Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-27
Hopes for Definite Decision
on a Plan to Use City
Funds to Give Work to the
Unemployed.
Organization Mems Abrupt So
licitude for Relief of Distress
Suspected of Being a Pre-
Election Change of Heart.

The conference Of city officials advo-
Gated by Mayor Blankcnburg to deter
mine definitely the means for releasing
the idle millions in the city Treasury
TO provide work for the unemployed dur
ing the coming winter will be held within
the next two weeks.
John =. Connolly. chairman Of the
special joint Councilmanlc committee
named to devise means Of furnishing re-
lief to the unemployed, said today that
he and Select Councilman L. w. Patton,
OF the 9th Ward, would represent Coun-
cils at the conference, The other MEM
bers of the conference will be Mayor
Blankenburg City Solicitor Ryan and
City Controller Walton.
A final settlement Of the controversy
on the amount Of municipal funds avail
able for contract and the placing ot
those funds under actual contract sup
porters of the Administration declare,
will be accomplished If the Mayor re-
ceives genuine cooperation and support
from the members of the committee.
1t is unlikely. even If the funds are
made available by Councils in their sud
den .solicitous concern over the unem-
ployed, that more than 5000 men could
be put to work on actual construction
projects during the approaching winter
months, which are ordinarily unseason-
able for such work
Independent forces saw in the abrupt
relief" campaign of Councils a pre-eleC-
tion activity. Mayor Blankenburg, how
ever, attended one meeting Of the COun-
cilmanic committee and made the sug-
gestion that will, II carried out, afford
genuine relief.
Among 25O items from 10 past bond
issues are many small uneXpended bal
ances that could be transferred to the
Sinking Fund and thus increase the bor-
rowing capacity of the city for other
appropriations,
Mayor Blankenburg is of the opinion that
all funds that can be made available
would provide work for probably 5000
men this winter Il. NJ Little. secretary
of the Organized Charities, declared at
the last meeting of the Councilmanic
committee that the number of unemploy-
ed men in Philadelphia, at present, was
only 10000 above the normal number OF
80. 600 usually idle
The character Of work that would be
provided by the city would be principally
of a rough nature, including construction
OF highways, sewers and extension Of
water mains
Director Porter, Of the Department Of
Public Safety, said that he could provide
employment for 800 or 400 men In the
Electrical Bureau, on construction and
repair work. II funds We're made avail
able. He could also increase the police
force by 500 needed men.
Director Porter and Director Cooke, of
the Department Of Public Works are
now making efforts TO avoid laying Oft
through lack of funds, men now en-
ploved.
Director Uarta of tho Dsnartr,ert NJ
Health and Charities, can employ 20 or
90 additional men At the Homesburg and
Byberry institutions,
The Commissioners of Fairmount Park |
can employ $40 men on general work i'm
the Park and also put on fun time many
OF the men who are now on part time.
Mayor B!ankenhurg pointed out today |
that employment Of 5o000 men al $50 a /
day would require $4,000 a day or $4,000 /
a week and 81 $4,000 In four weeks Mayor |
BankenhurE may 60 TO New York tn /
discuss the matter with Mayor Mitchell.