Evening star., 1939-01-14
Senate PASSAGE
OF W.P. A. Cut
Is Forecast
May Go Beyond House
In Writing Curbs
Into Measure
BACKGROUND

President Roosevelt asked Con.
greSs last week to propide $685.
100000 to supply relief needs for
remainder of fiscal year. With
relief system under particular
fire since Senate Campaign Com
mtttee reported misuse of funds
for political purposes, and driue
against spending under way, E
House Appropriations Commit
tee cut total by S150,O00,OOO,
and House concurred yesterday.
Funds 1Dere made necessary When
unexpected demands threatened
exhaustion of previous dppropri-
alton by February 1.
By the Associated Press.
Democratic insurgency against the
administrations relief program
spread to the Senate today after the
rebellious House had Topped $780,
600, 900 from the appropriation asked
by President Roosevelt to finance
the Works Progress Administration
for the next five months.
Leaders of the Senate's economy
bloc predicted the $725 900 900 fund
voted by the House would win Sen
ate approval, probably late next
week, despite the Presidents re-
quest for $875 100000.
The House passed the relief bill
Loot y,{nhf 2O7 fn S,,
formal coalition of Republicans and
many Democrats had reduced its
amount and incorporated prohibi-
tions against political activities in
the w. P. A.
This first major legislative action
in the new Congress was inter-
preted widely as evidence that the
election strengthened Republicans,
working with substantial bloc of
Democrats, might curtail other
phases of the Presidents spending
program. Leaders awaited signs Of
the country's reaction, however, be-
for venturing definite predictions.
Restrictions Included.
Mr.. Roosevelt had advocated that
the appropriation be made without
strings and that Congress take fur
ther time in which to work out leg
islation against politics in relief.
Instead, the House wrote these
provisions into the measure:
That none of the money should be
used to pay w. p. A. oficials and
administrative employees under the
civil service-this to forestall presi-
dental order blanketing thousands
of them into the civil service Feb
ruary /.
At the same time, however, the
House adopted an amendment by
Representative Woodrum, Democrat,
of Virginia that would lift the ban
on w. P. A. payment Of civil service
employees in old-line agencies. Mr..
Woodrum explained that the civil
service prescription written into the
bill by the Appropriation Subcom-
mittee was designed solely to apply
to the staff of the w. P. A. and that
it was not desired that 1t should
affect such agencies as the Treasury
and the General Accounting Office.
where relief funds are paying part
of the personnel.
That for the same or comparable
work in different States, the w. p.
A. could not vary relief wages more
than Is per cent.
That none of the money could
be used to pay salaries or benefits
to any official or beneficiary who
tried to influence the vote of a w.
P. A. worker. This amounted to
statement of policy. since no elec-
tions are scheduled in the five
month period.
That no relief funds be paid to
aliens.
That the w. p. A. reverse re-
cent order and continue on work
relief men and women over IS. all
of whom the w. P. A. had classified
as unemployable and ordered turned
over to local relief agencies. This
order was to be effective January 81.
That the Farm Security Admins
tration be prevented from using any
of the money to establish hosiery
mills on Federal homesteads.
Hearings Begin Monday.
Chairman Adams announced q
Senate Appropriation Subcommit-
tee would begin hearings on the bill
Monday morning. He predicted that
both his committee and the full
Appropriations Committee would
approve the House figure, at the
most, and said some effort might
be made to reduce it.
There were some indications Sen
ators would go even farther than
House members in writing restric-
tions on w. p. A. policies.
Chairman Byrnes and his Unem-
ployment Committee have worked
out program for distributing w.
P. A. funds under rules laid down
by Congress instead of authority
delegated, as for the last six years,
to the administration.
Senator Byrnes was expected to
announce details Of the proposal
late today. Some persons under
stood that he had in mind, possibly
as long-range objective, ultimate
replacement Of the present relief
system by new one based on the
idea of tying together the United
States Employment Service and the
unemployment compensation work
of the Social Security Board.
Senator Byrnes is q member Of
| (See w. p. A., Page A-s.)