Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-14
NEW RELIEF PLAN
inks GOVERNORS.
Hopkins Aide Tells Execu-
tives They win Have No
Part in Spending Fund.

Hopkins, told the Governors that they |
were to have no voice in the distribu-
ton of the $4,000 ,o00, 900 public works
fund.
The issue was postponed because
Mr.. williams was forced to hurry |
away to catch a train, but he did not |
escape without a caustic croSs-exami- |
nation at the hands of two Southern
Governors.
Gov. Conner of Mississippi, whose
previously expressed fears that the
whole relief organization of his State
was to be shifted to control of Sem
ators Harrison and Bilbo were fully
confirmed, led the attack.
Are we to understand that this
fund is to be administered by Fed
eral agency set up in the State with
out regard to or consultation with
| the State authorities?" he asked.
Hopes" for Consultations.
1T Is correct to say that the Federal
agency will have exclusive legal au-
| thority I hope there will be CONSUL
tation with local officials said Will
Hams.
Which means does it not that this
relief of human suffering is to be
! handled by men appointed in the
same way as postmasters. solely on
the basis OF political PATRONAGE" pur-
sued Conner.
1T can't answer that" said Will
liams That is a bridge We can't
cross till we get to it."
Gov. EhringhouSe of North Carolina
/ took up the examination.
In the past" he said, the Fed
eral Government has graciously per-
mited the Governors to sign certain
checks for work which was in fact
controlled from Washington. Now, as
I understand it, we aren't even to
sign the checks?"
That's one way of putting it" said
williams.
Graves Backs Williams.
THE fact that we are the consti-
! tuted authorities of the States makes
us suspects" said Clearinghouse. Il was
! interested in knowing how much CO.
operation was expected of US. Are we
to understand that we are to have
no part in spending this relief
money!"
Legally that is the situation" said
Williams.
"All I know" said Clearinghouse. sis
that I am still legally the Governor
of North Carolina"
Gov. Graves of Alabama came to |
Williams defense.
The Congress has placed admins !
tration of this fund in the hands Of |
the President" said Graves, II don't |
think it is fair to ask Col. Williams |
how the President is going to pick |
1.-THE soup ladies to dip out this soup. |
In some States the President may |
consult United States Senators and in |
others he may consult Governors"
/ "As long as the Federal Government |
Is putting up 90 or 95 per cent of !
| this money I'm willing they should |
have a lot to say as to how 1t is to |
be spent" chimed in Gov. Cooney of |
Montana.
Conner May Run for Senate.
That ended the immediate discus
sion of the subject, but Gov. Conner |
boiled over after the meeting
What it amounts to in Mississippi" !
he said. 'is that the President is TAX |
ing this money contributed by the
people of the States and using 1t to |
set up hostile political organization |
against members Of his own party"
Conner refused to say so on his |
own account. but his political friends /
we're saying that the developments had |
virtually made him determined to en-
ter the contest for United States |
Senator against Pat Harrison next |
year, and this for the purpose of
carrying the issue of Federal domina-
ton directly to the voters of the State.
Williams did give the Governors the
first comprehensive picture they have
received of the 1885 relief set-up |
There would be approximately $4,000 |
000, 900 available, he said, after all |
commitments up to July have been |
met. and Of this sum 81 300, 900 900 |
already has been allotted for c. C. C.
camps, highways, housing. rural re-
Mobilization and administrative ex-
pense, leaving approximately $780,
100000 still to be disposed of.
Williams Warns Governors.
1t is from the latter ;um, he said.
that the President proposes to put to
work approximately 1,500,0 900 able
bodied men now on the relief rolls
and not previously provided for. The
greater portion of this amount, he
explained. will be expended on work
projects very similar to those now
being used for relief employment, but
allotments would be made to State
projects where the States put up a
portion of the cost.
The Governor who does the best
job in planning and presenting his
projects" Williams said, will get the
most things built. This is your OPP
portunity. If you are going to muff
it. that's too bad. Wen do the best we
can otherwise"
Williams eloquently defended Pres
ident Roosevelt's plan of transferring
all able-bodied persons on relief jobs.
mo government" he said, "can keep
things in control If it sets out on a
plan of giving people a living. Many
people in this country, even before
the depression, had such a hard time
making a living that the lowest
standard of relief dole the Govern
ment can set up is more than they
were getting"
Williams declared that 100000 fam
lies investigated in the South dis
closed an income averaging only $751;
year.
Williams estimated $500 would be
available on the average to provide
work for year for each of the $780,
COO, and he expressed the opinion that
this would be adequate.
(Coryrieht 1885 by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Incl