Evening star., 1935-03-03
SENATE CONTINUES
TO BALK PRESIDENT
ON WORK RELIEF BILL
Continued From First Page.)

lCOIlLlI1ueQ fTO[ll T1ISL FdSe.J
groups over the work-relief bill. Sena-
tor Robinson, the Democratic leader,
talked with Senator Byrnes. Democrat,
of South Carolina. a strong supporter
of the administration work-relief plan,
in the Appropriations Committee.
Faces Other Amendments.
When the work-relief bill is laid
before the Senate again. it must run
the gantlet of other proposed amend
mentS in addition to the prevailing
wage. There is Senator Adams
amendment to cut the total appropri-
alton to $2.880 100000 or even less.
The Colorado Senator. Democrat, is
strongly in favor Of this proposal on
the ground of economy and the pres
ervation Of the credit of the Gov
ernment.
Senator La Toilette, Progressive, Of
Wisconsin, on the other hand, has Of
fered an amendment to add Title
to the bill for a still greater public
works program. His amendment adds
$4,000, 100000 to the bill. making a
total appropriation of $4,000, 900 900.
Under his plan, the added sum would
be used for certain classes of public
works which are to be carried out
under the P. w. A. as 1t now exists.
Specific amounts are allocated for the
various classifications of works.
There are one or more proposed
amendments for imitation, including
silver amendment offered by Sem
ator Thomas of Colorado And Sem
ator Bulow Of South Dakota is under
stood to be prepared to offer a SOL
diers' bonus amendment, although
in view of the fact the House Com
mittee is to begin work Immediately
on a bonus bill, that amendment
might not be pressed If it is offered,
however. it may be difficult to defeat.
Passed Almost Unchanged.
The work-relief bill passed the
House January "a after brief con-
sideration IN the House Appropri-
ations Committee and a couple of
days debate in the House itself. It
passed that body almost in the shape
it came from administration sources.
It is now going on six weeks since the
bill began its stormy career in the
Senate, and it is back again before
the Senate Committee where 1t
started.
The work-relief bill is the first Of
the major proposals of the President
to come before the Congress for con-
sideration. That there would be so
much delay in the disposition of a
relief bill did not seem possible when
the measure was started on its way.
1t was explained, from administra-
ton sources, that prompt action was
necessary because early in February
funds for continuing direct relief to
the destitute would run out. Since
then, however. it has been found pos
sible and necessary to obtain funds
from the P. w. A. to carry on direct
relief.
Reports are spreading that p. w. A.
projects will suffer, If they have not
already suffered, because Of this di-
version of funds and that employ
ment on this class of projects will be
delayed. Pressure has beeh exerted,
1t is said, on some Of the Senators in
whose States these projects are To-
Gated in the hope they will see their
way to early and satisfactory action
on the work-relief bill.
Next Move in Doubt.
Senators who have supported the
McCarran prevailing-wage amend
ment last night said they were at
sea as to what the next move in the
fight will be. They maintained that
their lines were holding. When the
bill is taken up again in the Senate.
however. these claims will be tested,
unless, indeed, some kind Of . COM
promise Is reached in the meantime.
With available direct-relief funds
fast vanishing, the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration yesterday al
lotted $56,576,574 for relief during the
first half Of March to the various
States.
This scarcity Of available relief
funds and money for the continua-
ton of the Civilian Conservation
Corps is a lever in the pressure the
administration Is applying to the 81
Democrats who voted for the McCar-
ran wage amendment.
Centered Upon Seven.
In particular, these centered upon:
Wagner of New York, Black Of Ala
bama, Lonergan and Maloney, both
of Connecticut; Reynolds of North
Carolina, O'Mahoney Of Wyoming and
Truman Of Missouri.
Over in the House q group OF Re-
publicans discussed with Representa-
tive Smell of New York, their leader,
the possibility of getting action on
his resolution to appropriate $780,
100000 for direct relief.
After the conference, Smell asked.
"You don't think we Republicans have
chance of getting it up. do you?'
He said Speaker Byrns would not
permit the Republican proposal to be
acted upon.