Evening star., 1935-02-25
MAIL INDICATES
PUBLIC EQUALLY
DIVIDED ON RELIEF.
Senator's Letters Continue
Fer and Against Wage
Amendment.
LEADERS INSIST DRAIN
WOULD BE TOO HEAVY
Crisis Watched by President and
Meeting Later in Week May
Determine Move.
BY the Associated Press.

First returns from the country, as
assembled in senatorial mailbags, to-
day were represented as about evenly
divided on the prevailing wage issue
which had deadlocked the admins
tration's s4,sSo,oOOOOO work relief
bill.
That was the verdict of early
morning letters to Senators who
voted for and against the prevailing
wage requirement. which President
Roosevelt opposed. So far. most
found the country's attitude had not
been reflected in greatly increased
mail.
With President Roosevelt watching
the crisis in the legislative situation
from his home at Hyde Park, Demo-
cratic leaders insisted retention OF
the prevailing wage would be too
heavy a drain on the Treasury and
render impossible the substitution OF
work relief for the dole for 3,500.00
distress roll employables.
Glass Move Awaited.
Chairman Glass, Democrat. OF Vir-
ginia, of the Appropriations Commit
tee, meanwhile had made no definite
ARRANGEMENTS to call his group to-
gether to report out separate direct
relief measure. A meeting was ex-
pected later in the week. however,
after more time had been given for
public reaction to set in.
Bearing out the prediction of some
leaders that State Governors and
mayors would come to the aid OF the
Presidents public works program,
Paul v. Betters, director of the United
States Conference of Mayors, issued
a statement saying if the action of
the Senate meant the killing of the
$4,000 100000 works program, "it
means the sentencing of 3,500,000
American citizens who want work in
stead of free groceries to a term OF
involuntary idleness."
Here are few senatorial comments
on the week end relief mail:
Senator McCarran, Democrat, OF
Nevada, author of the prevailing wage
clause: "All correspondence received
by my Office approves of the wage
scale amendment being retained"
Senator Minton, Democrat, of In
diana, who voted against the McCar-
ran amendment: IT have received a
lot of commendatory mail for my vote
against it."
Couzens' Vote Approved.
Senator Couzens, Republican, OF
Michigan, who voted for it: Nothing
but endorsement of my action. The
mail is mostly from individuals.
have noticed no corporate of union
mail in connection with the matter"
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat, OF
Tennessee. opponent of the amend
ment: My mail has not been par
ticularly heavy, but everything ! have
received endorses my vote. haven't
had letter to the contrary. All think
they have thrown the fat into the fire
because here was a splendid program
and these gentlemen turned it down.
It's in danger and don't know what's
going to be done about it.
Senator Truman, Democrat. of Mis-
souri,. who voted for the amendment:
IT had more mail before the vote than
now. A majority of the people in my
State want the prevailing wage"
Senator Trammell, Democrat, of
Florida, opponent: mo change in mail,
but it's evident the people would rather
have the program without the pre-
vailing wage than no plan at all"
Senator Donahey, Democrat of Ohio,
advocate of the amendment: I've had
500 letters today and not one ques-
toned my vote for the wage amend
ment."
Clark's Mail Unchanged.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,, opponent: II have noticed no
change in my mail. 1t is nothing like
the barrage on the World Court
Senator Davis, Republican of Penn
sylvania, who voted for the amend
ment: Il have a lot of letters from
industrial districts to stand by the
prevailing wage"
Senator Glass, opponent: Look at
this pile Of mail. All of it indorses
my speech on the bill" Glass opposed
tne Wage amendment. But wants
tne amount of the appropriation re-
gA mobilization in behalf of work
relief that will make the bonus army
look like Boy Scout parade in COM
parison" was foreseen by boilers.
There was some belief Mr.. Roosevelt
may at a later day ask the Senate to
reconsider the bill.