Evening star., 1941-06-29
| resident Approves
Appropriations for
-Four Departments
Chief Executive Keeps
In Touch With WeIIes;
Plans RestfuI Week End
BY JOHN c. HENRY,
Star Staff Correspondent.

L
The President was hard at work
at his summer home here today
despite the continuance of Hudson
Valley heat wave with all the worst
qualities of Washington's own op-
pressive temperatures.
AS mas been his habit whenever
he has been out of town since out
break of the European war. he talked
to State Department officials at
least once during the day and was
In telephone communication with
others at the Capital. He spent
most Of the morning at accumulated
paper work.
In addition, bills were signed for
the 1912 operating funds of the
Departments of State, Justice, In
terror and Commerce; and approval
likewise was given to legislation
amending the National Housing Act.
Appropriations Altered.
BY the appropriation measures,
the Interior Department will re-
ceive .325,923, an increase OF
nearly s2,OOO,OO0 from budget esti-
mates: State will receive S21 ,499 ,24O,
a decrease of about $685. 900 from
budget figures; Commerce will re-
ceive s179,O09 100, or nearly So,OOO,-
600 more than estimated, ana Jus
tice will receive S66, ,307 500 cut OF
1929 600 from the sum recommended
bv the Budget Bureau.
The housing legislation signed in
creases the amount OF F. n. A.
loans which can be insured under
title two. from $4,000, 900 1000 to So
100000 900. 1t likewise increases tne
maximum for individual insuraole
loans on repairs and improvements
form s2.500 to $4,000.
An increase in salary, from $lO,0Oo
10 $4,000 yearly, is provldeo lor
p H. A. Administrator Abner n.
ferguson. who left higher salarled
most to take over direction OF the
housing agency.
The measures, all enacted by
Congress within the last few Gays,
we're flown here in special mail
nouch this morning in order tnat
thev could receive presidential ap-
proval before the end of the pres
ent fiscal year on Monday night.
1t is expected that an additional
batch, probably including the Dis
trict of Columbia supply bill, Will
be rushed here on Monday.
Will Act on Russia.
Demanding a presidential deci-
sion within the next few days,
also. is the question of what speclf-
ic assistance is to be extended 10
Russia in its resistance TO Ger
man invasion. Mr.. Roosevelt al
ready has declared without quallfi-
cation that all possible aid will
be given subject only to disclosure
of Russian needs and availability OF
the required material here.
This matter was believed to have
been one of the subjects OF tele-
phone discussion between the Pres
ident and Undersecretary OF State
Sumner Welles today and yester-
day, following the visit OF Con-
stantine Oumansky. Soviet ambassa-
dor to the State Department on
Thursday.
Being studied closely, of course,
is the progress of the actual fight
ing on the Russo-German front,
by which some judgment can be
formed on the time available to
get effective supplies to the de-
Tending Soviet armies and a meas
ure of the need formulated.
With VladivoStok left open to
American shipping by virtue of fail
ure to invoke the neutrality law,
it is likely that material most read
lily available to West Coast debarka-
ton ports will be marked for Rus
sian service. This circumstance, in
turn, adds to the Importance of the
Japanese attitude in the present |
confiict-another factor being care
fully examined.
Many Measures Pending.
On the domestic front, the Pres
tdent is said to be watching care
fully the progress of several impor-
tant legislative proposals, including |
the epochal tax measure now in the !
hands of the House Ways and Means
Committee. the property seizure bill
which the War Department is spon-
soring, the dollar devaluation bill
now before the Senate, and the
measure amending the draft law
These and other legislative issues :
probably will be discussed in
White House conference with con-
Rressional leaders as soon as Mr.. |
Roosevelt returns to the Capital.
The President and his closest de- |
fense advisers also are expected to
give serious attention to criticisms !
Of management of the program con-
tained in a report of the House
Military Affairs Committee being
released in Washington this week .
end. Until such time as he has
opportunity to study the report,
however, the Chief Executive made
no comment on its content and rec
Tomorrow, the President plans to .
spend day of rest with members of |
his family and guests invited here
for the dedication of the Franklin
D. Roosevelt Library on Monday. !
He will speak briefly at the mid
afternoon dedication ceremonies and |
the library. now the possession of |
the Federal Government, will be .
npcne5 to tho Y,,Yhljc ~, T,,ocIov