Evening star., 1939-01-15
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Consolidation of all relief agencies
into single. new Department of
Public Works was proposed last night
by the Senate Unemployment Com
mittee in report suggesting drastic
changes in the existing system of
dealing with relief
The committee, whose chairman is
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of South
Carolina, submitted its report as the
Senate prepared to start considera-
ton of the $725 100000 relief appro-
.priation bill. The House passed the
measure Friday after cutting $780,
by President Roosevelt and writing
in restrictions of Works Progress Ad-
ministration policies.
Committee Proposals.
The Byrnes Committees report
proposes:
l. A co-ordinated system Of relief,
based primarily on extended and i'm
'proved unemployment insurance
benefits, on increased aid for the
aged, the blind, and dependent,chil-
dren, and on a consolidated public
work program, handled by Depart
ment of Public Works.
Merged in the Department of
Public Works would be the w. P. A.,
the Public Works Administration,
the Civilian Conservation Corps and
the National Youth Administration.
2. A formula for ALLEGATION to the
States of Federal funds for public
works, based on: (A) The population
of the States and (B) the number of
unemployed In each State.
3. Stringent provisions to prevent
use of relief funds for political pur-
poses, including the Hatch amend
ment, defeated at the last session of
Congress.
4. Payment of benefits under the
existing contributory old-age insur-
ance system shall begin in 1910, in
stead Of 1912 as now provided by law.
Besides Chairman Byrnes, the re-
port was signed by Senators Clark,
Democrat. Of Missouri; Hatch,
Democrat. of New Mexico, and
Frazier, Republican, Of North Da-
kota. Senator Murray, Democrat,
OF Montana, concurred in all ex-
cept the formula for distribution of
relief funds, reserving judgment on
that.
Lodge Plans Minority Report.
Senator Lodge, Republican, of
Massachusetts,, announced he was
preparing a minority report, to
which Senator Davis, Republican,
OF Pennsylvania, the other commit
tee member, had agreed.
Meanwhile, sentiment existed
among some Senators for further
trimming the size of the w. P. A.
appropriations bill, in addition to
throwing still more restrictions
about administration of the fund.
Senator Adams, Democrat, of
Colorado, chairman of the Appro-
-. priations Subcommittee which will
handle the bill, has called meet
Ing of his committee for 1890 am.
tomorrow.
1t is his opinion that the $725,-
100000 carried in the House bill
will be sufficient and he will oppose
restoration Of the s150000,000 cut.
In this opinion, Senator Byrnes, who
also is member of the Appropria-
tions Subcommittee, concurs.
Not Rebuff" to President.
Speaker Bankhead insisted, in an
Interview yesterday, that the House
action was not a rebuff" to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, but merely repre-
sented the ideas of individual men,
bers on the size of the fund needed
for w. P. A.
Senator Byrnes, discussing the re-
port of the Unemployment Com
mittee, said he did not plan to offer
as amendments to the pending re-
lief bill his program for a new
Department of Public Works and
for changes in the Social Security
Act as it relates to unemployment
insurance, old-age insurance and
aid to the aged, the blind and de-
pendent children. He will prepare
a legislative bill or bills covering
these matters for later considera-
ton.
These are matters that will re-
quire considerable debate" the
Senator said, "and in view OF the
,coo pI,Y TEE nopa A6A