The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-21
Budget Message Has
 Begun, Economy DriUe
scOntinued from l'age D

rebellion in the democratic high command against the $500, ,00O, 900 work relief appropriation. Some in- fluential leaders would cut 1t to Sl 900 900, 900 or less.
 Republicans generally welcome the economy message. But as congress and the president turn to economy in search of a balanced budget, each is fearful the other may backslide to old spending habits. Congress will jump for the spending band wagon at any evidence of White House weakening.
 President Confident
 The president appeared confident at his press conference that $l,SOO,- 100000 would be enough to main tain works progress administration pay rolls at proper levels during the next fiscal year. Some Statisticians estimated, however, that MT. Roose- velts $l,500,00O0OO would afford provision for approximately 100000 fewer WPA workers that the aver age WPA load this year. It was estimated the appropria- ton would accommodate about 100000 workers, 8 total which brought an immediate outcry from advocates of continued heavy relief spending. More than 2,l000O0 are now on WPA rolls.
 It was anticipated that the re- construction finance corporation would provide the bulk of the re- funds mentioned by the president as one source of money to be ap- piled to reducing the deficit.
 Tn eight months of this year the REC provided $331 ,32o,878 in defi- cit-reducing recoveries.
 Great Economy Drive There has not been an economy drive comparable to this one since the Roosevelt special session of 1883 when congress voted the president blanket authority to reduce federal expenditures by approximately 25 per cent.
 Suggestion of mandatory con- gressional reduction instead of q grant of permissive authority to the president reflects resentment among some democrats against MT. Roose- yelt's insistence upon curtailment of various pending bills to permit another huge relief appropriation.
 There is possibility of open senate rebellion against MT. Roosevelt's $1 500 100000 work relief bill, al- though the odds would favor the president in any such contest.
 It Is understood on good author ity, however, that the congressional leaders who met April 19 with the president to discuss his budget mes- sage were almost unanimously op- posed to a $1 00,000,000 appropria- | tion at this time.
 They argued that $1,000,0OO, ,000 would be sufficient to pay reliel costs until well into the next session of congress when deficiency ap- propriation could be passed II u were necessary.
 Cut in WPA Forces
 Washington, April 21-(UP)-Ihe New Deal planned a WPA program for the 1888 fiscal year today that will employ nearly half a million fewer relief workers than were on the work relief rolls during this fiscal year ending June 30. On the basis of $1,5OO, 100000 for work re- lief during the year beginning July 1. proposed by President Roosevelt in his new budget message, the works Progress Administration can provide employment for about l. 800 O,OOO persons, at present wage rates, if too great an amount IS not diverted for ohter relief pur- poses. More than 2,100,00O, are now on WPA rolls.
 The President said at his press conference that the cut in WPA rolls would not be very great and that the $1,500,000,000 was intelld- ed to provide enough money in the 1888 fiscal year to avoid a deficiency appropriation. e
 S75,OOO,80O Out
 From that amount should come $75 ,0OO,00 for the use of Resettle- ment Administration in farm ten ancy relief, MT. Roosevelt said, but deductions for other purposes should be small.
 An average of 100000 on the rolls July l is approximately the employment figures which WPA officials expect to reach through return to private employment by that date. Administrator Harry L. Hopkins has planned to cut to l,600,- GOO by July 1, if industry picked up sufficiently but flood relief inter- fered.
 The reduction was expected to continue until fall, when the usual rise running until late winter will begin unless there is an unpredicted change in the relief situation.