Evening star., 1939-03-15
6. 0. P. Leader
Charges W.P.A.
PressureCuts
Subcommittee Hears
Harrington as Relief
Plea Brings Row
BACKGROUND

SO DsS'SSS NVW
BACKGROUND
Unanticipated relief needs
brought exhaustion last month of
funds proutded for present fiscal
year. President Roosevelt asked
supplemental appropriation of
$S75,O00, 900, but economy bloc
forced cut In this sum to s725,-
100000. Asserting that need still
ertsts for additional s150,OOO, 900,
Mr.. Roosevelt yesterday asked
another appropriation.
BY the Associated Press.
The ranking Republican on the
House Appropriations Committee
predicted today that any cuts in
w. P. A. rolls would be made on
those in bad straits "for the purpose
OF creating pressure on Congress"
Just before subcommittee began
questioning Col. F. C. Harrington,
w. P. A. chief, Representative Taber,
Republican of New York, told report.
ers there was no need of asking
Col. Harrington where cuts would
be made.
I'VE know already" Representa-
tive Taber said. "The cuts will be
made entirely on the most deserving
people, who are in the most trouble,
for the purpose of creating pressure
on Congress"
They have done such things as
let out widows in Ohio and they
have done that in New York and
other places instead of letting out
the political hacks"
Col. Harrington, entering the COM
mlttee room, told newsmen there
was no basis for reports heard by
some Congressman that w. P. A.
had singled out certain areas for
heavier reduction for pressure pur.
poses.
Row Follows Request.
Mr.. Taber said Republicans wanted
to inquire why w. P. A. was planning
to spend hundreds of thousands of
dollars on an exhibit at the New
York Worlds Fair and why a New
York w. P. A. hit, THE Cradle Will
Rock" had closed up a year ago
after 80 days of sellout performances
so the cast could go back on w. P. A.
The subcommittee, giving prompt
response to President Roosevelt's
newest statement that sl5O,OOO 900
more was needed for w. P. A., called
Col. Harrington to explain in detail
the cause of the need.
Along with this prompt pre-.
hmlnary action, within "a hours
after Mr.. Roosevelt sent a special
message to Congress, came a
tumultuous row which shattered
Democratic harmony in the House.
Administration leaders predicted
the President would get his $780,.
OO0, 900, but from some House Demo-
Gratis came expressions of resentment
over the new demand.
1t was embarrassing, they said. to
be requested to reverse so soon the
action by which Congress Topped
$l50,000,000 from the 1915 900 900
which Mr. Roosevelt originally asked
to operate the w. P. A. until June 30.
Object to Woodrum Shift.
They also objected to the fact
supervision of the emergency bill
was taken from Representative
Woodrum, Democrat, of Virginia,
leader of an economy bloc, and
turned over to Chairman Taylor of
the full Appropriations Committee.
Representative Cox, Democrat, of
Georgia, who has opposed some ad-
mlnistration measures, said:
Members are shocked at the
treatment of Mr.. Woodrum, who is
one of the ablest and most inf1uen-
tial members of the House. They
are so resentful that the $3.50 ,OOO.-
600 would be defeated overwhelm-
1ngly If it were voted on today"
whether the protests over depos-
ing Representative Woodrum would
swing any votes against the $780,
100000 remained to be seen.
But 1t was an open question also
whether Mr.. Roosevelt's latest an
peal for more money had under
mined any of the opposition to his
original request for $875 ZOO, 900. A
survey OF a score of Democrats who
had voted against it disclosed that
none has changed his position.
Most Republicans were silent on
the issue, although Senator McNary,
the minority leader, said that if
the money was actually needed for
relief and not for politics." it would
be authorized.
100000 Discharges Seen.
The President told Congress in
suft1ciency of present funds would
campel the w. P. A. to discharge
about 100000 workers in the imme-
diate future and that this would
affect 100000 persons.
The fight over extra funds, involv-
ing the broad subject of Federal
spending. probably will be one of
the hottest of the session.
From both Republicans and DEM
ocrats considerable support developed
for a proposal by Representative Cox
to broaden the committees powers
so it could make a complete checkup
on w. P. A. and determine whether
1t was fish or fowl, sane or insane,
good or bad"
Senator Adams, Democrat, OF
Colorado, floor manager for emer-
gency relief bills, told reporters he
(see RELIEF, Page A-l0J