Show WASH rii-ETTER rii LETTER I Economy Program Faces Real Test I in i n Handling Relief Issue I fly BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT W WASHINGTON All All this talk of economy may have the effect ef- ef ef effect of persuading Congress to cut the relief appropriation but probably wont won't The adminis adminis- administration administration administration has asked for 1500 1 to spend on relief A group in the House led by Congressmen M Maury ury Maverick of Texas Texa and Jerry Voorhis of California wants the appropriation appropriation tion boosted to 2 The group claims about votes At the other extreme Is IsIt Isa isn It a bloc that relief money shall be cut to 1200 Sl 1 or a billion dollars Neither bloc Is believed to be strong enough to put over its own pro pro- program program pro program gram but they be d p to cancel cl each other oft oR in the skirmishes The U S Conference of May May- Mayors May May- Mayors Mayors ors keeps up effective pressure here herp against attempts attempt to reduce federal contributions to local re- re relict relief re relief lief expenses This organization insists there are already on direct local re- re relief re relief lief who are eligible for tor Harry Hopkins says the figure is only The municipal believe be- be believe be believe lieve that even if tf the adminis adminis- administration administration gets the 1 Sl It has asked for tor the new appropriation appropriation appropriation cannot last beyond next unless the pres- pres present present pres present ent program Is sharply cur cur- curtailed cur curtailed tailed When the President made his request for relief relict funds assur assur- assurance assurance assurance ance was given that the federal work relief relict policy would not be changed This suggested to some here that Roosevelt u s 's ai n coliT ering eying g ang the possible need of ot an another an- an another another other deficiency appropriation for relief by next March or April which would jump lump the cost of relief for tor the 1938 year 1937 1938 much above 1500 1500 1500 There are about 2 per- per Adding eons ons ons on rolls now other funds to Sl 1 OOn 0 OOn and deducting sums for other work programs pro ams Hopkins a monthly average of I P O could be kept on the fiscal Hop kins Hop Hop- Hopkins Hopkins during the year kins describes this amount as an irreducible minimum and says he can get by on it and I keep up the present policy polley only it if there Is s continued pickup in private employment According to Hopkins If It the appropriation should be cut to tosi si 1 that a amount m 0 u n t would provide for tor an average of fewer than 1000 workers Mayors of large cities where the relief problem is chiefly con concentrated con con- concentrated concentrated Insist that it cannot be expected states will appropriate for relief They or ta tac c adequately point out that in many cases leg leg- legislatures legislatures leg legislatures of industrial states are controlled by representatives of rural counties where the people refuse to spend money on urban problems thereby making cities depend on the general property tax The relief tight fight Is over the question whether federal taxes shall be raised to maintain n present relief standards or whether the nation shall operate 1 I with a locally administered dole p paid ld with federal assistance 1 |