Evening star., 1961-01-02
KENNEDY
Quick Congress Action Pledged
To Aid Jobless in Depressed Areas
Continued From First Page

paign he served as director OF
organization for the Demo-
cratic National Committee.
In 1948-'50 Mr.. O'Brien
served as administrative assist
ant to Foster Furcolo, then
Representative from MaSsa-
chusetts and now Governor.
Pierre Salinger, the tPresi-
dent-elect's press secretary,
said Mr.. O'Brien has submit
ted his resignation to the ma
tional committee.
Interviews Applicants
Since the election, Mr..
O'Brien has interviewed hum
dreds of applicants for jobs in
the administration and has
been handling the rdecommen-
dations of Democratic members
of Congress for job contenders,
Mr.. Salinger refused to speci-
fy whether Mr.. OBrien's new
post will include liaison with
Congress on administration leg
islative programs.
In the Eisenhower admins
tration, the White House per
sonnel or patronage job has
been separate from legislative
liaison work.
Bryce Harlew. a deputy as
sistant to President Eisenhower.
has headed his congressional
relations staff. Robert E.
Hampton, a special assistant
in the White House ONCE. has
handled patronage.
Mr.. Kennedy plans to ny tc
New York City wednesday. ne
has called a conference Of nine
farm organization leaders there
Thursday to discuss what he
described as the farm crisis
Mr.. Kennedy probably viii
fly to Washington Friday night
and spend most of Saturday
in the Capital. Mr.. Salingel
said, in order to "see some peo-
pie who are easier to see IN
Washington"
Returning to New York
sometime Saturday. Mr.. Ken
nedy expects to fiy to Boston
for a meeting of the Harvard
Board of Overseers Monday
morning.
He is expected to make an
. other trip back to Palm Beach
sometime next week.
Four Major Steps Outlined
Senator Douglas picked out
four recommendations as the
most important parts Of the
many-sided program urged BY
his group. They called for:
/. Immediate action aimed
at doubling the amount Of sur
plus foods which destitute
families can receive from the
Government, adding additional
surplus commodities such a:
butter, oatmeal and peanut
butter to the -four, lard. driec
eggs, dried milk. meal and rice
now being distributed.
2. Early enactment into Law
of an area redevelopment bill
along the lines Of legislation
twice vetoed by President
Eisenhower, with emphasis or
low interest loans to attract
new private industry to de-
pressed areas.
8. Temporary extension oi
unemployment insurance ben
eflts for longer periods. similar
to the emergency program
adopted to help combat the
1858 recession but with Federal
funds advanced to the States in
the form of grants rather than
loans.
1. An emergency program OF
public works projects in the
distressed areas.
With a view to co-ordinating
resources development, the
committee proposed regional
programs under regional COM
missions. 1t recommended that
the incoming President set ur
at least one such commission
speedily for an area stretching
hrom New York to Alabama
. Because of its size and the
severity of its problems" the
report said, I'VE believe that
such a commission might vel
be set up first for the Appala-
fchain region. This in turn could
serve as a possible pilot pro.
gram for similar efforts in other
regions"
Immediate Grants Urged
The Douglas committee re-
lport also included among its
recommendations demanding
immediate action" Legislation
ito provide Federal grants tc
the States to help them finance
adequate relief payments tt
those who have exhausted un-
employment insurance bene'
fits.
Asserting that no one plsr
can work effectively for all de.
pressed areas, the report sale
all its short-term and long.
range recommendations taker
together serve as an arSena
from which specific weapons ts
combat the particular problems
Of a region or area may b
selected"
Senator Douglas declined II
reveal any cost estimates fol
the total program.
He estimated that from /!
to % million Americans live IL
areas suffering from high ant
persistent unemployment
islands of depression ever
when most parts of the countr,
are prosperous.
Mr.. Kennedy told his new
conference that he had seer
"a good deal Of the distres