Evening star., 1939-03-21
House Unit Talks
OF Compromise
On Relief Request
Even Economy Advocates
See Need; 500, 900, 900
Fund Is Favored
BACKGROUND

wy 10 CC(Vuu ICCOHtVkShuott0's
for $50, 900, 900 to last until June
80.
Spurred by the imminence Of q
slash in w. P. A. rolls, House Ap-
propriations Subcommittee talked
compromise today as 1t rushed ac-
ton on President Roosevelt's $780,
000, 900 relief request.
w. P. A. officials said orders to
cut the rolls would have to 60 out
this week unless Congress votes sufi-
cient money. A majority Of the
subcommittee seemed to think $780,
600 900 would be enough.
Even strong economy advocates on
the subcommittee conceded that w.
P. A. had made out case for more
funds. They contended that II the
agency had been run properly in
the past, it could have scraped by
on the $725 100000 Congress pro-
vided earlier this year.
Mr.. Roosevelt advised Congress a
week ago that If $l50,000, 900 were
not provided, w. P. A. would have
to drop 400 900 persons the first week
in April, 100000 the first week in
May and 100000 early in June.
Alliance opposes Cut.
A handful of Southern Congress-
men, meanwhile, heard spokes-
men for 100 Southern delegates of
the Workers Alliance ask support
for a $50 900 900 supplementary re-
lief appropriation.
They gathered in a House Office
Building committee room while the
Appropriations Subcommittee in the
Capitol was trying to wind up hear
ings and vote on the proposal for
more funds for w. P. A. operations
through June 80.
Representatives of the alliance, a
union of w. P. A. employees, said
$50, ,000,00 was rock bottom
minimum"
David LASER, head of the alliance,
said the delegation had not come
up here to coerce, threaten or intim-
idate any Congressman" and any
one who did so would be repudiated.
Actually, the alliance is urging an
appropriation of $275 900, 900 for the
remainder of the present fiscal year,
contending this larger sum is nee
essary to keep 100000 workers on
the rolls and to effect a needed in
crease in the present $26 monthly
w. P. A. minimum in the Southern
States.
Carrying on its campaign on an
other front. the alliance has pre-
pared ballots to be sent out to its
1000 affiliated locals posing the ques-
tion of whether they would favor a
march on Washington in the event
Congress slashes relief funds.
An alliance attempt to rally sup
port yesterday resulted in a face
slapping incident in a corridor of
the Capitol.
Accompanied by two Georgia dele
gates to the present meeting of the
alliance, Theodore Ozmun, a legis-
lative representative of the organ
ization. called Representative Cox.
Democrat. of Georgia, from the
House chamber to solicit his sup
port.
Cox Criticized.
According to witnesses, MIR. Cox
declared he would make up his own
mind on the matter and added that
the Georgia delegates, one of whom
was colored. would be better of be-
hind plow at home than lobbying
in Washington.
At Mr.. Ozmun's reply, Represent
ative Cox slapped his face Some
quoted the alliance delegate as say
ing the Representatives remark
was unsatisfactory" and well re-
member it at the next election" 4"
others claim the Delegate merely re-
marked that he would report the
Georgian's position to alliance
headquarters.
Later, statement regarding the
incident issued by the alliance
said, I'VE believe this action was
unprovoked; our representatives are
always courteous"
I'VE regret, the alliance state
ment said. that Congressman Cox
did not find 1t possible to discuss the
issues that our people wanted to
raise with him. We feel that the
use OF force and violence cannot
solve any problems here any more
than In Europe"
Representative Bloom. Democrat
Of New York appeared before the
Appropriations Subcommittee yes
terday to complain about the way
w. P. A. had handled its swing
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