Evening star., 1939-04-09
Senate Due 10 Vote
Tomorrow on Cut
In ". P. A. Fund
100000. 900 Compromise
Approval Forecast
By Leaders
By ]. A. O'LEARY.


The four day battle by bloc of
New Dealers and independent lib
erals to restore the $50,000,000 cut
In the w. P. A. fund for the next
three months appeared doomed to
failure last night, with the Senate
due to vote on the issue at 2:30
pm. tomorrow.
Those in charge of the bill were
confident safe majority would be
recorded to sustain the 100000 900
compromise figure agreed on be-
tween regular administration lead
ers and the economy bloc.
AS the Senate dragged through
another day of speech making yes
terday. the high light of the pro-
p ceedings was the placing in the
record of statement by David
LASER, national president of the
Workers Alliance of America, in
which he told of having received
assurances that President Roosevelt
is still for the higher amount as
strongly as ever.
Although the President is due back
In Washington tomorrow, observers
at the Capitol doubted he would
make any last minute move in con-
~nection with the situation, in view
of the extent to which his own party
forces in the Senate are divided
over the issue.
Pepper to See President.
Senator Pepper. Democrat. of
Florida, ardent New Deal sponsor
of the S50,OO0,000 amendment, said
last night he had no plans to see
the President on his return tomor-
row, but reiterated his belief the
Chief Executive wants the full
amount asked for in the estimates.
1t was learned yesterday that the
regular administration leaders. both
in the Appropriations Committee
and on the floor. agreed to 60 along
with the conservatives on both sides
of the aisle in support of Sl00000.-
600 for the practical reason they
became convinced that was as much
as they could hope to get ultimately
in conference with the House, even
If the Senate voted for higher
fgurue.
Senator Murray, Democrat. of
Montana called the Senate's atten-
ton to the LASER statement, which
read as follows:
president Roosevelt this morning
sent the following message to David
LASER. national president of the
Workers Alliance of America: Please
tell Mr. David LASER that the Presi-
dent has received his telegram in
Georgia and feels as strongly as ever
that the full amount should be ap-
proprlated and that the RESPONSE
. bility for any cut whatsoever must
rest on the Congress. Issued for the
President by his secretary.''
Defeat Predicted
This message, the statement said,
was in response to telegram Mr..
LASER had sent to Warm Springs.
appealing to the President to use
his great voice and influence in
final effort to prevent the S50000,-
600 reduction in the fund
Later in the day supporters of the
$l00,000,00 compromise bill said prl-
vately they knew of no developments
that would change their earlier pre-
diction the Pepper amendment
would be defeated.
Senator Adams, Democrat, of Col
orado, in charge of the bill, insisted
last night the slOO,OOO,0Oo figure
would enable w. P A. not only to
avoid dismissals. but to increase the
rolls.
If the Senate approves that figure
tomorrow, the bill would go to the
President for signature, since the
House originated that amount.
The House Appropria ations SUBJ
committee assigned to investigate
the w. P. A. preparatory to shaping
work relief program for the year
starting July is scheduled to start
that inquiry at II am. Tuesday,
with Col. F. G. Harrington. admin
istrator. present.
Byrnes Plans Meeting.
Senator Byrnes. Democrat, of
South Carolina. chairman of the
special Senate Unemployment Com
mittee. announced he plans a meet
ing before the end of the week to
consider action on his bill for
permanent unemployment plan. 1t
would include merger of the w. P.
A., the P. w. A.. the c. C. c. and
N. Y. A. for coordination of pub
lie works.
The primary purpose of the bill,
however, is to liberalize unemploy-
ment insurance and other phases
of the social security program as
the first line of defense against
lay-offs in time of business reces-
sion. with public works as a sup
Elementary weapon.
Senator Lundeen. Farmer-Labor-
ite. of Minnesota held the floor dur
ing most of yesterdays debate, urg-
ing adoption of the Pepper $50
100000 amendment. The agreement
to vote at 2::30 pm. tomorrow was
reached unanimously late in the
day. The remaining time tomorrow
will be divided equally between op-
pOsinp sides