Evening star., 1938-02-09
PRES|DENTT0 T0ASK
$3OD,o]O,0)O FUND
FOR RELIEF NEEDS
Informed Sources Say Re.
quest Probably Will Be
Made Tomorrow.
ROOSEVELT HAS TALK
WITH CONGRESS CHIEFS
W. P. A. Makes Demands Due to
Unemployment in Auto.
mobile Cities.
By the Associated Press.

B, the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt, it was learned
today, will ask Congress within a day
or two to appropriate between $780,.
100000 and 100000 for relief dur.
ing the next five months.
Informed sources said the President
would send letter to Speaker Bank.
head, probably tomorrow, asking addi.
tional funds primarily because ol
expected relief demands during Feb.
ruary. March and April.
The Works Progress Administration
these sources said, has told the Presi.
dent it needed deficiency appropria.
tion largely because of unemployment
IN certain automobile cities.
Barkley Forecasts Message.
Earlier Senate Majority Leader Bark.
ley said after White House conference
today that President Roosevelt would
send to Congress probably today OF
tomorrow message on relief.
Senator Barkley, who conferred with
Mr.. Roosevelt and other congressional
leaders and administration officials
said the message might cover, not only
the question of a deficiency appro-
priation for the rest of this fsca
year, but also needs for the mex,
fiscal year, beginning July l.
Acting as spokesman for the Presi-
dents relief conferees. Senator Bark
ley said he did not know how much
additional relief money would be re-
quired. He added, however, that a
deficiency appropriation was very
likely"
Discussion General.
Mr. Barkley said the conferees dis
cussed the relief situation in a gen.
eral way"
II can't give you anything definite "
he asserted, adding that the matter
would be covered in whatever word
the President sent to Congress.
The message would not necessarily
cover the question Of next years relief
appropriation, Mr.. Barkley said, re-
calling that the President in his
budget message Of January had
made a specific relief recommends
ton. That was $l,l38, 1903, 900 for re-
covery and relief from July l, 1898, to
June 80. 1899. A billion Of that was
expected to go to W. P. A.
Aubrey Williams acting w. P A.
director and one of those who talked
with the President at the same time
as Senator Barkley, said there were
now 1,950,000 persons on the Govern
ment's work relief rolls.
Would Repeal Provision.
Representative Cochran, Democrat.
Of Missouri introduced, meanwhile,
bill to repeal provision Of the cur
rent relief appropriate nact that re-
quired the $500, 100000 appropriated
to be spread over IL months.
The restriction was intended to
forestall any request for an additional
appropriation, but Mr.. Cochran said
that at the time it was imposed the
present unemployment situation had
not been anticipated.
The Missourian declared he had
official information that w. P A.
would have to reduce its relief rolls
20 per cent on March l, unless it
obtained more money, anG that fur
ther reductions would follow every is
days.
$500,000,0 900 May Be Asked.
Estimates of funds needed for this
purpose have ranged from $3.50, ,0OO,-
600 and s5oo00O,0O0.
Called to the White House with
Senator Barkley were Chairman Glass
of the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee, House Majority Leader Ray
burn, Chairman Taylor of the House
Appropriations Committee, Treasury
Secretary Morgenthau, Daniel W..
Bell, Acting Director of the Budget,
and Mr.. Williams.
The President met yesterday with
Messrs. Morgenthau, Bell and Will
liams. The conference today was said
to have been arranged in order to get
the opinions of congressional leaders
on relief needs and appropriation esti-
mates. A White House official as
serted that administration officials
had about agreed on what would be
needed and wanted to see what the
leaders on Capital Hill had to say.