Evening star., 1939-01-28
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

The Senate today adopted far
reaching amendment to the w. P.
A. appropriation bill under which
no Government employe in any
agency could be asked to contribute
to political campaign.
The amendment was proposed by
Majority Leader Barkley and added
to the Hatch amendments already
in the bill to keep politics out Of
relief.
Senator Barkley said his amend
ment also would apply to State en-
ployes throughout the country, who
are not employed by the Govern
ment, but are paid, in whole or in
part, from Federal funds.
Adoption of the amendment came
as the Senate pushed ahead with
the S725000000 measure following
the major defeat suffered by tho
administration yesterday when the
move to restore President Roose-
velt's original estimate of s875 ,OOO,-
700 was voted down. At to 46.
Amendments involving the prevail
ing wage principle and the question
OF whether civil service should be eX-
tended to employees in Government
departments whose salaries are paid
from relief ALLEGATIONS are issues
scheduled for discussion this after
noon.
Because of Senate changes in the
DILL, 1t Will go back to the House
When finally passed Unless the
House accepts in entirety the Senate
changes. the measure will go to con-
terence for composing of differences.
When the coalition of 26 Demo-
Gratis, 20 Republicans and Farmer
Laborlte united to stand by the Ap-
preparations Committee on the size
OF the appropriation, it was the Sec
ond setback New Deal leaders had
sustained since the present Congress
met lass than month ago. The
hrst occasion was when the House
sustained its Appropriations Com
mittee in reducing the amount to
s725 ,0O0,O 900 two weeks ago.
Barkley Sees Another Demand.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
admitted last night that yesterdays
vote settled the amount of w. P. A.
money for the time being, but he
predicted the President would have
to come back to Congress some time
in March for another deficiency
| fund to finish the last three months
of the fiscal year.
| Although the Senate bill contains
an invitation to the President to
| ask for more later if he deems it
necessary, by advising Congress that
an emergency exists, Senator Ad-
ans, Democrat, of Colorado said
he believes the amount about to be
appropriated will be adequate until
June 30.
| 1t was Senator Adams who. with
| Senator Byrnes, Democrat. of South
Carolina led the winning bloc in one
of the hardest-fought Senate bat
ties since the New Deal began. 1t
was victory for those on the
Democratic side of the aisle who
believe Congress should begin to ia
per down Government spending.
The Senate bill provides that until
April not more than per cent OF
the relief recipients may be dropped
from the rolls. 1t also requires Works
Progress Administrator Harrington
to determine by investigation whether
any persons no longer in need are
on the rolls.
Garner Behind Scenes.
Opponents of the 1915 900 900 fund
said Vice President Garner had
worked with them behind the scenes.
He was in cabinet meeting during
the roll call yesterday and friends
said afterward he was delighted at
the vote, but maintained a poker
face"
Did you appreciate the help the
Vice President gave you?" Senator
Adams was asked by reporters.
Yes" he grinned, Il did"
Although the Senate late yester-
day approved without discussion the
committee amendment that would
prevent the extension of civil service
to any Government workers if their
salaries come from relief appropri-
ations, this question is expected to
be reopened today. Several Sena-
tors were reported last night to be
considering moves to modify it.
The House bill would have applied
the ban to administrative personnel
in w. P. A. headquarters, but left
eligible for civil service status en-
ployes in other Government agen-
cies whose pay happens to come out
of allocations from relief appropri-
ations.