Evening star., 1935-02-20
byrd DENOUNCES
|b|G AID BILL AS
CURB TO RECOVERY
Virginia Senator Demands
Defeat to Restore Busi.
ness Confidence.
UPSET ON AID PAY
FEARED BY LEADERS
Veto of Measure Forecast if Sen.
ate Increases Wages to
Prevailing Rates.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A violent attack on the administra-
tion's $4,880, 100000 relief bill was
made in the Senate today by Sena-
tor Byrd, Democrat, Of Virginia,
who said its defeat would be direct
assurance to the Nation that the
Government is determined to main
tain the credit of the United States
above reproach."
Ambitious plans for great public
works and social service should await
recovery" said the Virginian, first
Democrat to speak against the bill
itself.
Reading from prepared text, Byrd
delivered his broadside in the midst
Of debate over the adminiStration-op-
posed McCarran amendment require
ing payment of prevailing wages on
public works. A vote was expected
later in the day on this.
The defeat of this proposal to ex-
pend IS 900 ,000.0 900 on unknown prof.
ects, many of no immediate necessity
and of doubtful permanent value"
Byrd said, will do much to restore
confidence to those business men
anxious to go forward.
Sees Calmer Nation.
1.-THE defeat of this bill will be a
proclamation to the world that the
period Of acute economic emergency
in this country is over, and that We
are now turning calmly from the
treatment of the crisis to making our
recovery sound and permanent"
Senator McCarran (Democrat) Of
Nevada, author of the prevailing wage
amendment, contended that Ito tear
down the wage structure of America"
will do more harm than the good that
might come from ten times four bill
lion dollars poured out of the Federal
Treasury"
There isn't word in this amend
ment that says the President can't 60
forward with his program" he said.
McCarran Plan Feared.
Six different attempts to modify the
bill were under way in the Senate to-
day. but administration forces evidenced
confidence Of turning back five Of
these. They were not so sure about
the amendment by Senator McCarran.
to require that relief workers be paid
wage rates prevailing in private in
| dustry instead of smaller security
wages" proposed by the President.
Senator Robinson, the Democratic
leader. said he doubted If an amend
ment by Senator Bulow, Democrat Of
South Dakota, proposing payment Of
, the soldiers bonus with new Treasury
notes, to be retired in 1945, would be
adopted.
He expressed the same feeling re-
garding the proposal by Senator
Wheeler, Democrat of Montana, to
finance the $4,000, 900. 900 public works
program with greenbacks and the
silver-inflation amendment of Senator
Thomas, Democrat of Oklahoma.
There also was good reason to be-
lieve, those in charge Of the bill said,
that the amendment of Senator
Adams, Democrat of Colorado, to slash
$2,000,000 900 from the bill, and that
of Senator La Toilette, Progressive OF
Wisconsin, to raise 1t to $4,000, ,OOO,-
900 by increasing the works fund by
SIS, 200 .00e, 900, would be defeated.
/ Robinson said he had not taken O
poll on the proposal to require pay
ment of prevailing wages on work.
giving projects. but other Democrats
opposed to it said there was a good
chance Of rejection. One report which
went around the Senate chamber was
that the President might veto the
bill If the higher-wage requirement
prevailed.
Senator McCarran, heartened by the
fervent speech for his amendment
Yesterday by Senator Wagner, Demo-
crat of New York, ordinarily an ad-
ministration supporter, figured the
chances for adoption were equally as
good.
May Cut Aid Figure.
, Meanwhile. there were indications
the administration might be willing to
I lop of couple hundred millions from
the $3.50 900 900 provided in the bill
for direct relief until the work pro-
gram-designed to give jobs TO $780,.
i 900 now on relief-gets under way.
This possibility was suggested in view
! Of the impounding by President Roose-
+ welt of $238, 900 900 of existing P. w. A.
funds for the relief agency.
! Secretary Ickes. the p. w. A. admin
istrator, said yesterday this transfer
was made ''in order to tide the relief
work over"
Ickes also announced survey by
the p. w. A. had shown a billion dol
lars worth of possible work-giving
projects In addition to three billions
Of Federal and non-Federal projects
already proposed in pending applica-
tions for loans from his organization.
The prevailing wage amendment
called up for debate today would per-
NIT varying rates to conform with
different wage levels in certain sections
Of the country.
Shift Is Provided.
A substitute. sponsored by Senator
Russell, Democrat, of Georgia and ap-
proved by the Appropriations Com
mittee, would authorize the President
to pay security" wages, higher than
the present dole, but lower than rates
IN private enterprise. II stipulates
that the security. wages be in
creased to the prevailing rates If it
Is found that they undermine scales
in private industry.
Elsewhere in the Capital a plan
was disclosed to give State branches
Of the National Emergency Council q
major hand in deciding the work
projects to be undertaken with the
proposed $4,000 900, 900 work fund.
An official who preferred that his
name not be used said the tentative
understanding is for the State Coun-
cils to sift projects proposed from
within their States and also to super
wise spending of the money. The
councils are composed Of representa-