The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-05-25
LEADERS FIGH HIT
SENATE D RIVE
TO LIMIT PWA.
Earmarking Campaign
Gathers Strength
By ARTHUR HACHTEN

in the Senate battled desperately
today against a revolt demanding
all Public Works Administration
"pump-priming" projects be desig-
mated in the $3.50, 10000 relief
recovery bill.
While that fight was raging, it
was revealed by Senators THAI
President Roosevelt Is insisting
that if money is appropriated for
parity payments to farmers, it
must be raised by taxation.
Disclosure by Majority Leader
Barley Of Kentucky that he Is
now out to kill the Appropria-
lions Committee amendment bar
ring use Of PWA funds for con-
struction Of electric power plants
in competition with Stateregulated
private companies, was believed to
have marked that proposal for
death.
PWA CURB TO FORE
But amendments by Senator
Copeland CD of New York, and
Bailey CD of North Carolina, to
specify nearly every project that
can be constructed with PWA
funds were uppermost in Sena-
tors minds.
Accepted as q bold move to take
power over designation of con-
Struction projects from PWA Ad-
mtnistrator Tckes and President
Roosevelt, Senators admitted they
faced difficulty in voting mo" on
projects listed for their respective
States.
The Copeland amendment would
allot $325. 100000 of, the PWA
funds to the War Department
Corps Of Engineers for conStruc-
ton Of hundreds Of river, harbor
and flood control projects cover
ing every State and the District Of
Columbia. projects that have been
approved by Army engineers.
Bailey'S amendment would slip
ulate that remaining funds shall
be used for construction of PWA
non Federal projects already ap-
proved by that agency. The amend
ment would exempt approved ap-
plicationS for construction Of Gov
eminent power plants.
DISCRETION IS SOUGHT
Ickes now has about $500, OO0,-
900 in approved applications upon
which work can be started within
the next few months, it was
pointed out.
However, Senators ia charge Of
the bill contended the President
and Ickes should have discretion
airy authority as to each project
and should be free to. approve
new projects as they are pro-
posed.
On the Appropriations Commit
tee amendment to provide $212.-
OOO, 900 for distribution to wheat,
corn and cotton farmers toward
parity prices, a stampede was on
to include rice, tobacco and other
crops and to increase the fund to
$500. OOO,O 900.
One Administration leader con-
tended there was a gentlemen'S
agreement that if money is ap-
propriated for parity payments,
new taxes should be raised. Sug-
geStionS were that the tax matter
go over to the next session of Con-
gress, when something like the in
validated processing tax would be
revived.
POWER BAN TO LOSE
Supporters Of government owner
ship of electric power plants con-
fidently predicted that Berkley's
modified attitude toward the Ap-
preparations Committee amend
ment means the amendment will
be tossed out of the bill.
The Kentuckian said he hoped
the amendment would be de-
feated, because of complications
it raises" Only in event the
amendment is adopted will he
! offer an amendment to Stipulate
that Government construction
cannot be started until the
municipalities m axe fair-price
purchase offers to owners Of pr.
vate companies.
There are Is or 20 munich
palitieS that have decided to
build power plants and applied
for PWA loans" Barley said.
IF my a endm emit were
adopted, 1t might complicate
that situation"
2 Killed in Riot