xt7wwp9t2q46_9 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61.dao.xml American Liberty League 37 linear feet archival material English University of Kentucky This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed.  Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically.  Physical rights are retained by the owning repository.  Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws.  For information about permissions to reproduce or publish, contact the Special Collections Research Center. Jouett Shouse Collection (American Liberty League Pamphlets), No. 12 "$4,880,000,000: An Analysis of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 as Approved by the House" January 28, 1935 text No. 12 "$4,880,000,000: An Analysis of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 as Approved by the House" January 28, 1935 2013 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61/59m61_12/Am_Lib_Lg_12_001/Am_Lib_Lg_12_001.pdf section false xt7wwp9t2q46_9 xt7wwp9t2q46 Total Obligations Incurred for Relief and *
Administration *
(Federal, State and Local Governments)
1933 1934
January $60,827,161 January $53,880,834
February 67,375,424 February 57,668,213
March 81,205,631 March 69,794,803
April 73,010,801 April 132%,134,287* ) Q )
May 70,806,338 May 129,222,77l*
June 66,339,207 June 125,198,650*
iuly 60,1%,274 iuly 130,953,2l5:
ugust 61,4 , 96 ugust 149,424,555 ·
September 59,346,338 September 143,227,846* , ' All A1“1&1yS1S of t1'l€ EIDE]? ·
October 64,888,913 October 156,807,070T , , ,
1151 ovemtber   November 175,789,7421· gency Relief z°xppI'OpI'13.lZ101‘1
. ecem er , , -
* Includes gbligations Lncurred for rgiaterialg gndéiééigr Act Of 1935 as  proved   ,
expenses inci ent to wor program su stitute or . l
‘l‘P1·e1iminary figures. the House  
Obligations incurred by the Federal, state, and 1
local governments are shown separately in the  
following table for the 21 months for which final * * *  
figures are available:  
Relief Obligations Incurred, January, 1933-  
September, 1.934 1
Federal Funds P State Fundsp LocalFu1u1.iD "The American Liberty League thorough-  
6* e7` 6* ly recognizes the obligation of our govern-  
égjge, Amount Gent Amount Cent Amount Cem ment to come to the relief of the men and  
1st1$122,gg0,4i7 58.4 3%,405,682 8.8 $68,622,07g 32.8 women who are in distress because of un- 5
2n 136, 1,1 0 65.0 ,589,838 9.8 52,865,36 25.2 employment through no fault of their own, 1
it} 15$’;326’;§°62 $673 Z2;63‘6;?62 62:3 6?;?63;?S6 3:6 ·¤ are ¤¤¤¢=*¤¤ from ¤¤¤*¤¤¤¤ we which Q
Tl. $480,601,783 60.6 $112358,252 14.2 $l99,802,992 25.2 they could have n° °°nu`°l• And This we Z
1984 firmly believe can be done without violation 1
166 $88,169,309 48.7 $59,306,742 32.7 $33,771,251 18.6 °f °“f,C°“S‘“““°“ °' °f Am°"°°" ““d"  
2nd 271,217,442 73.8 40,883,586 11.1 55,454,679 15.1 ti°n’· 1
gig $17,147,560 74.9 36,658,190 8.6 69,799,867 16.5 p,c1,,,,,1,,,1 1,; p611161p166 ,4116,1161; by the I
T1. 666666,611 6116 616666,616 16.1 616666,666 16.6   °°"""·"“· “’"""’" 5· '°**‘ 1
The entire relief problem is one which the Con-  
gress should not shirk. The American Liberty 4 1
League, as indicated by the excerpt from its 1
statement of principles quoted on the title page 5
of this pamphlet, believes that ample funds * j 
should be provided for relief. It has not been 1
the purpose here to discuss re11ef needs but  
rather the manner in which it is proposed to I
shift the determination of policies from the legis-
lative to the executive branch of the government. _ A
The powers conferred under the joint resolution
are not only unrestricted as to the manner of AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE
expenditure of funds but might be used to make National Hmdqumtcys
a very material change in our form of govern-
ment. The Congress should not countenance a NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
step which tends toward nullification of the divi- WASHINGTON D- C-
sion of authority under the Constitution among
the three coordinate branches of government. * *
@-4 9 l
Document No. I2
JKDURIY 28, 193f

 created in the National Industrial Recovery Act,
but there are fewer restrictions on the manner
in rlurlhiclh it can be expendelrl.
‘ ‘ ‘ e our purposes for w ich the money may
Rcllef Appropflatlons be allotted are so general in character as to em-
brace almost any money-spending scheme ever
* devised by the brain of man. These are:
_ _ _ r " (1) Providing relief from the hardships attrib-
THE "Em€1`g€¤0y R€l1€f APP1`0PY13·U0¤ Act of utable to widespread unemployment and condi-
l935” 8»S ¤PP1`0V€€l by tht! House of R€PI`€· tions resulting therefrom, (2) relieving economic
sentatives marks a new extreme 1D broad gfallié maladjustment, (3) alleviating distress, and/gr
of power to the_EXe0U’01Ve· (4) improving living and working conditions."
