Evening star., 1935-01-23
.|CKES IS BARRED
|. AS WORKS ARB|TER
Foes at Capitol Are JubiIant
at Compromise on S4,-
88O,OOO,OOO Bill.
BULLETIN.

public works resolution was passed
today by the House. The procedure
adopted permits Offering of amend
ments to limit the Presidents
power but bars any affecting his
right to administer the fund as a
lump sum.
By the Associated Press
The foes that Secretary of the In
terror Ickes has made on Capitol Hill
claimed victory today after hearing
reports that he would not be the
arbiter of the $4,000 100000 fund to
transfer the destitute from the dole
to public works.
This was a major development in a
revolt" in which dissenting House
Democrats wrung compromise from
the party leadership on plan to rush
S4,380, 100000 relief-and-works
measure through Congress under strict
gag rule.
1t was compromise in which both
sides said they gained a measure of
success. AS the result of a caucus
agreement last night, Democratic
leaders predicted the gigantic bill
would go through tomorrow in
lump sum" without ear-marking any
of the money for specific projects.
Thus President Roosevelt would be
granted his wish for free discretion in
spending the money.
Three Sections Thrown Open.
But in answer to demands of in
surgents, it was agreed that three
sections of the bill, giving the PreSi-
dent broad power. would be thrown
open to amendments on the floor
Opponents of the powers were trying
to determine today if they could
muster enough votes to gain their
ends. The caucus voted, 100 to 35.
for modified gag" to be introduced
today, which limits discussion to four
hours.
One section of the bill opened for
amendment would empower President
Roosevelt to continue Ickes as public
works administrator until June 80
1887, about two years beyond his pres
ent term.
Speaker Byrns, who is seeking to
press the administration program
through, had told the caucus he had
received assurances from the White
House that President Roosevelt him.
self would distribute the works money
and see that all projects got consid-
Grafton on IAN equal basis"
The word was passed. though not
by Byrns. that the President had said
neither Ickes nor Harry Hopkins, re-
lief administrator, will become head
of the new agency that will administer
the vast fund.
What that means for the future oi
these men-both known as leaders ir
the more liberal" camp of the New
Deal-the Capital was trying to figure
Both are now powerful figures in the
administration, directing two of the
New Deals most gigantic enterprises
Under the new plan public works anc
relief are to be merged and placed
under a new agency.
One report is that the agency may
be headed by a board. Whether Icke,
and Hopkins would have places on il
and whether that would mean less
power for them, were questions yet
unanswered.
Ickes Has Bitter Foes.
Ickes is known to have made enemie!
in Congress in his expressed determine.
to direct public works along lines HI
considers best. Encounters between
him and some members of Congress!
have led to bitterness. One House
leader. declining to be quoted, sale
Ickes has taken the attitude that al
Congressman are trying to do the
Government out of something"
Insurgents claimed another victory
when Chairman Buchanan of the
Appropriations Committee agreed to ar
amendment under which the works bill
would specify no particular project
AS originally drawn, it mentioned q
long list, but left out irrigation, rivers
and harbors and other projects which
in the past, have been close to the
hearts of members of Congress seeking
Federal aid for their home districts.
Among phases of the measure thrown
open to amendment are those giving
the President power to abolish ol
merge any agency, guarantee loans II
needy persons and exercise right oi
eminent domain over property.