Evening star., 1938-12-28
BY the Associated Press.

been revised as to personnel and
probably ,Diu be as to practice.
By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt was reported
today to be considering creation of
non-partisan county boards to act
on complaints of politics in relief"
A well-informed person said that,
although details have not been COM
pletely worked out, the President
might indorse such a system to meet
criticism directed at w. P. A. during
the recent election campaign.
This became known at a time
when the Senate Campaign Ex-
penditures Committee was working
at top speed to get its recommends
tions ready for the opening of Con-
gress next week. The committee
investigated charges that w. P. A.
funds were used to influence the
results of various primary and gen.
eral elections.
A person in close touch with the
White House said that what the
President had in mind was appoint
ment Of men in each county in the
= United States to sift complaints of
discrimination in the administra-
ton OF relief. The groups would
serve without pay.
Board Would Act.
Any relief worker who thought he
had been denied equal treatment
could appeal to the county board,
which would pass on the justice of
his case and take any appropriate
action.
The President was represented as
feeling that details should be worked
out by Congress. 1t was understood,
however, the plan would not con-
template shifting to the counties
the responsibility for actual admin
istration of relief funds, which
would remain under the Federal
Government.
Returning members of Congress
also have advanced several sugges-.
tons for preventing political use of
relief funds.
Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico indorsed proposal by Sen
ator Byrnes, Democrat, Of South
Carolina to prevent members of
Congress from helping to obtain ap-
proval for any w. P. A. or P. w. A.
project. Senator Hatch said he
would like to 60 further and prohibit
members of Congress from indorsing
candidates for jobs with relief
agencies.
New Hatch Amendment" Due.
He said he again would propose
legislation to prohibit political ac-
tivity by Federal employees and to
prohibit intimidation or coercion of
relief workers. Senator Hayden,
Democrat, of Arizona. who opposed
the Hatch amendment last session,
said he believed a modified version
might be accepted by the new Con-
gress.
Meanwhile, Senator Adams, Dem
ocrat, of Colorado, chairman of the
Subcommittee on Relief Appropria-
tions, predicted the anticipated spe-
cial appropriation for w. P. A. would
total between $3.50 ,00O, 900 and $780,
100000. This money would be ex-
pected to last until July l.
While the relief setup occupied
the attention of many legislators,
Senate and House leaders arranged
a series of White House calls to help
President Roosevelt put finishing
touches on his message to Congress.
= Speaker Bankhead and Repre-
sentative Rayburn of Texas, the
House majority leader, were invited
to lunch with the President today.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the
Senate Democratic leader, will see
the Chief Executive in the next day
or SO.
Chairman Wheeler of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee
discussed railroad legislation with
the Chief Executive yesterday. In
company with Chairman Lea of the
up1Jca Inforcfofo Coy,ey,ooron Cny,,