Evening star., 1935-04-07
BILL MAY HINDER
NEW. DEAL PLANS
Rural Rehabilitation Scheme
Especially Jeopardized
in View of Leaders.
CONTINUED From First Page.)


to a number of the F. E. r. A. inter-
pretations. Mr.. Elliott held that the
purchase of submarginal land could
not be included under either of the
two headings under which F. E. r. A.
had placed it. He also ruled out the
use of funds for providing supple
mentary income for rehabilitated
farmers, and eliminated the building
of rural industrial centers and sub
he4ding of housing, holding that
housing was not their primary pur-
pose.
After the opinion was received from
the controller genreaTs office, the
House confereeS tried to insert an
amendment specifying that money
could be used for rural industrial COM
munities subsistence homesteads, ac-
QUESTION of marginal land. and sup
Elementary unemployed for rehabili-
tated farmers. But the Senate con-
ferees rejected the amendment.
A later amendment to the bill con-
tinuing the Public Works Administra-
tion for two years and, preserving so
many of its powers as the President
desired, appeared to offer an oppor-
tunity for the continuation of the
building of subsistence homesteads,
until the original $50 1000, 900 specified
for that purpose has been used. Law
yers consulted today were uncertain
as to whether additional funds might
be allotted for subsistence homesteads
via the p w route
Confusion Prevalent.
The confusion which surrounded
the land and rural rehabilitation pro-
grams was also prevalent among the
various people who have been men
toned as administrators of parts OF
the fund. Until the President re-
turns no Qualification of the admins
trative set-up is expected.
Harry L. Hopkins, F. E. r. A. ad-
ministrator, is expected to be in
charge of the largest share of the
funds. But how much of the pro-
gram will be left in the hands Of
Harold L. Ickes, P. w. A. admins
traitor, has not been disclosed. 1t is
thought in administration circles that
he will continue to handle loans and
grants to States and municipalities
and perhaps urban housing.
Rear Admiral Christian J. Peoples,
procurement officer for the Treasury
in the Navy Department, IS expected
to have an important place-perhaps
as a general purchasing officer, per-
haps as supervisor of certain parts
of the construction.
DR.. Tugwell will be in charge Of
the land program and rural indus
trial communities-or whatever is left
of this part of the works program.
Whether he will take over rural
rehabilitation as a while or whether
that will be carried on in collabora-
ton with Mr.. Hopkins has not been
clarified, apparently.
3,5OO,O00 Jobs Possible.
Mr.. Hopkins recently asserted that
the S4,000,000,000 for the next fiscal
year can be spent in giving the
3,50O,O0O jobs which the President
promised Out of the $3.50 900, 900 for
the balance of this year, F. E. r. A.
will get little more than $500 ,000,-
600, while the rest will go to pay
back P. W. A. money which it had
to borrow while Congress debated
the works-relief bill.
Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor.
predicted today that heavy industries
will benefit substantially from the bill.
"A sound objective and one really
needed is to provide every working
mans family with comfortable, we'll
planned home and to eliminate slun
districts" she said The building
trades will benefit greatly in such
program"
The Civilian Conservation Corps is
prepared to increase its enrolment to
100000 persons if the President so
orders. A considerable enlargement of
the corps within the next few months
is expected The bill also will give
members Of the corps their pay since
March 81, when the emergency con-
servation work legally lapsed.