Evening star., 1936-03-11
BILLION AND HALF
FOR RELIEF LOOMS
Robinson Defends w. P. A.
and Vandenberg Demands
Sweeping Inquiry.
BACKGROUND

The $4,000 ,000, 900 ,Dork-reliet act
launched bitter political battle
long before 1t became ldw, lest
April. The earliest points at issue
mere State rights. union iDage and
the size of the appropriation. Later.
its opponents hammered at boom
doooling" relief projects, and labor
troubles plagued its administration.
Recently Senator Holt, Democrat,
of West Virginia, has charged po-
littcdl preference in awarding w.
p. A. JOBS in his State.
BY the Associated Press.
The pros and cons on New Deal
work relief continue to provide Con-
gress with one of its hottest issues.
No sooner had Senator Robinson of
Arkansas, the ma ajority leader, finished
long defense of the w. P. A. on the
chamber floor yesterday than Senator
Vandenberg, Republican. of Michigan
reiterated charges Of political ex-
ploitation" and demands for a sweep
ing investigation.
While the sharp Senate debate pro-
ceeded. President Roosevelt said at his
press conference that he had not de-
cided how much he would ask Con-
gress to appropriate at this session for
relief. He said he might delay his
message until March 10, when he
leaves for Florida.
Estimate Might Be S1,125,0O0, 900.
There we're intimations in Senate
quarters, however, that the White
House estimates would range between
$f000,o0O,0 900 and 81 500, ,o00, 900. Some
limited the figure might be Sl,125,-
000, 900. 1t was said sum expected
to be left over from last years s4,800,-
000,0 900 would be reckoned with in the
final estimates.
Robinson defended "boondoggling"
under Harry L. Hopkins w. P. A. and
declared the Republican National Com
mittee and the "nliscalled Liberty
League" we're attempting to make a
political foot ball out of the unfortu-
nate unemployed"
Senator Hayden, Democrat, of Ari-
Eona suggested that Congress appro-
PIRATE s70O.000,0o0 for Federal
Public Works Administration projects.
Under his plan, the localities would
put up S. per cent and the Federal
Government the rest.
Hayden declared the P. w. A. had
demonstrated to the country that
the money intrusted to 1t has been
economically and honestly spent"
Robinson Makes Reply.
Although weak from a recent ILL
ness, Senator Robinson not only read
his entire 7,000-word speech. but also
replied extemporaneously to Vanden-
berg after the latter had urged the
investigation for the purpose Of a
general ventilation" Of w. P. A.
Robinson declared that while there
may have been abuses in certain
localities with respect to using relief
funds to advance political causes, the
President and his national admins
traitors had done all in their power to
keep the question out of politics.
Vandenberg also reiterated his de-
mand that consideration be given to
changing what he called the basic
policy" of starting longtime projects
with w. p. A. allocations and execu-
tive orders when they have not been
specifically authorized by Congress.
Robinson. with smile, replied that
that made Vandenberg the champion
boondoggler' because he opposed the
more permanent projects. He added
such projects as the Florida ship canal
and the Passamaquoddy tide-harness-
ing plan had been authorized when
Congress passed the relief act, leaving
it to the President to select the prof.
ects.