Evening star., 1938-05-02
LA AGUARD|A URGES
RECOVERY GROUP
Would Set Up Permanent
Committee-Proposes
Special Session.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Mayor Fiorello La Guardia Of New
York proposed today that Congress
set up permanent recovery COM
mittee' and instruct it to work out
q program for submission to special
session in the fall.
Mr.. La Guardia appeared before a
House Appropriations Subcommittee
in his capacity as president of the
United States Conference OF Mayors
an organization Of the heads Of large
cities.
He said he had Endorsed the Presi-
dents spending-lending program, but
urged it be made sufficiently flexible so
all parts of the country would benefit.
He said he had been asked for
suggestions and had advanced the
idea of permanent recovery COM
mittee composed of senior members
Of the major committees of the House
Then the various bills for perma-
ment recovery would be referred to
that committee" he explained.
Early Action Urged.
"They could stay here this sum-
mer when Congress goes home and
present the one bill, with all phases
of recovery covered in it. in September
or october, at a special session.
We've got to get the best minds
Of the country on this thing and do
it damned quick"
William Green, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, had
indorsed the spending-lending plan
earlier as means of meeting condi-
tions caused by an unemployment
increase he said had totaled 100000
since September.
Mr.. Green appeared at a closed ses-
sion of the committee. When he left
he told reporters he had referred
to the seriousness of the existing
economic system and had recon-
mended that Congress approve the
recommendations of the President.
e While Mr.. Green was indorsing the
Presidents program, the veteran Sen
ator Carter Glass, Democrat. of Vir-
ginia said on the other side Of the
Capitol that he opposed it because
IT am not in favor of making pawn
shop out of the Treasury
And that is what it has become"
said the 80-year-old former Treasury
Secretary.
Green Backs Plans.
Mr.. Green said he had indorsed
both the proposed s1.250,000,0 900 ap-
preparation for relief and projected
billion dollar public works program.
He also told the subcommittee, he
said, of complaints made by the Fed
eration's building construction depart
ment that some local sponsors of
w. P: A. building projects had been
"chiseling" by employing "handymen"
at rates lower than local prevailing
wages.
The labor executive added, however,
that an understanding had been
reached at a conference last week
with Harry L. Hopkins, w. P. A. ad-
ministrator, that sponsors would be
required to pay prevailing rates under
threat of having their Federal grants
withheld.
Senator Glass, chairman of the
Senate Appropriations Committee, said
in an interview that there was little
doubt the $4,500,O0O,000 spending
lending program would be approved.
Lewis Also Called.
Mr.. Green was one Of the last wit
nesses the House subcommittee ar
ranged to hear. Others called today
were John L. Lewis, head of the Com
mittee for Industrial Organization, and
David LASER of the Workers Alliance.
Committee members said they un-
derstood Mr.. Lewis would urge the
$1,250,000 900 work relief appropria-
ton asked by Mr. Roosevelt for 1889
be increased to $4,000 100000.
Representative Woodrum, Democrat,
Of Virginia, member of the subcom-
mittee, said the relief measure prob
ably would be ready for House con-
sideration next week.
A proposal to distribute relief funds
on the basis of unemployment is be-
ing considered by Senator Byrd, Dem
ocrat, of Virginia and other Senators,
who want to "earmark" some of the