In substance 1_t means: _ All that is necessary for a project to come
1. An &l>dl03·tl0¤ by the Congreee of 1iS PF0P€1` A within the scope of the measure is to hold that it
responsibilities in an almost limitless field of ` "shall be adapted to the accomplishment of any
l€glSl3@i0¤· _ one or more of the objectives."
2, Complete control by the President of the I The mgngy must bg used “j¤ the dieeyetjen
expenditure of an amount of money greater than r and under the direction of the President? To
total annual oosts of the goyefnment 111 the make it clear that it is not intended that he shall
period lust P1‘i01‘ to the d€P1`€SS10¤· , be restricted in any manner, it is stated that
3. No legislative guidanoe What€V€1‘ in the d6- specific powers vested in him "shall not be con-
termination of policies which ordinarily engage strued as limiting the general powers and dis-
the close attention of a half dozen or more stand- eyetienf
ing committees in each branch of the Congress.
4. A_step toward the European type of dic- . Spcciic Powers
tatorship in which the parliamentary body be- _ _
comes e mmen(;jty_ The specific powers wh1ch are vested in the
5. Authority to the Executive to make rules President go beyond the mere spending of money.
and regulations for violation of which fines may He may establlsh and prescribe the duties and
be imposed. functions of governmental agencies, including
6. The creation of a vast new bureaucracy free public corporatlons, which are even less subject
from Civil Service laws and not answerable to to control by the Congress. Also, he_ may utilize
the Congress. and prescribe the duties and functions of any
7. Broad power to the President to reorganize existing governmental agency. He may consoli-
the governmental machinery. date, redistribute, abolish or transfer the func-
8. Continuance of uncertainties which tend to tions or duties and transfer the property and per-
destroy confidence and retard recovery. sonnel of any emergency agency. He may dele-
gate the powers conferred upon him to any gov-
· · · ernmenta agency or pu ic corporation.
Rcstrlctlons Desirable The powers of the President with respect to
The joint resolution appropriating $4,880,000; the appointment of government officials and em-
000 for work relief and direct relief was rushed ployees and the fixing of their salaries are
through the House with undue haste. Before it unlimited. He may make their appointments
is acted upon in the Senate careful consideration A without regard to Civil Service laws and may pre-
should be given to the desirability of amend- scribe their duties and tenure of office. He may
ments which will establish principles to govern fix the compensation of oflicersand employees
the expenditure of the money and restrict more without regard to the Classification Act. There
specifically the purposes for which it can be used. ( is no _max1mum for salaries nor is there any
It is proper that there should be flexibility in the provision for_con5rmat1on by the Senate of the
use of the funds and that the President rather more responsible appointed officials under whose
than the Congress should make actual allotments immediate direction the immense program will
within specified classes. be carried out. _
Nothing quite like this measure-has ever been When lt IS realized that there has been an in-
known before in the history of our government. ‘ crease of considerably more than 100,000 em-
The $4,880,000,000 is not only a much larger ployees in the government service under the
total than the amount of the public works fund emergency program heretofore in effect, the pos-
2 3

 sibilities for the creation of a new and powerful called that fundamental issues in both Muscle
bureaucracy become alarming. . Shoals and Boulder Dam legislation occasioned
Among the other powers specihcally conferred acute controversies which kept those measures
upon the President are authority "to guarantee before the Congress over a period of several
loans to, or payments of, needy individuals; to years. Similarly the Mississippi Flood Control
make grants, loans and contracts," to purchase or Act involved points of policy which made it a
by the power of eminent domain to acquire real major item of legislation. The same type of
property, and to improve, develop, maintain, ‘ questions of public policy affecting relations be-
grant, sell or lease it. tween the Federal government and the citizens
The President may make law by executive and between the government and private indus-
order, violation of which may lead to fines. He try will arise in connection with the new work-
is authorized "to prescribe such rules and regula- relief program.
