Evening star., 1935-01-27
RELIEF BILL FACES|
BATTLE IN SENATE
Many Amendments to Be
Offered-President's
Powers Opposed.
(continued From First Page.)

$4,000, 900, 900. Senator Robert La
Toilette of Wisconsin is working with
a group of Senators who desire to see
the sum increased.
Without seeking to specify particu-
lar projects, an amendment Will be
offered naming particular groups OF
works, for example, elimination OF
grade crossings. And the amount
which should be expended for such
groups will be inserted.
In addition to these points of de-
parture from the administration bill,
it was predicted last night that efforts
would be made to:
Provide for the 30-hour work week
on. all projects.
Increase the higher brackets in in
come taxes and inheritance taxes so
as to provide at least part of the
money to be spent.
Make obligatory the payment of
wages at the scale prevailing in the
area in which the projects are To-
Gated.
Provide money for the payment OF
the expenses incurred through cur
rency imitation.
President to Hold Reins.
The word carried from the White
House to the Capitol today to the
effect that the President himself
would administer the funds for work
relief was interpreted as a move to
head off any revolt against the bill.
The extraordinary powers would be
used by the President himself, and
not be delegated to others. Further
more, it was explained that the Presi-
dent would allocate the funds for
projects and that this would not be
left to Secretary Ickes of the Interior
Department. who, as administrator OF
the P. w. A. has handled the S3,00O,-
100000 provided under the National
industrial Recovery Act for public
works.
In the Senate as in the House
1ckes' failure to grant the request:
OF members of Congress in connec-
ton with the Public Works Admins
tration, jobs as we'll as projects. has
aroused some resentment. Some
Democratic Senators have approached
Republican leaders in an effort tC
start a joint campaign for the pur-
pose Of seeing that the work relief
funds are not handled by Ickes. II
was said last night that the Republi-
cans had not been inclined to joir
in any such campaign against Ickes
One of them expressed the opinion
that the Secretary of the interior
had given a good administration Of
the P. w. A. and that it would be
folly not to utilize Ickes and the
organization which he has set up.
Peoples Seen as Active.
Senator McNary of Oregon. Re.
publican leader, expressed the belief
that Rear Admiral Christian j
Peoples. who is head of the procure
ment division of the Treasury De.
partment, would play a large part ir
handling the work relief program He
said he supposed that both Ickes ano
Harry L. Hopkins, head of the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration ano
their organizations also would be
utilized.
Administration leaders said the
President would head the whole work
relief administration; that he would
recommend the projects and fix
money allotments. In actually hand
ling Of the money and supervising
the projects, the various agencies and
departments Of the Government
would be used. They, too, expressed
the opinion that Rear Admiral
Peoples would have an important
role in the program.
Under such a set up, senator
Byrnes said, allotments for reclama-
ton and soil erosion projects would
be handled by Ickes as Secretary OF
the Interior; river and harbor i'm
provement would be dealt with by
the Engineer Corps of the Army;
highway construction would be under
the supervision of the Department OF
Agriculture.
Senator McNary. following the Re
publican conference. said there WOULD
be a demand that members of the Ma
tiopal Resources Board, which is head
ed by Secretary Ickes, be heard by the
Appropriations Committee. He sug-
eested also that Hopkins, Admiral
PEOPLES and Secretary Morgenthau be
called.
Second Conference Planned.
The Republican leader said that nc
action had been taken by the confer
ence on any provisions OF the bill, and
that none would be taken until after
the measure has been reported to the
Senate. Another conference OF Re-
publicans will be held when the bill Is
ready for report. he said.
It is known that some Republicans
will ask that the sum be cut down and
restricted merely to the provision OF
direct relief to the unemployed.
There seems no doubt whatever that
IN the end the President will be grant
ed by the Senate. as by the House. the
money for work relief. The more
simplified the bill is when 1t reaches
the Senate, the quicker it will be
passed, it was said. If the President
insists upon the measure just as il
passed the House, the Senate discus
sions will be prolonged. The general
impression is that it will be a week
before the bill is reported and taken
UP in the Senate.