The Washington times., 1939-01-21
ECONOMY BLOC
FIGHTS TO KEEP
WPA FUND CUT
Sharp Battle Forecast
On Senate Floor

On Senate Floor
BY ARTHUR HACHTEN
G.N.SO.-With just IA working
days left before an empty purse
will force the Works Progress Ad
ministration to begin shutting of
relief, $725,00o.000. HouSe-ap
proved WPA deficiency appropria
ton reached the Senate Appro
priationS Committee today-Wlth
a tempestuous trail still to travel
to reach final passage.
The Appropriations Committee
wss expected to uphold the deci,
sion of its subcommittee approving
the $725 100000 figure-$150, ,OO0,'
600 less than President Roosevelt
reouested-but bitter floor fight
for the $875 900, 900 fund was GER
tain.
In "Fighting" Mood
Administration Senate leaders,
bolstered by a rising tide OF bl-
partisan sentiment for fultllment
of Mr.. Roosevelts request, were
in a fighting" mood.
AS Senator Adams DO, Colo
RADIO, chairman of the subcommlt-
tee. put it: ,.. ,,,.,,,o.o,
was an honest effort to provide
q bill that would give adequate
relief to everybody and at the
same time eliminate administra-
tive waste and allow the country
to follow the Presidents sugges-
ton and adopt hopeful view
for business recovery.
Battle on Floor
1.-THE $725, 100000 will pass
the full committee by a narrow
vote, and the committee prob
ably will get the whey beat out
Of it on the floor of the Senate,
as the Appropriations Commit
tee usually does when it makes
an honest effort to economic"
Despite Adams gloomy predlc-
ton, snooth-working economy
bloc" of Republicans and old-line
Democrats awaited the onslaught
of Administration forces in conf
dence.
WPA Chief Depressed
Many observers foresaw the pos
Sibility that the row over politics
in WPA might be carried right on
through into the WPA deficiency
bill debate, with the February z
deadline drawing ever omlnouSly
closer.
Col. Francis c. Harrington,
WPA Administrator, was depressed
over the action Of the approprla'
tions subcommittee Warnings
were renewed that hundreds OF
thousands of persons may have
to be dropped from WPA rolls.
Written into the pending bill
were cast-iron prohibitions against
any one on WPA payrolls partici-
pating in political campaigns ana
against their financial contrlbu-
tions to political campaign Golfers.
Discharges Curt0iLed
The subcommittee'S bill di-
rected that not more than 5 per
cent of the 5000, ,00O-odd persons
now on relief may be discharged
before April THAT is, during
the winter months. Under the
$275, 100000 figure, provisions OF
the bill would force reductions be-
tween April and July until
the relief rolls reached 1900, 900
persons.
other features Of the measure
agreed upon by the subcommit-
tee were:
/. Survey by WPA officials of
the millions on relief, to deter
mine how many don't belong
there, and discharge them.
2. Revision of the House amend
ment eliminating wage differen-
tials in excess of IS per cent
an amendment sought by South
ern states.
RemoUe Alien Ban
8. Restatement of present law
giving preference to ex-service
men, citizens and aliens with their
first naturalization papers, as a
substitute for the House amend
ment banning all aliens from the
relief rolls.
4. Approval Of House provision
nullifying President Roosevelt's
order blanketing $4,000 WPA ad.
miniStrative workers under the
Civil Service.
5. Elimination of House provi
sion barring use Of the WPA
money by the Farm Security Ad
ministration to grant loans to CO
operative business firms etsab
lished comparatively by unem
ployed persons.
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