Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-01-31

~ Members attempted tC
attach amendments
which would protect private industry
from government projects which might
be launched under the relief plan
When this failed they endeayored &c
allocate the money for specific pur
poses.
When the debate tad reached Its
height, the President sent a message
to the house declaring ii would be
impossible TO %segregate items for which
the money would be expended. but that
the huge outlay of sums would be de-
voted to public projects and that after
the immediate crisis of unemployment
had passed 1t was his hope that the
country could set aside 500. 100000 a
year for the national plan"
The White House message was the
signal for the Democratic majority to
push the message across with little
change from its original form. On the
final vote 26 Republicans voted for
the bill. Seven Progressives and three
Farmer-Laborites also registered af-
firmative votes. Ten Democrats, five
from Georgia, three from Virginia, and
two from Indiana, voted with the oppo-
sition.
Because of the gag rule adopted by
the house, only amendments offered
by the appropriations committee could
be considered In vital sections of the
measure. Such minor amendments as
were. decided upon went through with
out serious opposition.
One of the amendments striking out
a list of projects that might be includ-
ed In spending the $4,000 OO, 900 and
left the vast sum to be used for fed
eral or nonfederal projects" actually
~broadened the powers of the President.
The $SUO. 000,0 o will be used at the
Presidents discretion for relief pur-
poses while the program is being put
into effect.
Another amendment struck out a
subsection which gave the President
authority TO postpone the end of any
existing government agency. This was
a move to satisfy certain Democrats
who were opposed to Secretary Ickes.
and his PWA program which expires
in June. Another clause granting au-
thority to the President to acquire
personal property by the power of
eminent domain was also removed. as
was the section granting the Chief
Executive the power to impose two
years imprisonment on any violator.
The only other amendment which sue
ceeded in passage was one which pro-
Vided that al accounting be made for
all moneys spent.
Minority Leader Smell attacked the
oil declaring that the money involved
amounted to one-eighth of the nation
al income, and that the house was en-
titled to know what the money was
FOR. Later in c%onceding the minority's
1efeat he said that If the opposition
vas free to speak its mind, the bill
would be defeated two to one, but that
under the executive lash, there was
no chance OF defeating 1t.
NEW DEALERS sighed with relief
as the Supreme court recessed
until February 4 without handing down
its decision in the gold cases, thus
giving the administration more time
in which to prepare legislation de-
signed to handle the situation In the
event the court renders an adverse
decision.
AT the same time the court promised
to decide a case presenting a clear-cut
test of the c0nstitutionality of the ma
tional recovery act, and which will
probably have considerable effect upon
the ultimate fate of the already be-
draggled Blue eagle.
T LEGISLATION which would permit
IL the small investor to buy govern
ment securities and which provides for
radical changes In government 6nan-
cling has been introduced in the house
by Chairman Doughton OF the house
ways and means committee.
The bill, prepared by the Treasury
department, places the administration
squarely against imitation. Ii provides
authority to raise money necessary for
the public works. social security and
similar measures. meet federal deficits.
and might even be used to provide
funds for payment OF the soldiers
bonus.
Under provisions OF the measure
there would be ten-year bonds in
amounts as small as $50, and as ex-
planned by the Treasury department.
would be sold below par. There would
be no interest. but each six months
the bonds would appreciate in value
at the rate Of 2h per cent, plus con-
pounded earnings.
Huge sums are involved: first, the
creation Of a revolving bond authorlza-
uah fund Of $2,50O,0O0.OOO; and Sec