Evening star., 1939-06-30
MonetaryMeasureWi|I Be Ta|ked
Death> G. O.P. Foes Announce;
House Cuts Relief Bill 53 Million
Theoter Projects
Eliminated by
Conferees' Report
By the Associated Press.


Racing against the clock, the
House approved a compromise ap-
preparation bill today which would
make $l,755 100000 available for re-
lief during the year starting tomor-
row and make numerous changes in
the Works Progress Administration
Speaker Bankhead announced the
vote was 32l to %.
Unless the Senate completes action
on the measure in time for President
Roosevelt to sign it before midnight
the end of the current fiscal year
stop-gap legislation would be neces-
sary to prevent cessation of relief
activities
The compromise, agreed on by a
Senate-House Conference Committee
late last night, would abolish the
w. P. AS Federal theater projects,
cut $53,000,00 off the total recon-
mended by the Senate, but increase
the House figure by s20,000,000
The House conferees had recon-
mended approval of Senate amend
merts eliminating a number of re-
strictive provisions written in by the
House, including that striking out
the proposal for a three man board
to administer the W. P. A. instead
OF the present single administrator.
The House group accepted like
wise the Senate's amendment turn
ing back to the w. P A. the Sl25,-
000,0 900 which the House had trans
ferred to the Public Works Admin
istration and the amendment re-
quiring local communities to con-
tribute 25 per cent of the cost of all
projects started after next jan
uary !.
The compromise version of the big
bill was worked out by the commit
tee last night, but its decisions were
not made public until today.
The measure must become law by
midnight if there is to be no inter-
ruption in the Governments flow of
relief funds. Tomorrow begins the
1910 fiscal year, for which new funds
must be made available
House conferees won a victory on
the Federal theater projects. They
obtained restoration of the amend
ment eliminating the theater prof.
ectS. storm center of controversy
during Investigations of the w. P. A.
The House group granted conces-
jsions, however. which would permit
retention of the projects admins
tratlve employees on the rolls for 80
days and of actors, actresses and
technicians who are certified as in
need Of relief for 80 days.
. The curtain goes down finally at
midnight tonight on all theater
projects" said Representative Wood
rum, Democrat. of Virginia.
The compromise would place other
Fedora! arts projectS-writers artists
and historical record surveys-on a
local sponsorship basis. They now
are financed wholly by the Federal
Government.
The Senate had proposed to con-
tinue the theater and arts programs
on a curtailed basis. recommending
ALLEGATION of three-fourths of l per
cent of all relief funds to them.
This would amount to about Sll .000.-
900, in comparison with approxi-
mately 100000 provided for the
closing fiscal year.
Construction Limit.
There was a compromise of S52 900
as the limit w. P. A. may expend
on any non-Federal construction
project. \The House originally had
recommended a $4,000 limit. which
the Senate boosted to $4,000.
With the compromise providing
S20,000000 more than the House bill.
the entire increase would go to the
Farm Security Administration, Civ
ing it total of $143000,000. Even
so, the increase represented 50-50
compromise between House and
Senate on the F. S. A., the Senate
having voted a $4,000 900 boost.
Senate conferees backed down on
the amendment increasing the Ma
tional Youth Administrations ap-
preparation from $l00,000,000 ap-
proved by the House to $l23,0O0 900
requested by President Roosevelt.
Among House provisions retained
was the proposed rotation system
under which employees on the relief
rolls for 18 months would be dropped
and be ineligible for unemployment
for a stated period.
The conferees accepted the House
amendment, but reduced the So
called "payless vacation" period
from 60 to 30 days and eliminated a
House provision which would have
exempted heads of families over As
years old.
The compromise recommendations
discarded Senate amendment pro-
viding $10,OOO,OOO for farm tenant
loans and a House approved for
mula under which works projects
would be apportioned on an unem-
ployment basis.
A House provision requiring the
w. P. A. to establish monthly wage
scales and a 130-hour work month
for persons on relief was restored to
the bill with some notifications.
One of these would provide that
after August 81 the monthly earning
schedule for workers would not be
varied between geographical areas
Ito any greater extent than may be
justified in cost of living"