First Deficiency Appropriation Bill for 1937

Administration. At the said meeting, which was held in Lubbock, Tex., on the 8th day of January 1937, the following resolution which I am reading was drafted and passed unanimously, and is as follows:

To the President and to the Congress of the United States:

Whereas the West Texas County Judges' and Commissioners' Association, together with the mayors of the towns of west Texas, chamber of commerce representatives, and other officials have this the 8th day of January, A. D. 1937, met for the purpose of discussing the continuation of the Works Progress Administration and the great benefits that the cities and counties have received from this program; and

Whereas from press reports it is apparent that the money allocated for the Works Progress Administration is exhausted and the Congress of the United States will very shortly consider the continuation of the Works Progress Administration and an additional appropriation of money for the said continuation; and Whereas the Honorable Harry Hopkins, Administrator of the Works Progress Administration, has indicated that at least $750,000,000 will be needed to carry the program to June 30, 1937, which is the end of the fiscal year for the Federal Government; and

Whereas we, the above-described officials of 116 west Texas counties, realize that without the continuation of this program our people would suffer from the lack of food and clothing and other necessities of life, and realize further that our counties and cities are not financially in a position to assist our people without the continuation of this program; and

Whereas during the past 30 days there has been a gradual increase in the relief loads of the 116 counties represented, which increase will continue until the latter part of March, which said load has increased due to the drought in this part of the State of Texas the past year, and to the further fact that the properous condition which is apparent in the eastern part of our country has not as yet reached this drought-stricken area; and

Whereas the Works Progress Administration now has under construction hundreds of projects in these counties that are incomplete and cannot be completed without further aid from the Federal Government: Now, therefore, be and it is hereby

Resolved by the officials of these 116 counties assembled here today, That we, as such officials, ask Congress to take cognizance of our desperate condition and consider immediately the appropriation of a sufficient sum to carry the Works Progress Administration through this fiscal year, and that this appropriation be made as quickly as possible to relieve the people of our country during a period of the year through which it is most difficult for them to exist.

It is my further belief that an immediate appropriation should be made because of the reliable information that I have as presented to me from various county judges throughout west Texas in which they state without exception that relief rolls are increasing daily due to short crops and because of the continuation of tractor farming which

is driving small tenant farmers to the small towns and villages. An immediate appropriation is further needed because the various municipalities are unable to care for the relief rolls should Works Progress Administration be discontinued or stopped for only a few days. The different county judges throughout west Texas have continually been pressed with their work because of the increase of the relief rolls. In my official position as county judge we have great numbers who come to my office daily seeking relief and it is absolutely urgent that Congress take immediate action to produce funds for a continuation of Works Progress Administration. I believe that the relief rolls will continue to increase through the winter and it is alarming to think of conditions that might exist should Works Progress Administration suspend operations entirely or for any short period of time due to the lack of funds.

The above statements of Judge Allison are hereby concurred with by County Judge M. G. Poteet.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1937.

SPRINGERFIELD, ARIZ., FORESTRY AND POST OFFICE BUILDING

INCREASE IN LIMIT OF COST

STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN R. MURDOCK, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA

Mr. MURDOCK. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, allow me to call your attention to a recommendation of the Acting Director of the Bureau of the Budget for an increase in the limit of cost of the proposed Federal building at Springerville, Ariz., which appears in Supplemental Estimates of Appropriations (Doc. No. 108).

Seventy-five thousand dollars has already been approved for construction of the building which will house the forestry offices and post office, but was found insufficient because of increasing cost of materials since the original estimate. Hence, all bids for the project were rejected, the lowest being $27,500 in excess of the limit cost.

The post office is now located in a rather unsightly corner of a mercantile establishment, and the forestry office is in temporary quarters in a bank building. The owners of the bank building are anxious to regain possession of the property in order to resume business.

Springerville is conveniently located in the forested area of Arizona. The great pine forests in this portion of Arizona constitute the pride of our national timber reserves.

The fact that Springerville is in the scenic mountain area of Arizona and the center of vacation land, tourists are attracted to it. Accordingly, it is becoming more significant as a postal center. Mail is dispatched from Springerville to several other more isolated mountain communities. I urge the committee to allow an increased appropriation adequate to meet this need.

INDEX

Agriculture, Department of

Commodity Exchange Administration_.