Evening star., 1937-05-28
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

tldllo1l ledueiS 10 seek pOSCpOnement
OF final action on the 81 500 ,O0O,O 900 relief
bill until next Tuesday. This is the first
time the House has kicked over the
traces during the present session OF Con-
gress. 1t is the job of the leaders to get
the Democrats back into harness over
the week end and holiday. Having "ear-
marked" about one-third of the total
sum during its consideration of the
bill in committee Of the whole, the House
was expected to vote on these amend
ments yesterday when the bill was re-
ported to the House. The administra-
ton was not ready for the showdown,
and Majority Leader Rayburn succeeded
in having the vote put off. The Presi-
dent is strongly opposed to this ear
marking of appropriations. He wants
blank check, his opponents say, and to
be able to spend all the relief money as
he thinks best.
X X
Before the storm died down yesterday
the House, in committee of the whole
turned on Federal Relief Administrator
Harry L. Hopkins-the man who once
referred to half a billion dollars as
Chicken feed" 1t sliced $4,000 off his
annual salary, bringing the amount down
to $4,000, the same salary paid Sena-
tor or Representative in Congress-
1t is expected the administration forces
will seek to have the full amount for
Hopkins restored when the House votes
after the holiday.
Blocs in the House, supporting flood
relief, drought relief and public roads
projects made the original assault on
the relief bill and combining were able
to adopt the amendments earmarking
$502 ,000,0 900 for these purposes The ad-
ministration has retaliated with the cry
OF pork barrel" and has declared that
100000 workers now on w. P. A. rolls
will have to be dropped if the bill passes
as amended in committee of the whole
The leaders are very hopeful that by
next week the situation will be in hand,
even if they have to give the revolters
some concessions, in order to quiet them.
Economy was not the ruling passion in
this fight on the 81 500 100000 relief bill
in the House. 1t was just a question
Of how the money should be expended.
Members hailing from districts which
have been clamoring for flood control
projects and drought relief and roads
took the bit in their teeth, because the
President has shut down on their pet
projects. hoping to bring about "lay-
mans balance" of the budget next year.
Whatever happens in the House, when
the relief appropriation comes before
the Senate there will be serious effort
to cut it for economy sake. Many of the
Senators have declared that $500 0OO, 900
should be Topped from the bill-that
81 900, 100000 should be sufficient for re-
lief next fiscal year. with industry BOOM
ing along in this country again. Amer
lea can have as much relief as it is will
ing to pay for" was the attitude of some
OF them who have decided that the time
has come to grant only as much relief
as is actually needed.
Although pointing out that work relief
costs more than direct relief, John Ham,
ilton, chairman of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, is asking the Repub-
licans to look into the question of direct
relief versus work relief. He is suggest
ing that the G. o. P. should not take a
stand against work relief IF direct relief
would shatter the morale OF our job
less" That seems to be something of a
concession on the part of the Republican
chairman. On the other hand Mr. Ham
ilton is bearing down on the need for
governmental economy and also on the
advisability of transferring the adminis-
tration OF relief to the States and locali-
ties. instead Of having it concentrated
in Washington. In fact the Republicans
have quite lot OF ideas about relief
as shown in the proposal advanced re-
Gently by Senator Vandenberg of Mich
igan in the Senate and Representative
nf NatryV Sv, -
provides Federal grants to States with
IS cents of each dollar provided by the
Federal Government and 25 cents pro-
vided locally. Their bill calls for local
administration of relief under a three
man Federal board appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
The States and localities would be at
liberty to decide whether they wanted
work relief or direct relief for their own
jobless. It is Hamilton's contention that
direct relief-and just as much relief
can be supplied at 40 cents less on the
dollar than through work relief.
Discussing the question of relief, Ham,
ilton said that it would be possible to
save $400, 900 900 Of the taxpayers money
out of every billion dollars provided for
relief, II the country went to direct re-
lief. There would be no reduction what
ever in the amount of relief given the
people, he contended.
Il want to emphasize that the aboli-
ton of emergency work relief does not
imply stopping sensible public works
program. Is the substitution of direct
relief for work relief the policy OF the
Republican party? Is it wise policy?
That is what you Republicans back
home, far from Washington, can best
judge. That is one of the ways you can
shape the policies OF the Republican
party. The big argument against direct
relief or, as some call it, the paying
of dole, is that it hurts a man to get
something for nothing; he feels he is
receiving charity. But he should not
feel this way. We Republicans as Rep
resentative Charles Halleck of Indiana
stated in our Republican broadcast two
weeks ago, believe that the honest man
who cannot get a job is not asking char
ity. He has right to relief.
Still, If direct relief would shatter
the morale Of our jobless I say to you
tonight that would be for work relief
despite its extra COST Won't you Re-
publicans talk with those on relief in
your home town, talk with your clergy
man, talk with your doctor, see what
they think on this question of morale.
Perhaps you and they will believe finally
that work relief, despite its extra cost:
is better. Perhaps you won't. We want