Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-12
S1OO,000,000 W.P.A.
Bill Passes Senate,
Goes 10 President
BorkIey.yigorously
Defends Committee
In Accepting Cut
BY ], A. OIEARY.

BY j. A. OLEAhI.
The 100000 900 bill to keep w. P
A. going until June 80 awaits only
the Presidents signature today
having passed the Senate last night
after a four-day battle to raise it to
the White House estimate of $780,
100000 had failed, 40 to %.
The work relief issue soon will be
back on the congressional doorstep
again however, Majority Leader
Barley having informed the Senate
before it voted that within few
days the President will transmit a
request for 81 500 900, 900 for the new
year beginning July l.
Before the new bill is taken up, a
House Appropriations Subcommittee
will push ahead with comprehen-
sive investigation of the work relief
program to guide Congress in decid-
Ing what should be done for the COM
ing year.
Defeat of the move of Senator
Pepper, Democrat, of Florida, and a
group of other unyielding New
Dealers to restore the s50,000,0 0C
came after Majority Leader Bark
lev, in one of the most vigorous
speeches since he became admins
~tration floor leader, defended the
action of the Senate committee in
accepting the lower House figure.
Takes Up Challenge.
Taking up the challenge that he
apparently saw in the motion to re-
verse the committees decision, Sen
ator Barley asserted:
II am going to assume to speak
as majority leader, and if 1 haven't
the courage to do so, then the Demo-
cratic conference ought to meet the
day after tomorrow and select some
body who has the courage"
The resulting roll call was a vic
tory for the Kentuckian. Thirty-two
Democrats, supported by Is Repub-
licans and l Farmer-Laborlte, voted
to sustain the committee, while "a
Democrats, l Republican and 3 of
other party designations supported
the Pepper motion.
With this main issue out of the
way, the Senate quickly shouted
down two other amendments in or
der to avoid sending the measure to
conference.
One was the proposal of Senator
schwellenbach Democrat, of WASH
ington to make sure that no project
worker would be dropped from w.
p. A. if unable to find private en-
ployment.
One by Vandenberg.
The other was the substitute of
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, Of
Michigan to avoid new appro-
priation at this time by allowing w
p. A. to use up its existing fund by
June 7, by which time Congress
could study the whole relief setup
and decide what should be done for
the remainder of June.
Senator Barley gave figures to
show Congress has dealt literally
with relief in this fiscal year. The
passage of this bill. he said, brings
the total for the current fiscal year
up to 81. 1853, O0O 900 as compared with
81 1865 100000 in 1888, $1,817 900, 00C
in 1887 and s1,357 100000 in 1895.
after ALL" he observed, $50, 00O,-
900 is not such stupendous sum
as to cause all the fuss and feathers
raised in another branch of Con-
gress and in the Senate"
The majority leader said he was
authorized by the President to say
that while he wanted the $50 900 900
and still regards it necessary, he
would sign the bill containing
100000, 900.
Barley Explains Decision.
Senator Barley said he decided
to support the $1,000 100000 after it
became apparent the bill might be
cut even lower than that in COM
mittee, and following definite indi-
cations that, regardless of what the
Senate might do, the House would
not agree to more than that figure
ocilulllS VIC Jill " SOlllS1 CHIC VIVIAN
only mean week or 10 days of
delay. with the Senate ultimately
accepting $1,000, 900, he added. Be-
fore deciding on the course he took
Senator Barley said he consulted
Is or 20 Democrats, all of whom
originally preferred the $l50,0o0,o0C
figure.
As the fourth day of debate drew
to a close it began to look like the
issue would be put off again unit
Thursday. after a late-afternoor
effort to limit debate again hal
failed. The discussion had run it
course, however, and groups on botf
sides finally decided to remain il
session until nearly 7 o'clock ane
pass the measure.