Evening star., 1937-04-22

| Farm tenant legislation Uds
gipen impetus By surrey made re-
Gently at request of President and
shouting deplorable conditions of
tenant farmers.
| By the Associated Press.
Congressional leaders agreed today
with Secretary Of Agriculture Wallace
IN predicting that President Roose-
velt's economy plea may force post
ponement Of major farm legislation.
Chairman Jones OF the House Agri-
culture Committee said the whole pro-
gram was "up in the air" as a result
OF the Presidents request.
Farm measures which may be de-
layed or modified, Wallace said at
press conference, are tenancy aids,
crop insurance and the lever normal
granary." He described these projects
| as part OF longtime program whose
| absence may not be noticeable this
year.
T A House subcommittee delayed con-
sideration OF the 100000 crop in
surance bill passed by the Senate.
Jones said 1t was not known yet
whether Government finances would
permit this legislation.
The Texan indicated the $135, ,000,0 900
farm tenancy appropriation for 1898
recently approved by his committee
would be pared considerably.
Granary Plan MenAced.
Some persons suggested that the
fund for loans to farm purchasers
in 1898 be cut from $5o,OO0 900 to
5000 900, but Jones said, Il think
$50, 100000 Is small enough for such
9 problem"
Jones said other phases of the ten
ancy measure-rehab bilitation loans
and retirement Of submarginal land
might be financed from the $780,
100000 relief appropriation recon-.
mended by the President.
Members of the Agriculture Com.
mittee said the demand for economy
might prevent consideration OF WAL
lace's "ever-normal granary' and
| commodity loan proposals this session
Jones said his committee probably
would agree to a slight increase of the
interest rate on Federal Land Bank
farm loans. Gov. w. /. Myers Of the
Farm Credit Administration last week
said continuing the present rate
would cost the Treasury s3700O,0OO
in 1898.
The House late yesterday approved,
187 to l2l, bill to combat stream
pollution at cost of 81 900 900 a year,
despite a declaration by the Budget
Bureau that it did not fit into the
Presidents economy appeal
Federal grants or leans to install
pollution prevention devices would be
authorized for States, localities and
corporations which use navigable
streams for sewage disposal. The Sem
ate has yet to act.
The regular Agriculture appropria-
ton bill was before the House today.
Democratic leaders said they would
combat every attempt to boost the
s927.0oo,00o total. Representative
Taber, Republican, OF New York, sen.
ior minority member of the Appro-
priations Committee, said the figure
ought to be cut s250,00o,0O0
Indication of the force of a cam.
palgn in Congress to cut the relief
appropriation uncer President Roose-
Velts 81 500, 100000 figure came in the
disclosure by high administration
leader that the President turned down
an almost unanimous plea Of his con-
gressional chieftains that the fund be
cut to an even billion.
Balanced Budget Forecast.
The official, who would not be
quoted by name, was one OF those
who conferred with Mr.. Roosevelt the
night before he submitted his relief
estimate to Congress.
The President was said, however, to
have been convinced the need was
too great to be handled with the
smaller sum. He insisted the estimate
be large enough to last throughout the
coming year.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, Of South
CAROLINA, one Of the conferees, has
forecast that Congress will cut appro-
priations sufficiently to balance the
1888 budget.
Bigger Fund Is Sought.
group of House members, claim
ing the support OF so to 100 Demo-
cratic colleagues, agreed tentatively
yesterday to seek a relief appropria-
ticn $l,000,000,0O0 larger than that
recommended by the President.
Representative Maverick, Democrat,
OF Texas, said the group probably
would support bill by Representative
Voorhis, Democrat, OF California.
That measure would provide $780,
100000 for work relief and an un-
employment survey in the fiscal year
beginning July /.
1t would fix standards for work
projects, declaring that soil conserva-
ton, flood control, drought preven-
ton, water conservation, prevention
OF stream pollution and slum clear
ance are suitable undertakings.
Another drive to exceed the $780,
100000 appropriation proposed by the
President was begun by House Glib
eral bloc" Representative Boileau.
Progressive. Of Wisconsin. said the
bloc would try to obtain $4,000 ,0000 900.
Democratic leaders, however, were
confident they could beat both these
moves.
The Works Progress Administration
reported today it had 2,l14790 work
ers on its rolls March 27.
Omcials said the rolls will have to
be cut eventually II President Roose-
velt's $1,500,000,000 relief appropria-
ton recommendation goes through.