Evening star., 1935-02-27
SENATORS CONFER
IN MOVE TO BREAK
RELIEF DEADLOCK
Four Supporting Prevailing
Wage Will Pariey With
Roosevelt Aides.
ACTION ON BILL AWAITS
RETURN OF PRESIDENT
Temporary Fund Is Suggested to
Tide Over Program Until
July.
Nv the Associated Press.

PROGRESS in the effort to settle the
relief bill controversy between the
Senate and White House was reported
after a conference today OF four Sen
ators favoring the prevailing wage
amendment to the S4 $50 900, 900 work
bill.
While details of the meeting were
withheld. Senator Wagner, Democrat,
of New York, in whose office 1t was
held. said he thought there would be
"some light" on the situation later.
The other Senators participating
we're McCarran, Democrat, of Nevada
author of the wage clause opposed by
the President: Costigan, Democrat. OF
Colorado. and La Toilette, Progressive,
of Wisconsin. All voted for the NC
Carran amendment.
Another Conference Slated.
Wagner said the group would get
together again later in the day. IN
dicating the results of their meeting
would be conveyed to Democratic
leaders.
we lust had a general discussion
ana all dSIcCO LiOl w oey N--'
afterward." Wagner told reporters.
McCarran agreed with this state
ment, but added no proposition was
put up" to the conferees.
There is no change in the at
mosphere," he said. There can't be any
compromise; we either have the wage
amendment or not
Prior to the conference. the Nevada
Senator had stated he would not &C
cept a compromise unless it contained
the spirit" Of his amendment.
Wagner Refuses Details.
While Wagner refused details. his
statement that there would be light
thrown on the situation was inter-
preted generally that a move was
afoot to brng both sides of the con-
troversy together.
Meanwhile, administration leaders
withheld comment on the troubled
relief situation pending the arrival
tomorrow of President Roosevelt from
Hyde Park Chairman Glass has made
no move to call the Appropriations
Committee. to which the bill was re-
turned last week
One influential Democrat who sided
with the President on the wage ques-
ton said four propositions were un-
Ger consideration by both sides and all
Undoubtedly would be laid before Mr..
Roosevelt when he returns to the
Capital.
Emergency Fund Proposed.
These included:
l. To have the committee report
out an appropriation of $3.50 600, 900
to carry on direct relief through
June, with the public works program
held temporarily in allegiance.
q Reporting of an appropriation of
81 l,88O, 100000 to continue the "dole"
system through the next fiscal year,
with public works side indefi-
nitely.
8. Report the bill without the Nc
Carran amendment and take chance
on defeating the prevailing wage on
another test.
4. Report a bill with a substitute
for the committee amendment author
izing the President personally to fix
the wages. The committee provision,
which was supplanted by the McCari
ran proposal. authorizes wages below
the prevailing scale, but in event it
were shown private wages we're being
curtailed the Executive would be re-
quired to increase them to the private
level.
Veto Threat Reiterated.
Tho Presidents intention to veto
the bill If it is passed with the Nc
Carran amendment was reiterated yes
terday by Glass. Explaining why the
bill has been held by his committee
since the setback suffered by Roose-
welt forces on the floor, he said:
1T was my judgment that it would
be useless to proceed with bill the
President was going to veto. I don't
think anything will be done until he
gets back. I am ready at any time
to proceed with the bill"
2,250,000 Now On Relief.
discussed the deadlock's effect on
their plans to have 3,500,000 destitute
on jobs by July /.
SnOulQ the proposed S4,UOO ,OOO, QUO
for work projects be made available
in the near future. they said, the goal
still could be attained.
These officials. who preferred not
to be quoted by name. explained that
2,250,000 persons already are earning
relief allowances by working on pub
lie construction, canning food for the
destitute, doing research and the like.
These projects could be continued
for time after the new program
went into effect, it was said, with
100000 additional workers swinging
Immediately into highway construc-
ton and thousands more beginning
soil erosion control projects.
Primary Plans Made.
The officials said that, after all the
$500 900 had been given work, some
projects In the present work-relief
program could be pruned out to pro-
vide labor for grade crossing elimina-
tion, low rental housing and other
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