Evening star., 1937-06-20
RELIEF BILL FIGHT
DEMOCRATS TEST.
Senate Battle Affects Race
of Rival Candidates for
Robinson Post.

BACKGROUND
Federal relief appropriation for
coming year has been subject Of
controversy for months. President
asked $500 .O00. 900, House Com
1nittee reduced sum. but restored
1t later House bloc then ear
marked one-third OF total, but
later agreed to mithdram action.
Senate Committee prortsion
,rould require local com munities to
Advance 20 per cent OF project
costs: Majority Leader Robinson
surprised observers BY supporting
principle OF this plan, but sug-
oested IS per cent local participd-
tion.
The fight In the Senate over the
$4,000 900 relief bill emerged yes
terday as an important test between
conservative and liberal groups in the
Democratic-New Deal coalition and
between rival candidates for the DEM
ocratic majority leadership in the
Senate If Senator Robinson is elevated
to the Supreme Court.
When Senator Robinson came for
ward with a proposal that localities
be required to contribute IS per cent
OF the cost of w. P. A. projects 1t
was At first regarded as a compromise
in the interest OF the administration,
designed to head of the proposal Of
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of North
Carolina. to require 40 per cent con-
tribution.
But within the last 36 hours the
situation has changed. The progress
slveS IN the Senate refused to COM
promise. Senator Barkley, Democrat,
of Kentucky stood fast and assumed
the leadership Of the fight to preserve
a free hand for w. P. A. in exacting
local contributions. A check-up made
Friday and yesterday by Senators
supporting the administration on this
issue has convinced their leaders that
they have the votes to reject the
Robinson-Byrnes amendments.
Byrnes Faces Setback.
II the Robinson Byrnes amendments
are defeated, Senator Byrnes' aspira-
tiors to succeed Senator Robinson as
ma jorty leader will be set back seri-
ously and Senator Barkley's will be
greatly improved. Both Senator
Byrnes and Senator Barkley have been
close to President Roosevelt. but Sem
toward the conservative side Senator
Barkley, without question, is the first
choice OF liberal groups in the ad-
ministration for ma joritv leader if
Senator Robinson goes to the Supreme
Court.
Senator Pittman, Democrat of
Nevada, President pro tempore and
another possible candidate for ma jor-
ity leader, also has expressed opposi-
tion to the relief bill in the form
sought by the administrat ton He has
not Endorsed the Robinson and Byrnes
amendments, but has suggested a still
milder compromise Of his own. Senator
Harrison, Democrat of Mississippi.
who has disclaimed ambition to be
majority leader, but who will COM
mand serious consideration if he
changes his mind, has been inactive
in the relief fight.
Beneath the surface, both sides have
been doing more work than they ad-
nit publicly, with view to making
the votes on the Bvrnes and Robinson
amendments significant test of
strength. During the last few days,
Bernard M. Baruch, one of the lead
ing conservative Democrats, has been
in Washington. comforting with prom
inent members of the Senate and
House
Seeks Brakes on Spending.
In years past he has interested him.
self in the campaigns of q number
OF Democratic Senators and Repre-
sentatives who now hold positions of
lnfluence, and he is believed by more
progressive Democrats to be especially
active at this time in trying to apply
congressional brakes to both the
spending and social reform program
OF the President
Senator Robinson's desertion OF the
administration on the relief issue has
many puzzling aspects. At first it was
regarded as an action which had the
tacit approval of the President. But
the President assured other Senator's
who subsequently called on him that
he still wanted the appropriation in
the form it went through the House
Whether Senator Robinson was con-
vinced. and convinced the President
temporarily, that a compromise was
necessary to head of the Byrnes
amendment remains uncertain. Sen
ator Robinson Is known to share
heartily anyway the belief of Vice
President Garner. Senator Byrnes and
other conservative Southerners, that
economy Is imperative But there is
speculation to the effect that he de-
cided to cut loose for one or more OF
three other purposes: To give a hint
Of his nuisance value If he is not pro-
NOTED to the Supreme Court, to try to
check the progressive tendencies Of
the New Deal. and to help pave the
way for the choice of a conservative
Democrat to succeed him as ma jority
leader II he is promoted to the Su-
preme Court.
Court Compromise Waits.
If the relief bill is held intact by
combination Of progressive and fresh
man" Senators under the leadership
Of Senator Barkley, Senator Robin
sons purposes. whatever they are, will