Works Progress Administration economists said here to-day that they expected the current business recess sion to hit bottom within the next two weeks, whereafter improved business conditions might be expected, Production and employment expected to hit lows in January i the current trend continues, but the high point on relief rolls will not come until several weeks later, a high W-P.A. economist told the United Press. The delay in the increase in the relief rolls was accounted for in the lag between discharge from employment and application for relief.
As an indication that unemployment had almost reached its low point, W.P.A. officials cited recent re-employment of large numbers of workers by the automobile, textile and steel industries and a stiffening of some commodity prices such as copper, cotton and tin.
One W.P.A. official doubted that the present $1,500,000,000 appropriation for relief would be sufficient to care for the unemployed. He said he believed a drastic cut in. Federal spending during the last six months had been one of the major factors responsible for the business slump.
The House of Representative's rebellion against the President's economy measures collapsed to-day, "when the session approved the Independent Offices Bill. The bill contains a $1414118515 appropriation which is $118,538,000 less than last year's and.$3,732000 under the budget estimate for the next fiscal year.
The bill was sent to the Senate for action.
In its present form it substantially follows recommendations of ihe Appropriation Committee which includes the Woodrum amendment empowering the President to reduce and eliminate specific. items from appropriation bills provided such deletions are reported to Congress within sixty days.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.