Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-15
BY ]. A. OIEARY.

AAAC 30,
relief and pump printing program may
undergo some alteration In its journey
through the Senate, but present in
dications are that efforts to curtail
its major provisions will face an up
hill fight.
With Public Works Administrator
1ckes as the first witness, an appro-
priations subcommittee headed by
Senator Adams, Democrat, of Colo
RADIO begins work on the House.
approved measure at 1890 am. to-
morrow. Chairman Adams hopes to
have the bill ready for committee
action by Thursday or Friday. 81 the
Senate may begin debate a week from
tomorrow.
Following Mr.. Ickes' appearance,
the subcommittee will hear Works
Progress Administrator Hopkins and
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace.
Meanwhile, members of Congress
were scanning the calendar, hoping
they could count on adjournment by
the middle of June, but admitting
that the wage-hour bill is still the
big unknown quantity in trying to
predict the going home date.
Reorganization RumorS.
Persistent recurrence of reports that
the administration wants to give the
Government reorganization bill an
other tfyout is an added complication
for those members who would like to
see adjournment early in June. but
there was still a good deal of uncer-
tainty yesterday as to whether the
recognizing issue will be revived.
Although two bills the House passed
last year dealing with parts Of the
program are still on the Senate cal
endar, Senator Byrnes, Democrat, Of
South Carolina indicated yesterday he
has no plans at this time for re-
opening tine question at that end of
the Capitol
The omnibus bill the Senate passed
special House committee to which it
was recommitted. and some supporters
contend the result would be different
on another vote in the House.
Representative OConnor, Demo-
crat, of New York, who led the fight
for recommittal of the bill several
weeks ago was quoted in Boston yes
terday by the Associated Press to the
effect that bringing up the reorgani-
cation measure again would be "as diff
ficult as reviving a dead fish"
Work Relief Cut Sought.
Members of the strong Senate OPP
position bloc, who came within few
votes of defeating or materially chang
ing the bill before it passed, also
would renew the fight If the subject
should be brought up again in that
branch
In connection with the wage-hour
bill, there are reports Of move being
considered by some Senate opponents
to try to send that measure to COM
mittee, instead of to conference, If 1t
comes back from the House in its
present rewritten form. Some vet
eran members Of the Senate believe
that if this move developed the SEN
ate would face a long wrangle over
the question. Present indications are
the wage-hour issue will not come to .
head in the House until May %, the
date on which the recently signed
discharge petition brings it up.
Senate efforts to reduce the work
relief bill are expected to center
mainly around the pump printing
lending features rather than the re-
lief portion. AS in former years, a
move probably will be made to turn
administration of relief back to the
States. with the Federal Government
continuing to aid in meeting the
problem, but the effort has little
chance to succeed against the large ad-
ministration majority in the Senate.
Presidents Control.
Members of the Appropriations Com
mittee are giving serious consideration
to amendments placing broader control
in the hands of the President to allo-
cate funds for different phases of
spending activity. The House bill
already requires presidential approval
of projects.
On the other hand, Senator Byrd,
Democrat of Virginia, a leader Of the
opposition bloc, contends appropria-
tons should be made directly by Con-
gress to the agencies.
Efforts that failed in the House
probably will be renewed in the Senate
to eliminate or change the new alter
native plan for allotting P. w. A. pro-
jects to cities that are not in position
to apply for further loans on a bond
issue basis, by having the Federal
agency meet the full cost, with the
municipalities agreeing to pay back IS
per cent with interest in annual in
stallments for IS years. The bill also
continues the As per cent grant and
SIS per cent loan ratio for cities obtain
ing projects by issuing bonds for the
loan portion.
Senator Adams is hopeful of pass
ing the bill and getting it to conference