Evening star., 1939-06-14


bulk of relief responsibilities IN
1883. Trying uarious ways of
hondltng problem, it nou cares
jor majority OF needy unemployed
lhrough program of made vork
under W. P. A. During past year,
particularly bitter criticism has
reUolDed around this aqencv NTH
opposition attempting to cut ap-
preparations and reuise admins
trdtipe setup.
BY the Associated Press,
A 1910 relief appropriation. carry.
Ing the full l,477 ,OOO, 900 asked by
president Roosevelt for w. p. A.
out recommending substitution of
a three-man board for the w. p. A.
administrator, went to the House
today from its Appropriations Com.
mittee.
Announcement of this and a
handful Of other recommendations
Tor major changes in the relief
setup signaled the opening of a
major fight over whether Federal
relief would continue to be ad-
mlnlstered along the lines followed
by the Roosevelt administration
since 1888. ''
The committee ak, its report to
the House showed, was directed
chiefly against the National Youth
Administration. The N. Y. A. an
preparation was slashed from the
$l23,OOO,OO0 asked by the President
to $81 ,000, 900.
Totals S1,716,0O0, 900,
The full Farm Security Admin
lstration appropriation of $l23,OOo,-
600 was recommended. Additionally,
the committee provided for ear
marking $125,00O,00O of the w. P.
AS 81, 100000 for heavy con-
struction approved by the P. w. A.
The bill, carrying funds for the
fiscal year beginning July l, totaled
s1,716, 100000.
The w. P. A. appropriation recon-.
mended was $4,000 900 less than
the outlay for the current fiscal year,
which ends June 80. Col. F. c.
Harrington, administrator, told the
committee it would provide employ
ment ranging from $4,000 persons
next January and February to l..
500 900 in June, 1910.
AS consideration of the broad re-
lief problem reached the House
floor, however, members professed
themselves much less interested in
the amount to be appropriated than
in the long-range relief policies and
organization to be decided on.
10 Major Changes.
Never before has Congress taken
q hand SO directly in details of relief
administration. Heretofore, they
have been worked out by the admin
istration. operating with lump-sum
appropriations to be administered at
the direction of the President.
In all, the Appropriations Com
mittee, after lengthy investigation
OF the Works Progress Administra-
ton, recommended 10 major changes
In its rules and organisation.
These were led of by the pro-
posal for a three-man Administra-
tive Board, replacing the single Of
f1ce OF administrator, which Harry
Hopkins, trusted presidential aide,
held until he became Secretary Of
Commerce early this year. Col.
Harrington, regular Army officer, is
the only other man to have held the
position.
Other Proposals.
Other recommendations included.
Elimination of the Federal the
ater, arts, writer's, music and his
torical-records projects.
New bans on political activity of
relief officials.
A requirement that all supervisory
personnel swear loyalty to the Con-
stltutlon and to discharge their en-
ployment faithfully.
ALLEGATION of relief money to
States on the basis Of jobs.
Fixing Of maximum $25 900 con.
struction cost for buildings.
Substitution of a fixed monthly
earning schedule for the current
prevailing wage provisions.
A regular survey of w. P. A. rolls
to direct those who have not tried
to obtain private employment.
Elimination of persons who have
been on the rolls 18 months and
elimination of the current practice
of direct relief.
Further Proposals.
Still other recommendations were:
More stringent requirements COW
ering the financial responsibility of
sponsors OF projects on which the
Federal Government does not nav