Evening star., 1936-03-13
ROOSEVELT CALLS
NIGHT CONFERENCE
ON RELIEF BUDGET.
Treasury Experts, Hopkins
and Aides Summoned
to Discuss Needs.
WILL SUBMIT PROGRAM
BEFORE LEAVING ON TRIP
Holt Departs for West Virginia
for New Ammunition to
Use on w. P. A.
Nv the Associated press-

By the Associated Press.
Relief and Treasury experts today
were summoned by President Roose-
velt to a night White House confer
ence on next years relief program.
Harry L. Hopkins, w. p. A. admins
TRAITOR; Corrington Gill, his assistant
and Daniel Bell, acting budget d.
rector, were invited to discuss how
much money will be needed for the
fiscal year beginning July /.
President Roosevelt reiterated at his
press conference that he will submit
his relief recommendations to Con-
gress before departing next Thursday
on his fishing cruise in Florida waters
He declined to comment on specific
figures and did not offer any comment
on the report of the United States
Conference of Mayors yesterday
recommending continuation of work
relief with an additional fund of ST.
$40, 900 900.
Asked about charges of politics in
the Works Progress Administration,
Mr.. Roosevelt replied quickly that
politics was the answer.
There was no further discussion of
the charges which have been raised
by prominent Republicans and Sem
ator Holt. Democrat, of West Virginia,
Meanwhile, Holt headed for his
home State to dig up new munitions
for his war on Hopkins and w. P. A.
Holt, widening the breach between
himself and administration relief
chiefs, accused Hopkins yesterday of
the worst maladminitration of public
funds ever known in the history Of
America"
About the same time Hopkins, who
had aroused Hollis ire by reporting
that West Virginia work relief was free
from politics. announced the dismissal
of two Illinois w. P. A. officials ac-
cused Of collecting money on prof.
ect for political purposes"
Hopkins Orders Inquiry.
Declaring "wen go down the line
to keep politics out Of the Works Prog
ress Administration. Hopkins also
ordered an investigation of charges
that foremen and timekeepers at
Marion, H., had been asked to con-
tribute to primary campaign funds.
Coming again to the defense Of work
relief, Senator Robinson, Democrat, of
Arkansas, said on the radio last night
that the administration had exerted
all efforts to keep it free from politics.
IF there has been chiseling To-
cally," he said, 'it has not been
countenanced by Federal officials
here, but, on the other hand, every
effort has been made to stamp out
such practices"
Talks for Hour.
Holt talked more than an hour In
the Senate, assailing Hopkins report
on the West Virginia situation as a
document containing more lies per
square foot than any other report
in the history of the United States. "
Challenging Hopkins to disprove
his charges that political influence
was exerted on w. P. A. jobs distri-
button, he called the administrator
the worlds greatest "spender of un-
truths and money"
Declaring w. P. A. paid s38.75 per
foot for hay wire, Holt said that
"at that rate it would cost $4,000
to put three strands of 1t around an
acre lot" Hopkins termed this charge
ridiculous
Hatch Praises Hopkins.
After Holt finished yesterdays
speech, Senator Hatch, Democrat, Of
New Mexico praised Hopkins and
other relief officials, saying their pur-
pose was to administer the program
wisely, ably, efficiently and hon.
estly."
The two Illinois W.. P. A. officials
dismissed by Hopkins were E. e.
Willis and Carl Parsons. Hopkins
also started an inquiry into charges,
made public in Illinois by A. NJ.
Thompson, State industrial commits
sioner, that w. p. A. foremen and
timekeepers had been asked for
financial aid for DR.. Herman N.
Bundesen, Democratic gubernatorial
candidate.
HOPKINS SISTER RESIGNS.