Evening star., 1936-08-19
DROUGHT RELIEF
! 5PLANS WEIGHED
Roosevelt Also Is Expected
to Name Fiscal Body Men,
bers Late Today.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG,
STAR Correspondent of The Star.

Stan Correspondent OF The star.
HYDE PARK, N. Y, August 19.-
Formal announcement Of the person.
mel of the special committee to oe
appointed by President Roosevelt t"
make an intensive study of the fiscal
relations question between the Federal
and district governments is expected
70 be made here late today after long
and important conference between the
President and Government financial,
relief and employment aides.
D. w. Bell, acting director Of the
Budget Bureau. who has been working
out the details preliminary to the
appointment of the committee to study
fiscal relations, is in a group con-
ferring with the President today and
1t Is not though likely that he will have
an opportunity to take up the subject
of fiscal relations with the President
until late in the afternoon, when dis
cussion of the drought relief problem
has been concluded.
At this important conference. being
held at the Roosevelt home today, be-
sides Bell were Secretary of the Treas
ury Morgenthau, Harry Hopkins, works
progress administrator and w. Frank
Persons, director of the United States
Employment Service. 1t Is understood
that the President will canvass the
broad picture of unemployment and
to work out definite plan for extend
ing relief to the constantly increasing
number of drought victims.
Mr.. Roosevelt's advices are to the
effect that continued increased drought
in the northwestern section Of the
country presents major problem
The President realizes that this prob
lem presents not only the question Of
increasing the relief costs of the Fed
eral Government, but adds to the un-
employment troubles. At todays con-
ference the President will not only
endeavor to ascertain where the Gov
ernment is going to get the money
necessary for this additional relief,
but he will discuss figures bearing on
che general economic situation, as well
as facts and figures dealing with the
unemployment situation. Mr.. Roose-
welt is anxious to learn definitely what
percentage of absorption of the unem-
ployed might be contributed to private
industry.
It is understood that Mr.. Roose-
welt has received information since
coming here from Washington that
furnishes convincing proof that this
years drought Is the most serious and
devastating in the history of this
country.
AS the result of these latest re-
ports from the Northwest dust bowl, "
President Roosevelt will leave on his
inspection tour Of that part Of the
country next week, with no mistaken
ideas as to the extent of the suffer-
ing and the actual need for Govern
ment assistance. He has not quite
completed the details of this long
trip as far as the Dakotas, but he
hopes to be able to announce his
completed plans within the next day
or so. He feels confident at this
time that he will be compelled to
forego his contemplated inspection
trip on the Mississippi from St. Paul
to Memphis.
Curtailment of this part of his
plans was due to the Presidents con-
Germ about the troubled European sit
uation. In mentioning this the Presi-
dent pointed out that he thinks it
best that he not remain too far away
from Washington for any great length
of time. He wants to be close at
hand in case any emergency should
arise.
There was political significance to
the conference the President held
here, today with Stanley High, former
religious editor. who for number of
months has been identified with the
Democratic National Committee prin-
cipally in organizing the Good Neigh
Dor League" Mr.. High was accom-
panied on his Hyde Park engagement
by Floyd Odlum of Atlas Securities
and Richard c. Patterson of New
York.
The President has for luncheon
quests today Mr.. and Mrs. James
Cromwell. Arthur Krock, chief of the
Washington bureau of the New York
Times, will be a dinner guest tonight.