Evening star., 1939-01-04
Congress 10 Purge
Relief Of Politics,
Austin Predicts
Senator Will Renew
Fight for Defeated
Amendment
By the Associated Press.


By the Associated Press.
Senator Austin, Republican, Of
New Hampshire predicted today
that Congress would purge relief Of
all politics, as result of the report
of the Sheppard Campaign Expendi-
lures Committee.
1T corroborates our statements
last session that Office workers,
charity funds and even influence in
the Senate have been on sale
through the w. p. A." the New Eng
land Republican said.
Senator Austin said he would re-
Introduce an amendment, narrowly
defeated last session in the Senate,
making it crime to use relief funds
for political purposes.
Senator vandenberg, Republican,
OF Michigan, spoke of the report as
demonstration of the fact that
there can be non-partisan courage
IN the Senate" and added, IT hope
1t continues and becomes con-
tagious."
Bills to Be Considered.
Chairman George of the Senate
Privileges and Elections Committee
said his group would consider a
number of proposals, probably in
cluding bill by Senator Hatch,
Democrat, of New Mexico to prevent
political activities by Federal en-
ployes.
Both Democrats and Republicans
predicted early enactment as they
studied the report of the committee,
which recommended tighter restric-
tions on electioneering by w. P. A.
workers and Government employees
generally.
The report said relief funds in
many instances had been diverted
ITO political ends"
Senator Hatch is working on two
measures designed to check political
maneuvering by Government work.
ers. One would bar political activi-
ties by Federal employees other than
those in elective or policy making
positions. The other would place
restrictions on Federal workers and
on State employees whose salaries
are paid in part from Federal funds.
Hatch Is Confident.
Senator Hatch expressed con-
adence favorable action would be
taken at this session. Senators
Bridges, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire and Schwellenbach, Democrat,
of Washington were among those
who voiced a similar opinion.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the
majority leader, said the Sheppard
Committees recommendations for
restrictive legislation would be re-
ferred to the Senate Elections Com
mittee.
Minority Leader McNary added he
would ask to have the report re-
ferred to the Commerce Committee
for study In connection with the
nomination of Harry Hopkins to be
Secretary Of Commerce. Mr.. Hop
kins formerly was w. P. A. admin
istrator.
The report fixed no responsibility
on Mr.. Hopkins for the conditions
which 1t denounced, but severely
criticized Aubrey Williams, Mr.. Hop
kins' deputy administrator, for tell
ing a meeting sof relief workers last
June, We've got to keep our friends
in power"
Recently Named to Post.
Mr.. Williams was designated re-
Gently by President Roosevelt to
head the National Youth Admin
istration, but the appointment will
not require Senate confirmation.
Senator Bridges said that al
though the President should have
wide latitude in picking his own
cabinet, he would oppose conflrma-
ton Of Mr.. Hopkins.
"The President seems to be lean
ing toward lame ducks in making
his appointments" Senator Bridges
said. Some of them have been
repudiated by their own particular
States and Hopkins has been re-
pudiated by the country as a whole"
Senator Minton, Democrat, of
Indiana, an administration support
ar, predicted the Hopkins nomina-
ton would be overwhelmingly con-
firmed.
Want to Study Report.
Some Senate Appropriations Com
mittee members said today they
would want to look into the cam
paign report when they consider
the administrations request for ad-
ditional money to operate w. p. A.
until June 80.
On the other side of the Capitol,
however, House appropriations au-
thorities predicted the extra relief
fund would be voted quickly and
that such proposals as earmarking
funds for specific purposes would
be considered later. They conceded,
however, that the relief appropria-
tions bill might provoke bitter de-
bate.
Senator Bailey, Democrat, of
North Carolina said the country
"has reached the point where it
cannot do more than meet the &C.
tual relief needs"