Evening star., 1939-01-14

OOuOUeuly as lar as TelleI operations
are concerned, the looping off of
100000 from an $875, 100000 ap-
preparation cannot impair the relief
machinery, and if it turns out that
more money Is needed later, and
business recovery has not material
ized, Congress can always decide to
supply the deficiency.
Broadly speaking, however, the
fact that the House of Representa-
tives Is pairing down expenses is a
healthy sign. 1t is apparent that
members of the House feel that
relief" was a central issue of the
last campaign, and that the voters
last November were impressed with
the charges that relief had grown
so cumbersome as to permit various
evils to creep in.
The examination of Harry Hop
kins, nominated for Secretary of
Commerce, shows that on the Senate
side relief Is also of major concern,
and that when amendments are
drafted to forbid political activity
they will be voted overwhelmingly
Mr.. Hopkins himself said he be-
lieved the Senate should have passed
the Hatch amendment at the last
session. 1t will be recalled that this
proposal would have forbidden relief
officials from participating in politi-
cal campaigns and that the measure
lost by narrow margin.
Defeat Provoked Sentiment.
That very defeat, however, helped
to crystalline sentiment. So also did
the report of the Senate Campaign
Expenditures Investigating Commit
tee, headed by the veteran Senator
Sheppard, Democrat, of Texas. It
can hardly be denied by Democrats
or Republicans that the persistent
campaign of criticism carried on by
the press of the country against ir-
regularitieS in relief has finally
aroused public opinion to the point
that members of Congress feel they
are on the popular side when they
vote to forbid politics in relief, and
when they seek to cut down relief
expenses.
There have been rumors that the
administration made higher esti-
mate than was absolutely necessary
AEhen it figured out what would be
needed for w. P. A. and that hence
the cutting down was not unex-
pected. There have been reports,
too, that the anticipated income was
underestimated by about $4O0, 900 900
In the budget figures, and this may
mean that there is room for fur
ther economies, but that the admin
istration would prefer to let Con-
gress take full responsibility for the
specific diminution of several items.
There are thus some benefits to the
Chief Executive in letting some one
else get the full impact of political
protests when certain appropriations
are curtailed.
Economy Move Rolling Up.
The economy wave is at the mo-
ment only ripple, but it is rolling
up slowly. The debate which is 60
ing on over whether Government
spending is or is not a wise policy
from the standpoint of economic re-
covery is likely to be reflected in
Congressional action on many meas
Vres, but, unfortunately, the en-
phasis is largely negative-an at
tack on spending without much con-
structive planning on how private
spending and lending can be en-
couraged. This really Is the biggest
of national questions, whether one
agrees that the Government can do
little or the Government can do
more to encourage the operations OF
private enterprise.
The first votes in Congress would
seem to indicate that the negative
attitude will for while at least pre-
dominate. The mood of the Con-
gress is somewhat the same as the
mood of the electorate last Novem-
ber-that there must be brakes ap-
piled and correctives introduced,
but it would be wrong to assume
that the Administrators request
for funds will not be met in a
large sense. If Congress cuts down
the budget by $500,000000, it will
be something accomplished, but it
still will not solve the problem of
finding a real substitute for the
$2.20O,OO0, 900 which it is sought to
spend on relief. To get the national
income to $4,000, 100000 and thus
to find jobs for the persons now on
w. P. A. is the paramount issue.
Any proposal to wipe out the w. P.
A. and turn the unemployed over
to local relief with consequent drains
by the States on the Federal Treas
ury would probably get as yet only
q handful of votes from either party
In Congress.
(Copyright 1939)