AMERICAN POLITICS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 79, 16 March 1935, Page 7

AMERICAN POLITICS

Relief Bill Controversy DISSENSION IN CONGRESS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright WASHINGTON, March 14. Almost imperceptibly, dissension has arisen in Congress which may mark the end of Mr Roosevelt’s close control over that body and may spell a change of fate for the New Deal. The principal disagreement seems to have culminated in a struggle between forces headed by Senator Long and the Rooseveltian group, led by Senators Robinson and Mackcllar, over an amendment to the 4,880,000,000 dollar Work Relief Bill, which provides for the payment of the locally-prevailing wage scale to relief workers. Mr Roosevelt opposes this, asking for a 50-dollar-a-month maximum wage. So close is the division that the anti-Roosevelt group claims it is certain of a two-vote majority. Senator Long to-day suffered two small defeats. The Senate defeated an amendment offered by him to provide 1,000,000,000 dollars from the relief work appropriation for college educations for youths, and then an amendment to provide 100,000,000 dollars for the same purpose. Senator Long meantime has threatened to “filibuster”—that is, under Senatorial privilege, simply to talk the measure to death —unless the Works Bill pleased his faction. The Radicals are straining hard at the leash. Mr Roosevelt’s leadership may be at stake. As the Senate debate progressed, however, the Administration gained considerable strength, easily defeating several amendments to the Works Bill to which Air Roosevelt objected. Finally a compromise was advanced regarding the prevailing wage — an amendment designed to prevent the Government wage rate from lowering the private scale. It is understood it has the support of several insurgents and probably will be accepted within a few days. Meanwhile, Senator Long indicated that his filibuster was ended and that he was prepared to allow a vote on the issue.