Evening star., 1939-06-16

Federal Government took oDer
responsibility of caring for needy
unemployed in 1888. After trying
several methods, present one of
made work has been in effect
longest. Criticism to program has
increased in recent months ,Dith
economy bloc seeking to cut costs
and others attempting to reuise
administrative policies.
BY the Associated Press
The House Appropriation sub
committee in charge of the S1,7l6,-
100000 relief bill voted today to
modify some of its proposed changes
/. in the w. P. A. program in an effort
to head off an impending floor fight.
The subcommittee approved, in
addition to some clarifying amend
ments, four changes in some of the
provisions which have aroused the
most opposition.
Specifically, they proposed t.,
change the 5000 limitation on w.
P. A. building construction projects
so the agency could spend up to
$50,000 on Federal buildings and
$4,000 of Federal funds on non
Federal projects. Sponsors con-
tributions would be in addition to
the latter amount.
Other Amendments.
The subcommittee also approved
amendments to restore to the bill
a provision permitting ALLEGATION of
relief funds to regular Federal
agencies up to $4,000, 900; to permit
expenditure of up to 81 per month
per worker for non-labor costs and
to require that at least Is per cent
of the labor on Public Works Ad.
mlnistration projects be taken from
relief rolls. There is no require
ment for relief labor on the P. w. A.
now.
Revision Is Forecast.
While the subcommittee was TAX
ing the unusual procedure of voting
Tor changes in bill reported to the
House only two days ago, President
Roosevelt told press conference the
measure would be considerably re-
vlsed before it reached the White
House.
Asked whether he would sign the
Dill II 1t came to him with the re-
strlctlons proposed on relief spend
Ing, the President said that was a
very lily question and the best
answer to it was that the bill would
not reach him as written.
House leaders apparently failed to
sway the subcommittee from its
recommendation that three-mem-
Der board be substituted for the
present single administrator of the
w. P. A. and that the proposed
limitation of $50O,0O0 on P. w. A.
projects be eliminated.
Immediately after reaching the
agreement the subcommittee took
It's proposed concessions to the
House floor, where series of fights
was IN prospect as result of ef-
1orts by various groups to increase
the appropriations for number of
relief activities.
The controversy complicated plans
OF the House leadership to whip the
measure through before nightfall.
Behind the scenes, some of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's legislative lieu
tenants have been urging abandon
ment or defeat of the committee
proposal to substitute three-mem-
Der board for the present w. P. A,
administrator and the $4,000 cost
limitation.
Many Projects Seen Doomed
Col. F. G. Harrington, w. P. A.
chief, told reporters late yesterday
the cost limitation would wash out
many of our best projects"
He criticized the proposed ad-
ministrative change as a mistake
and declared the proposal to transfer
SIPS, 100000 of w. P. A. funds to
The Public Works Administration
would result in a decrease of 10000
relief workers in the next fiscal
year.
Col. Harrington said he did not
agree with the committee recon-
mendation to abandon w. P. A.
theater projects.
They employed great number
OF persons in the only art to which
they are adapted" he said, land to
discard the projects will throw a
great many out of work. was
prepared to correct a number of
mistakes that have been made and