Evening star., 1940-05-17
EVENING WASHINGTON, D O. FRIDAY, NAY IT, 1910

Proposal Would Mean
Cut in Jobs and Pork
Borrer Low, He Says
By ths Associated Press.
President Roosevelt fyoWned on
proposals for earmarhng relief funds
today, saying that such q practice
both would reduce jobs for the needy
and lead to pork barrel" legisla-
tive situation.
Every member Of Congress Mr..
Roosevelt said at his press confer
ence, naturally would want some
thing for his district and the Az
ISOLATED General Contractors, he
added, would try to get rs much
as they could for contractors.
The President said that was true
because they, like the rest Of rs,
were selfish and wanted all they
could get, but that that won't take
care Of needy individuals.
With . specific Illustration, he also
took . stand against . proposal
advanced by Representative Wood
rum, Democrat. Of Virginia, among
others, that some Of the 1915 $50 900
appropriation pending for w. p. A.
be used In . public works program.
II 100 people IN q locality were
ON relief, the President said, the
expenditure Of funds ON . public
works dam or school . hundred
miles away wauld by no means pro-
vide all those individuals with Jobs.
Cool to Weodrum Plan.
Representative Woodrums pro-
posal for revamping the relief sys-
tenn aroused little enthusiasm In the
House. which displayed strong favor
for the w. p. A. bill as it stands.
Mr.. Roosevelt said at the press
conference that he did not think
the country could afford to cut more
people OF relief this summer and
fall, particularly since the relief
agencies were by no means taking
care Of 100 per cent Of the needy
families.
Personally, he said, he would Nike
to see the relief fund increased to
take care Of all the needy.
Statements that as much employ
ment can be provided when relief
funds are earmarked rather than
made available in lump sum, the
President said. simply do not hold
water.
The President said his new de-
tense program would, Of course, pro-
vide considerable employment but It
would by no means take care of the
people on relief.
He said the $975 $50 900 relief bill
must go through Congress rapidly
because existing funds are expected
to run out July /.
Representative Woodrum's oppo-
sition to the relief bill led him to
surrender his usual job of plotting
the legislation through the House.
The present program, he said, was
leading to national economic dis
aster."
He suggested the Federal Govern
ment adopt "a more concinatory At
titude toward business" in exchange
for q drive by business to expand
employment.
Mr.. Woodrum advised continuing
w. p. A. "on q purely temporary
basis and allocate to it funds 10 op-
crate in localities where there Ia
pressing need for types of projects
OF q non-conStruction nature"
The relief bill would let the Pred-
dent spend all the 1915, $50 ,O00-if
necessary-in the eight months be-
ginning next July l. The 1941 Con-
gress would decide how much more
was needed for the remainder Of the
fiscal year.
Representative Cannon, Democrat,
OF Missouri, who took over Mr.,
Woodrlm's door manager Job, filed
q document criticizing a report on
the bill by the majority members
Of an Appropriations Subcommittee
That group charged the w. p. A.
with many past misdeeds" but said
there was q trend toward improved
administration.
Mr.. Cannon said it was startling
to find that the committee made
scant mention Of millions Of per-
sons given employment and the
vast" public improvements by w.
p. A.
He contended committee investi-
gators singled out "local small-fry
ward heelers" In an attempt to show
that w. P. A. activities frequently
were dominant by political consid-
erations.
The committee had failed, he de-
clared, ITO tar the (W. p. A. admini-
stration with Communist control"