, 1935-02-25
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno


BY George Durno
Relief Once upon a time there
was a treasury actuary named
Mccoy. inadvertently 9 congress
sional committee discovered that
whereas he had drawn q tax bill
for the republican administration
then sitting. Mccoy also had fur
nished the facts and figures for
the democratic bill which was Of
fered in feeble opposition but IN
far different proportions.
When croSs-examined. Mr. Nc
Coy-vho has joined his Maker
several years back-told the men
OF Capitol Hill with great honesty
that he could make figures prove
almost anything.
Washingtonians with long mem
cries are now wondering whether
the Mccoy incident might not be
brought up to date TO apply TO the
direct relief problem with which
the Roosevelt administration Is
confronted.
FOund-When the president put
in his bill for work-rellef II was
shouted gently from the houSetopS
that the senate would have 70 pass
II by February 10 or Federal Re-
lief Administrator Hopkins money
would be exhausted.
The s4. $50. 000. 900 bill-of which
$3.50. 900 600 Is for direct relief -
passed the house in high gear
under a gag rule but the opposi-
ton bloc n the senate was laying
I for II with snareS.
Just before the February 10 dead
line Relief Administrator Hopkins
announced he had dug up an extra
$50 900 900 through the good offices
Of President Roosevelt. TO carry the
needy.
NugEets-Shortly after the Feb
ruary 10 deadline administration
officials appeared before the SEN
ate appropriations committee and
warned them this $50. 0 900 would
last only until February 20.
On February 10 another S45.-
900 900 was uncovered to keep the
dole running.
Believe 1t or not. there Is more
gold in them thar hills.
Residue President Roosevelt
has az his command somewhere
between $3.50, 000, 900 and $3.50 ,000.-
600 for diversion to direct relief.
AT the Public Works Adninistra-
ton they say the White House i'm
pounded s236. 100000 Of PWA money
In case the Relief Administration
ran short. This money Is reported
as the "unobligated and unexpend-
ed balance" OF the original $4,000.
600. 900. Furthermore. unless II Is
/ spent one way or the other BY
| June l6--the date on which PWA
expires the treasury watchdogs
decree ID will be tied up tighter
than a sailors knot and W 90
into circulation urless congress
passes special legislation In the
interim.
or course there is always the
possibility the president will draft
all OF the PWA residue and apply
It to direct relief before June 10.
Trees-The senate is willing 10
provide for the big north-and-
south forest belt as an experiment
in preventing drought. Western
men In Congress are wondering
how trees cal be maintained in the
arid belt until they are firmly es-
tablished. Irrigation would run up
ruinous costs and yet experience
has shown that the rule mo water.
no crop" holds good in the desert
country.
Anyhow. the work relief bill con-
templates eminent domain capture
OF lands and energetic planting in
semi-desert regions on q tremen-
douS scale.
Limited-The word has gone out
In administration circles that Jer-
ONE Frank, recently eased out as
chief council for AAA. must be
taken care OF In some other gov
eminent position. Frank Is a side
kick Of Assistant Secretary OF Agri-
culture Tugwell and acquired much
newspaper space last year as lead
er Of the young liberals"
II Is probable that Frank will
get a berth In the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation. Jesse Jones.
who run the RFC. already has
sounded out as to vacancies IN
his shop. He likes to take care OF
bounced ba5!eS.
Stanley Reed. chief counsel for
RFC. is scheduled to be moved up
70 become u. ). Solicitor general
Read successfully argued the gov
ernment's gold clause case involv-
Ing Iron Mountain Southern Rail-
road bonds straight through from
st. Louis courts to the supreme
court.
But even should Reed get his
promotion. Frank Is not slated 70
CT c H.