The Indianapolis times., 1936-03-21
Sticks to Historic Policy

Sticks to Historic Policy
Senator Guffey had talked at the
White House with Rear Admiral
Gary T. Grayson, Red Cross ma
tional chairman, and was informed
of the organizations historic policy,
never broken, of gathering its funds
only by voluntary subscriptions and
refusing to accept grants voted by
Congress.
This policy is based on the Red
Cross platform of absolute separa-
ton between it's relief work and
partisan politics. Its officers fear
that If congressional appropriations
are accepted members of the House
and Senate will feel themselves
privileged to demand special fayors.
But several members of the
House declare the floods have left
such great task of providing food
and shelter Immediately, and later
rehabilitating families, that the
100000 asked for the Red Gross
will only begin to meet the needs.
They have been thinking in hun
dreds of millions and in billions for
so long that the Red Cross three
million seems small sum-.
Other Measures Proposed
Rep. Henry Ellenborgen Cd, Pa
has introduced a bill for a $4,000, :
600 appropriation to be spent at
the Presidents direction. Rep.
Joseph Gray Cd, Pa) asked ten
times that much, or half billion
dollars, for relief and rehabilitation.
Rep. Matthew Dunn Cd, Pa made
it a full billion, with provisions for
loans at not more than l per cent
interest. Reps. Jennings Randolph
and George w. Johnson Cd, w. Va.)
advocated transfer of smaller sums
to the Red Cross, for use particu-
larly in their state. Rep. Theodore
l.. Moritz Cd, Pa put in bill
for modest SIS, ,000,0 900, but confined
its use to his home, Allegheny
County.
The outcome of Mondays meeting
is expected to be general bill,
offering relief in all flooded areas,
and with administration placed in
the hands of some government
agency.
Whether it will become law is
believed to rest with the developing
needs of the next few days, the pub
lie response to the Red Gross appeal,
and the ability of that organization
to meet the situation.
Hopkins Accepts Challenge
One outcome, it was pointed out
in one quarter. will be chance for
the public to compare the efficiency
of the Red Cross, working on thor
oughly non-political basis, with the
operations of Federal relief, now at
tackled with charges of politics in
various areas.
Harry Hopkins Works Progress
Administration itself has accepted
the flood challenge in way that
may bring it as much public appre-
citation as is forming for the flood
efforts of President Roosevelt's ''fav-
orites," the CCC boys.
A million dollars is available in
Pennsylvania, for instance, for WPA
projects in repair of streets and
highways and other public property
Edward N. Jones, Pennsylvania
WPA administrator. has been in
structed to turn over to the Red
Cross supplies of clothing and bed
ding accumulated in WPA sewing
rooms. Similar instructions have
gone to West Virginia and other
flood-hit states.
Aids Given Free Hand
Several hundred thousand pounds
of food products, supplied by the
Federal Surplus Relief Corp, were
reported being prepared in tempo
rary WPA kitchens or being dis
tributed directly to flood-needy
families by WPA trucks and work.
ers.
Il have given the state admins
traitors a free hand to send their
men and spend their money wher-
ever tie need has arisen" Mr.. Hop
kins said.
1t was estimated that $4,000 WPA
men worked on emergency flood
work in the affected states, and this
was said to be probably the largest
single unit of inan-power engaged
in the battle against the flood,