, 1935-02-24
WASHINGTON
BY George Durn0

velt's S4.880. 100000 wcrk-relief bill
can squeeze down the canal to sale
harbor, the New Deal high command
Il engrosSed with a most delicate
problem OF It's own.
III line with FDR's edict that the
dole must go-presumabb by June
30-the administrators best minds
are trying TO figure out just how
over 3.500.OO o potential brcadwinners
can be taken OFF direct relief and
put into temporary public works Jobs
at about $50 q month. Even with all
the experience Harold Ickes gained
as Public Works Administrator from
June 1883 TO January 1885 he never
succeeded IN getting enough projects
going at one time 20 hire more than
100000 men.
The president asked for the $780,
O00,0 900 included in the bill IN order
10 clean up direct relief once and for
ali. Federal Emergency Relief Ad-
ministrator Harry Hopkins has been
spending money at the rate OF about
Sl35, 100000 a month-which would
indicate that under the announced
program there should be "a virtually
complete turnover 10 w~oTk-relief by
early summer.
Abiding-Hopkins already has
moved to lessen the burden OF di-
rect relief by serving notice on 10
states that they can expect no more
federal aid after March / unless
they kick In designated amounts TO
help pay the freight.
But many Of the New Dealers who
got their early training in social
service shake their heads privately
at the thought Of making the tran
sition from dole 10 work for so many
millions Of unemployed inside the
next SIX months.
Observers are adding two and two
and deducing that direct relief viii
continue TO be with us for some time
to come.
Wcrk-The Federal Emergency
Relief Administration itself expires
on May ~ OF this year. That It's func-
tons will be continued after that
date Is q toregone conclusion.
Informed sources say the president
wants to get away from the "Emer-
gency' title and predict that after
May II Hopkins will be on the Fed
eral Welfare Authority or some new
alphabetical name similar-dolng
business as OF yore.
MI. Roosevelt can't start the ball
rolling on work-relief projects un-
til his Jill Is signed, sealed and de-
livered. From that date II viii take
some time to get very many men al
work barring the Civil Works idea OF
last winter.
BuIwark-SecTetary OF the Tres
ury Henry MCrgenthau's baby bond
statesmen have figured " out that a
working man could buy one OF me
s25 bonds in a month at BN thaE r.
cents a day. CThe bond is bought toE
sl8.75 and redeemed III 10 years LOT
$3.50.
With this In mind the treasury
people are hoping big plants ike ".
:. Steel and the auto fartories Will
start making their workers baby
bond" conscious by offering 10 de-
duct the purchase price from wages
on an eaSy-payment plan.
Morgenthau and his men insist
they are not floating the diversified
War Savings stamps because ING
government needs MONEY. IL IL being
done with a primary view Of max
ING federal bondholderE OF al many
Of the public as possible. They fig
ure that a bondholder, ever though
its face value be but SO, Will have
more interest IN maintaining the
present system Of government.
Rift NV Label leaders headed by
William Green. president Of AFL,
are throwing harpoons into the UNI
employment insurance part OF the
social security bill. They declare
that It is unwise and unavoidable.
Members OF the house committee
are huttonohled BY labor people and
social workers who disagree with the
administration program. Some oI
these workers are members. Of the
advisory committee named by the
president to work out a bill.
Labor Spokesman want a higher
and longer unemployment stipend 70
be entirely by the employer. They
make no bones OF fighting tho presI-
dents plans. Some Of them say.
We've got tO fight TIL along the
line. The administration has gone
back on US
The rift between the sdminislra-
ton end organized iaoor Is widening
from all appearances.
RazZ Jim Farley doesn't admit
that he's worried. but some OF his
friends arc worrying for him. They
don't like the continual harping on
the damage done the democratic par
ty BY Farley'S successful boSsing OF
both the p. o. Department and the
pi'itical strategy Of the party. These
f1ends scott al the charge that
Farley Is interested In government
contracts. but they don't want inyes-
LEGATIONS that Will razz Farley and
perhaps develop into a party de-
AAdAAh Al kAo ANeaeAtobtNt H~h Wv
OF his Jobs.
Farley'S friends do wish that SEN
ator Norris would let up. They arc
moro afraid OF him than 81 Haey
Long.
Pressure - Owners OF utility hold
ing company stocks are making
such a hullabaloo that sam Ray
burn, sponsor Of the administration
bill 10 regulate these concerns out
OF existence. rs starting a counter
propaganda.
The companies themselves arc lay
ing low. They expect a bill 10 pass
which will subject them TO a federal
licensing and regulating system OF
rigorous character. But aroused