Evening star., 1937-03-06
NEW RELIEF POLICY
MAY Be Barred BY
GOVERNORS PLEA
Action of Six Executives
Seen Forcing Statement
in Advance.
ROOSEVELT WILL SEND
MESSAGE THIS MONTH
W. P. A. Head Bases Plans to
Reduce Rolls on Recovery and
Good Farm Year.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A White House visit by six Governors
to plead against slicing works progress
rolls appeared likely today to bring a
restatement or clariflcation of the
Governments relief policy.
The Governors of New York, Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, Wis
consin and Minnesota requested the
conference with President Roosevelt
after declaring State and local govern
ments already were hard put in trying
to care for needy unemployables.
They said their States could not
stand having this burden increased by
cuts in w. P. A.. which enlists only
distressed employables."
The Governors held a strategy
meeting in hotel room prior TO their
meeting with the President a lunch
con at ! pm.
Harry L. Hopkins, W. p A. admins
traitor, has announced plans to reduce
Federal relief rolls by $4,000 before
June /, cutting the total from 2.150.-
900 to 100000.
President Roosevelt, however. has
made no statement while studying
figures for next fiscal years relief ap-
preparation. He expects to send his
relief message to Congress late this
month.
Assume Good Farm Year.
Hopkins told q House committee the
contemplated reductions were based
on continued recovery and assumed
q good agricultural year that would
make drought relief unnecessary.
The six Governors asked not only
for an opportunity to protest cuts,
but to suggest an efficient and sound"
solution.
Asked for his views before going to
the White House, Gov Philip La Fol-
lette, Wisconsin Progressive, said the
Federal Government should provide
work for all on relief rolls and that
none be dropped unless taken into
private employment.
He estimated half of those on relief
in Wisconsin we're unable to obtain
jobs, and that the contemplated w.
p. A. reduction would increase the
State relief load so per cent, creating
q serious financial situation.
Gov. Herbert H. Lehman. New York
Democrat, declined to discuss the
question in advance of the conference.
He expressed a stand in his budget
message February l similar to that
of La Follette-that the Federal Gov
ernment should drop no relief workers
until they can be absorbed in private
industry.
He also urged that such workers
be replaced Immediately by other
needy employables taken from home
relief rolls to give States and cities
the first benefits from re-employment.
Gov. Elmer Benson, Minnesota
Farmer-Laborite. said:
The unemployment situation in
Minnesota is serious. The Federal
Government never has assumed its
full responsibility in caring for the
unemployed"
Burden Held Unbearable.
Gov. Henry Horner, Illinois Demo-
crat, said his States burden Is be.
coming unbearable.
II want the Federal Government
to provide for $4,000 employables now
on relief and other employables who
may go on relief" he said. Such
lessening of the load might make our
relief burden more bearable.
Another matter of concern Is the
reluctance of w. P. A. employees to
take private employment when offered
because if they lose such employment
they cannot get back on w. p. A.
| Ca DT TEF pace An