43. 1t was
o victory for organized labor.
The vote was taken amid intense
excitement. At first it appeared there
would be a 43 to 43 tie vote, thus
defeating the amendment. The
eleventh hour arrival Of Senator Fraz-
fer, Republican of North Dakota, per-
mittirg Senator Dickinson of Iowa to
transfer his pair to Mrs. Caraway OF
Kansas, gave the ayes the victory.
House Chiefs Confident.
As the Senate turned to half a
dozen other controversial amendme IS,
House leaders expressed the belief to-
day that the wage provision could be
eliminated, leaving the administration
free to pay security wages" of about
$50 month on public works. The
McCarran proposal Is to pay the rates
prevailing in private industry.
Speaker ByrnS today expressed a
personal belief" the House would re-
ject the prevailing wages amendment.
1t was evident the leaders felt it
could be eliminated in conference be-
tween Senate and House, which al
ready has passed the relief bill in
form desired by the administration.
Proponents of the amendment ex-
pressed doubt, however, that the lead
ers' optimism was well founded.
Other Hurdles Faced.
Among the other hurdles the Sem
ate leaders face are the imitation
amendments of Senator Thomas,
Democrat, of Oklahoma, and Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana; the bonus
rider by Senator Bulow, Democrat, of
South Dakota; the proposal by Sena-
tor Adams, Democrat, of Colorado, to
slash $4,000, 100000 from the bill; the
of Senator La Toilette,
Progressive, of Wisconsin, to increase
it to $4,000, 100000; the one-year
to be proposed by Repub-
licanS, and the effort of Senator Met
calf, Republican, of Rhode Island, to
give preference to veterans in employ
ment Of relief officials and admin
istrators
Not for many day had the Senate
listened to such stirring words as
those that preceded yesterdays vote
on the proposal of Senator McCarran,
Democrat, of Nevada.
Glass warned that the wage earners
would be first to suffer If the Ma
tton's credit were damaged.
The President is opposed to the
he said, because, like
many thoughtful citizens, he has be-
gun to consider how much further
we may go in public expenditures be-
fore wrecking the credit of the Ma
ton"
The text of the letter sent to Glass
by the President and read to the
Continued on Page 8, Column a.