Evening star., 1937-06-13
BY J. A. OLEARY.

A battle over the rule to require
States and cities to pledge 40 per
cent of the cost of Works Progress
Administration projects after Septem-
Der 80 promises to enliven debate on
the 81 500 100000 relief appropriation
bill in the Senate this week
Although the Appropriations Com
mittee is expected to report the meas
ure. tomorrow without changing the
House total of $500 900, 900, the 40
per cent contribution rule may have
the effect of reducing w P. A. eX-
penditures for the next fiscal year,
unless local authorities certify in
writing their inability to provide the
40 per cent, in which case the Presi-
dent would have discretion in fixing
the local contribution, as at present.
The division of opinion over the 40
per cent rule was reflected in the fact
the committee voted it into the bill
yesterday. l3 to 10 The subcommit-
tee previously had recommended it,
7 to g.
Hopkins Fails to Turn Tide.
The vote came after a tWo-hcur
conference with Harry L. Hopkins.
in which the relief administrator is
reported to have opposed the limita-
ton as unworkable The discussion
failed, however, to stem the tide in
favor of the amendment. which is
sponsored by Senator Byrnes, Demo-
crat, of South Carolina.
After defeating several compromises
to fix the local percentage at ls, 20
or 25 per cent. the committee recessed
until 10 am. tomorrow. In the re-
cent past local contributions have
averaged about Is per cent.
Two major questions remain to be
settled before the bill is reported.
namely:
The amendment of Senator Hayden.
Democrat, of Arizona to extend the
life of the Public Works Administra-
ton for two more years, to enable it
to complete about $500 100000 worth
OF approved projects. The money would
be obtained from further sale OF P.
w. A. securities to the Reconstruction
AAdiANC wi r. anu llOI llOlll Vic llSW
relief appropriation.
An amendment by Senator McCar-
ran, Democrat, of Nevada to earmark
$3.50 100000 for Federal aid highway
construction, which failed in the
House.
AS to the outcome of the 40 per
cent w. P. A. financing edict, there
was strong belief at the Capitol
yesterday that even if the Senate
adopts it, the final result will be
compromise in conference on a local
percentage of somewhere near IS per
cent, since the House placed no re-
striction on the present discretionary
authority of the relief administration.
Share Varied up to % Per Cent.
Defending his 40 per cent require
ment, Senator Byrnes declared last
night that up to January of this
year the percentages of local con-
tribution to w. P. A. projects have
varied in different parts of the coun-
try from ~ per cent for New York
State, up to % per cent in Idaho.
Senator Byrnes made the following
explanation OF his proposal:
If the local governments are in
terested in securing projects to fur
nish employment to those on the relief
rolls and not solely because the prof.
ects are desirable, they will provide
the 40 per cent in materials or money,
and, if they do. it will result in max
ing available for work projects ap-
proximately S2,000,000,000. which
would make it unnecessary to dismiss
any one now employed on w. P. A.
projects. If. however. projects have
been applied for in some States merel
because they are desirable or because
Of the competition between cities, ap-
plications will not Le filed and the
amount of Federal funds spent will
be much less than $500 100000.
In addition to the $l.500,000,0 ,00o
Of Federal funds provided in this bill
(See RELIEF, Page A-4D