Evening star., 1937-06-11

~ the Associated Press.
A Senate proposal that local COM
munities bear greater share of the
Federal unemployment burden started
. new congressional fght today over
the administrations $500, 900 900 re-
lief bill.
The measure was written by A
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
after 1t had survived a determined
House effort to earmark third of the
total for specific purposes. 1t faced a
showdown today in the full committee.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of South
Carolina contended his amendment
requiring local sponsors to provide 40
per cent of the cost of non-Federal
projects would make relief funds 70
further. The subcommittee approved
1t, 7-3.
The group also wrote into the bill
refusal to reappropriate prospective
balances from previous appropriations
estimated as high as $223,000, 900. 1t
laced a limitation on expenditures
for administrative purposes.
The subcommittee adopted an
amendment by Senator Hayden, Dem
ocrat, Of Arizona to extend the public
works program for two years. The
House approved . separate extension
bill this week.
W.T.. A. Curb Voted Down.
Senator Byrnes pronosed that the
lump sum for. the Works Progress
Administration and other relief
agencies be reduced to $1,000, ,000, 900,
but this was voted down, to 3.
Although there were prospects that
economy advocates would renew on
the Senate floor their efforts to cut
the total fund. members predicted de-
bate would center on, the provision
that 20 per cent Of the funds be OBJ
tanned locally.
Administrator Harry L. Hopkins
told Congress local contributions now
range from Is to II per cent of
total costs. He proposed increAs-
ing this to ~ per cent in the next
dscal year.
Appropriation Of $500, ,ooo, 600, he
said. would provide W. P. A. Jobs for
1,73o, 900 persons for the year start
ing July l, requiring dismissal Of
500, 900.
Byrnes, however, contended his
amendment would nearly double the
money available for relief.
If the local governments comply
with the 20 per cent requirement"
he said, 's2, 500 ,ooo, 600 would ac-
tually be available for relief projects,
with the Federal Government sup
plying 81, SOC, ,00o. go. There would be
10 necessity for dismissing 500, 900
from the rolls. ..xxs
MY own belief is NAT manz prof.
ects are asked only beoA6se other
communities are getting them, and
when the local governments are asked
to put up 40 per cent their citizens
will cause them to hesitate unless they
are really necessary"
Says Hopkins sheqa Decide.
Senator McKellar. Democrat. Of
Tennessee, actang chairman Of the Ap-
propriations Committee, said the
Works Progress administrator should
decide how much local project spon-
oors should contribute
He. has always done that In the
past. and has done I good job," he
said
Paul v. Betters. secretary Of the
United StAtes Conference Of Mayors,
said communities already carried
heavy burden in direct relief and could
not shoulder much Of the work re-
lief costs.
The Senate voted $4,000 yesterday
Tor an Investigation Of problems Of
unemployment and relief, including an
estimate Of the number Of persons
now unemployed by reason OF labor
saving devices. mechanical and 9TH
erwise."
A committee to be named by Vice
President Garner would be directed
to obtain all facts which aid Congress
IN drafting corrective legislation.