Evening star., 1939-01-13


in charge of administration of
program. Under fire from be-
ginning. system received its most
bitter criticism. this ,ointer yhen
Senate Campaign Expenditures
Committee reported misuse of
funds for political purposes.
Meanwhile. Hopkins has been
appointed to cabinet.
By the Associated Press.
Harry L. Hopkins, contending he
had done the best job I could to
keep politics out of relief, told the
Senate Commerce Committee to-
day he thought Congress ought to
prohibit political activity on the
part of Federal employees.
The former w. P. A. administra-
tor, testlfylng at hearing on his
nomination to be Secretary of Com
merce, said:
Il thought the Hatch amendment
should have passed, and I think
something of that kind should be
passed"
The Hatch amendment, defeated
in the Senate by a close vote last
year, would have prohibited per.
sons receiving Federal compensa-
ton from engaging in political ac-
tivity.
The committee decided, after a
round of questions, to vote next
Wednesday at 1890 m. on whether
to recommend confirmation of Mr..
Hopkins for his new job.
Members predicted privately that
the committee would approve the
nomination by large majority.
Mr.. Hopkins Endorsed the Hatch
amendment after lengthy question:
ing by Senator johnson, Democrat,
OF California, about charges of w.
P. A. political activity in Pennsyl-
vania.
Blames Local Politicians"
| Conceding that in some cases w.
P. A, employees had been coerced in
voting. Mr.. Hopkins declared local
politicians were responsible.
/ When Senator johnson told him
that you as responsible head Of
the w. P. A. should have known"
about conditions in Pennsylvania
and other States during last falls
campaign, Mr.. Hopkins replied:
That's matter of opinion. I
did the best job could. and I per-
sonally have no feeling of q sense
of guilt.
TN your own State of California
I've been under pressure to fire Ger.
tain people"
"You mean the persons whose
elections you advocated did not like
you?" asked Senator johnson.
Il mean local politicians" Mr..
Hopkins replied. Il don't think any
one has resisted politics in relief
more than I have"
Senator johnson protested that
Mr.. Hopkins was avoiding his ques-
tions about Pennsylvania and Ken.
lucky.
AS to the national situation he
asked:
How many warnings to w. P. A.
employees did you issue against polit.
ical activity?"
o"yS AVA"Ay w 1SSuCUs
About six or eight general warn.
ings," Mr. Hopkins answered quick
ly, and then added, "and a great
many other specific ones all over the
United States"
Senator johnson asked Mr.. Hop
kins how many persons had been
discharged for political activity
Il can't give you the exact num-
ber, but it was between 100 and 200
persons" Hopkins said.
Senator Guffcy, Democrat. of
PENNSYLVANIA entered the committee
room after the hearing had started,
and Senator johnson chose that mo-
ment to ask if Mr.. Hopkins was
familiar with the situation in Penn
sylvania?"
The witness nodded aff1rmatively,
Senator Guffey gave alert attention.
when did you become familiar
with it?" Senator johnson asked.
Il can't say exactly" Mr.. Hop
kins replied. 'In August or Sep
tember of last year. We discharged
six or eight persons"
Senator johnson asked the wit
ness if he agreed with a report in
which the Shepard Campaign Ex-
penditures Committee criticized w.
P. A. activity in Pennsylvania elec-
tions.
I'VE were embarrassed there by
local politicians trying to get people
to contribute" was the reply. Most
of them were political people not
working for the w. P. A. at ALL"
Mr.. Hopkins said w. P. A. knew