Evening star., 1939-01-02
Relief, Defense
Facing Fight
|nCongress
Presidents Power
Expected to Get
Speedy Test
By the Associated Press

6y Inc Associated PreSS
Immediate clashes over relief and
defense policies were in prospect
today as members of Congress began
assembling for a crucial session,
which will put President Roosevelt S
leadership to new tests.
Vice President Garner and Speaker
Bankhead will call the session to
order at noon tomorrow. The Presi-
dent will deliver his annual message
Wednesday, and the battle will be On.
Even before the formal opening
however, members of the strength
ened Republican minority were de-
manding reorganization of w. P.
A. activities and were urging caution
In developing an armament pro-
gram.
Democrats Confident.
Democratic leaders, on the other
hand, expressed confidence their re-
duced majority would carry out the
administrations wishes on these and
other major issues.
Representative Rayburn, Demo-
crat, of Texas, unopposed for re-
election as Democratic floor leader,
commented:
Il think our party is going to work
together this session and be very
harmonious"
Representative Rayburn and
other veteran Democrats were greet
Ing new party members in advance
OF the House Democratic caucus this
afternoon
Offices and Capitol corridors were
filled with legislators renewing ac-
quaintances, discussing the Novem-
Der elections, and speculating on
the 1910 presidential campaign.
republican House members, whose
total of 1863 is nearly double their
number in the 1888 session, will
meet tonight to choose a minority
leader. Representative Martin of
Massachusetts. far in the lead for
the position, said last night in a
radio speech hailing the Republican
gains:
Rubber Stamp Days Over"
"The rubber stamp days are over.
Gone are the days of court-packing,
breakdown and purge. The Amer
lean people once more are the
masters of their own Government
and are therefore free"
Vice President Garner, Speaker
Bankhesd, Senator Barkley, Demo-
crat. of Kentucky, and Representa-
tive RaybUrn were called to the
White House this morning for
final pre-session conference with the
President, who is completing his
congressional message. Unconfirmed
reports indicated the address would
contain a strong arraignment of
totalitarian governments and would
point to American insistence on the
principles of democracy.
Congressional authorities pre-
dicted White House conferences with
Senate and House chieftains would
become weekly affairs, as they were
last year.
Mr.. Roosevelt also arranged a
conference this afternoon with
Harry L. Hopkins, Secretary of Com
nerce and former w. P. A. admin
istrator; Col. F. c. Harrington, new
w. P. A. Chief, and Daniel w. Bell
acting budget director
This was expected to deal with
relief needs.
The Presidents budget message
Is scheduled tentatively for delivery
Thursday afternoon.
Before todayS meeting Senator
Barkley, who was reelected Demo-
cratic leader of the Senate Saturday,
disclosed that an appropriation TO
operate w. P. A. until July l would
be the first business of the new
Congress.
He predicted the administration
would ask for $500,000,000 to $780,
100000, inasmuch as w. P. A. funds
Will run out early in February.
Relief Fight Likely.
Debate on this emergency appro-
priation was expected to touch off a
general discussion of relief admin
istration, especially since a Senate
committee report on complaints of
politics in relief" will be made
public shortly.
Senator Bailey. Democrat, of
North Carolina, frequent New Deal
critic, told reporters he was prepar-
ing a bill to revamp the w. P. A.,
but would withhold it until he saw
what the administration would pro-
pose.
Representative Woodrum, Demo-
crat, of Virginia, a high-ranking
member of the House Appropria-
tions Committee, also declared a
drastic and thorough-going revi-