tions as may be necessary to carry out this joint The rules of the House of Representatives pro-
resolution, and any willful violation of any such ' , vide for the consideration of general legislation
rule or regulation shall be punishable by Hne of —, . by standing committees other than the Appropri-
not to exceed $5,000." ' ations Committee. Authorizations for new types
` Virtually the only limitation in the joint V of expenditures come under the jurisdiction of
resolution is in the period in which the $4,880,- - these committees, only the actual appropriation
000,000 remains available. This- period extends of the money being handled through the Appro-
‘ through the next two fiscal years until June 30, priations Committee. The present legislation was
1937, which is nearly six months beyond the end considered in the House only by the Appropria-
of the term of the present administration. tions Committee. The several committees which
ordinariliyhhalridle such matters ailreclargation,
, , river an ar or improvements, u ic hi wa s,
No Declaration of POIICY the generation of electrical powlar, reforgstatgm
In his annual message to the Congress on Jan- glrgrrlgtlher 6)§rl$cooVr$r1r§r{?ttg;Sv§1§o?rli?i Egg? K5;
llal`Y.4· Pl`°S.ld°lll° R°°S°V°ll° plascllbaa. aavall ‘ eonsulted on provisions for credit and for the
shaatnlas whtah ahaala savers the aaaaatataa- acquisition of property by ine power of eminent
tion of the work-relief program. These were that domain The unusual prooodoro tends to om_
all Walk haaatakaa ahaala he haafali that aaai- phasizelthe failure of the House of Representa-
pallaatlall °ll any amalgallay pllbll? plalacts tives to assume its proper responsibilities
should not be so large as to compete with private Tho Houso Appropriations Suboomrrrittoo
amnlar¤¤aat» that eraiaats ahaalal&nC€S oft €II1€I'g'€DiY fUHdS §_ec(ierai lé]me€gen%y1R<;ligf Administration $1,428,24;,431
means 3. G en 1I`€ am0un ma no a Gar r e era ur us exe or oration ...... 5. 1 .0 2
rrr rrr Trrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrr rr rrrgrrrrrrrgprrd i Siliili.l.V°ek.f;..‘2$§é?§it‘%L2‘t.ie ··r·· ( ······· Eiiriiiréti
giegtggéOnrgaelSigueinigggégegrgggof;2§)]nft?§s€;f Department of Agriculture (drought relief)- 69;600;730
’  
· ample, will appear in the Treasury statements $2,9%,629,404
only to the extent that it is necessary for the e At the beginning of 1935 the Civilian Conser-
Corporation to obtain funds in excess of repay- vation Corps had an unexpended balance of
ments on loans. How this operates may be seen l $228,318,438. Its expenditures during the pre-
in the Daily Treasury statement. The Federal ceding six months were $199,594,655.
Emergency Relief Administration has been using The Federal Emergency Relief Administration
funds diverted from the Reconstruction Finance t (including the Federal Surplus Relief Corpora-
Corporation under authority of a deficiency act tion) had an unexpended balance on January 1
in the last session of the Congress. The latest of $321,769,564.
Daily Treasury statement shows expenditures of The total expenditures for relief from May,
only about $530,000,000 by the Relief Adminis- ( 1933, to January 1, 1935, were $2,990,629,404.
tration during the current fiscal year. A foot- The unexpended balances on January 1 were
note explains that the Reconstruction Finance i $550,088,002. Add to this the $880,000,000 in-
Corporation has expended nearly $420,000,000 tended for immediate use, and you have $4,420,-
for the Relief Administration during the year. 717,406. All of this will have been expended by
The Reconstruction Finance Corporation item in June 30, 1935. It amounts to $36.01 per capita.
the Daily Treasury statement, however, shows This $4,420,717,406 added to the $4,000,000,000
that it has obtained from the Treasury during asked by the President for the work-relief pro-
the year for all purposes less than $285,000,000. gram makes a total of $8,420,717,406. Relief
In the long run it makes no difference to the expenditures between May, 1933, and June 30,
taxpayers whether relief funds are appropriated 1937, the date to which the fund remains avail-
directly from the Treasury or from a revolving able, will amount to $68.51 per capita. Inasmuch
loan fund such as that of the Reconstruction as the President stated in his message to the Con-
Finance Corporation. The effect of the latter gress transmitting reports of the National Re-
course is to take money which otherwise would sources Board that the $4,000,000,000 is desired
eventually be returned to the Treasury for use for use during the coming 18 months, it is obvi-
in a reduction of the public debt. The current ous that additional appropriations will be sought
Treasury deficit is made to appear somewhat ‘ a year hence.
less. I ‘
There can be no ground for any suggestion I Obiigatinns §§i.E.€3fil;'.€g§£i by Federal
‘ that the Cehgress UP te this thee has beeh leg'   state and local governments are reported by the
Eahd lh meklhg Prevtsleh fer rrr1r¢f· The hghhee l Federal Emergency Relief Administration to
shew e gehereus eutley Ot funds fer thts Purpose have totaled $156 807 070 in October 1934 and
Since, the beginning of the p1‘€S€I1l% &dmiI1iSi31‘3·i’»i0D. $17,5;,789,742 in Nevember (preliminairy figiires) .
. . These sums are more than twice as lar e as the
Relief Expenditures Of the Federal relief obligations incurred during the coierespond-
GOV€I'¤m€¤t ing months of 1933, ]ust_prior to the institution
Expenditures to January 1, 1935, nf the of the C1V1l·WOPkS Admimstration.
agencies established by the present eemieieeee- 1 A *>¤b¤1rr¤¤¤ f¤11¤W¤=
5 7