Evening star., 1935-03-01
DEMOCRATS MAP
STRATEGY TO END
RELIEF DEADLOCK
Continued From First Page.)

as was experienced in March, 1883"
Senator McKellar. Democrat, OF
Tennessee, had contended the McCar-
! ran amendment would have a tend
ency to cause hundreds of thousands
of persons employed in private indus
try to seek to leave private employ
ment and that is not good for the
country; it is not good for labor"
Most of the leaders were silent IN
the face of general reports that the
McCarran amendment would be re-
drafted in attempts to reach COM
promise Senator Wagner, Democrat,
of New York reported last night, how
ever, that he believed break in the
deadlock was near.
The Senate was in recess today so
it will be unable to take any action
until Monday.
Meanwhile, Secretary IckeS' Public
Works Administration was reported
running low of funds to finance new
projects beyond those for which con-
tracts already have been signed. A
total of S175,000,00O has been trans
ferred from Ickes' department to the
Relief Administration so the Govern
ment can carry on its present work.
relief program while the $4,880 000, 900
bill is tied up.
Relief Administrator Hopkins yes
terday asked for $80o00,000 of i'm
pounded P. w. A. funds for the first
three weeks in March. The P. w. A.
has $1i3,000,000 available. Hopkins
emphasized these funds were merely
advances, with the $3.50 ,o00, 900 in the
relief bill as collateral for repayment
Secretary Ickes announced shortly
afterward that Mr.. Roosevelt had
approved the transfer. Then he re-
newed his prediction that the $4,-
$50 100000 bill would be passed with
out the prevailing wage amendment.
Living Wage" Advocated.
1.-THE general economic situation in
the country calls for bill of that ma
ture," said Ickes at press conference.
"I have a profound faith that Con-
gress, realizing the situation, will pass
the kind of bill the country ought to
have"
Earlier, a recommendation from the
American Farm Bureau Federation
favoring work relief Eat any nvable
wage" was submitted to the White
House, where some interpreted it as
backing President Roosevelt's stand
against the McCarran amendment.
Launching a new effort yesterday
to get the Senate to whittle down the
total, Senators Hastings, Republican,
of Delaware and Steiwer. Republican,
of Oregon, who voted for the McCar-
ran amendment, proposed the total be
reduced to $3,000,000,000 by stagger-
ing employment.
IF the President will operate under
the McCarran amendment and stagger
the employment so that it will average
only $50 month";" Hastings said, lit
will only take an appropriation of $3,-
900 100000 to accomplish his purpose.
I'm other words. 10 per cent Of
So ,000, 100000 gives to labor the
So, loo. 100000 which the President
would give it under his program.
Therefore, instead of it being neces-
sary to increase the appropriation by
50 ,340, 100000 you can reduce it
billion and accomplish what the
President wants to accomplish"
Hastings based his argument on a
statement made by an administration
representative to the Appropriations
Committee that $2,100, 100000 was to
be spent for labor and 81 900 900 900
for materials.
Smell Challenges Democrats.
Challenging the Democrats yester-
day in the House, Representative
Smell Of New York, the Republican
leader, introduced a resolution for
$3.50, 100000 direct relief appropri-
alton"
"If the Democratic leaders are
really and honestly in earnest about
meeting the relief situation" said
Smell, "they will give this resolution
immediate consideration"
This would give Congress ample
time, the New Yorker said, to 60 into
the work relief situation.
Immediately, however, Speaker
Byrns blocked the proposal, saying
'it's thumbs down as far a. I am
concerned"