The Washington times., 1930-12-02

JlII1CS VI AACdA ~ 4iOVO1OoV AANAA~
ployed who are not without an
nual income but temporarily
idle in the shift from one job
to another. ....
We have an average Of about
three breadwinners to each two
families, so that every person
unemployed does not represent
a family without income.
$780, 100000 Budget
The view that the relief prob
lens are less than the gross
numbers would indicate Is con-
firmed by the experience Of sew.
eral cities, which shows that the
number Of families in distress
represents from 10 to 90 per cent
Of the number Of the calculated
unemployed. This is not said
to minimize the very real prob
lem which exists but to weigh
its actual proportions.
As a contribution to the situa-
tiOn, the Federal Government Is
engaged upon the greatest pro
gram Of waterway, harbOr, flood
control, public building, highway,
and airway improvement In all
our history.
This, together with loans to
merchant shipbuilders. improve
ment Of the Navy and in military
aviation, and other construction
work Of the Government, win ex-
coed S52O,OO0,OOO for this fiscal
year.
This compares with $253,OOO,,
900 in the fiscal year 1928. The
construction works already au.
th0rized and the continuation Of
policies In Government aid will
require q continual expenditure
upwards Of half o billion dollars
annually.
I favor still further temporary
expansion Of these activities in
aid to unemployment during this
winter.
The Congress will, however,
have presented to it numbers Of
some Of them under the
guiSe Of, rather than the reality
Of, their usefulness in the increase
Of employment during the de
preston.
There are certain common.
sense limitations upon any expan
sionS Of construction work.
The Government must not
undertake works that are not of
sound economic purpose and that
have not been subject to search
ing technical investigation, and
which have not been given ade-
quate consideration by the Con.
greSS.
Limit Is Reached
The volume of construction
work in the Government is al
ready at the maximum warranted
by financial prudence as a con-
tinuing policy.
To increase taxation for pur-
poses Of construction work de-
feats its own purpose, as such
taxes directly diminish employ.
ment In private industry.
Again, any kind of construc-
ton requires, after it's authorize
ton, a considerable time before
labor can be employed in which
to make engineering, archi-
tectural, and legal preparations.
Our immediate problem is the
increase of employment for the
next six months, and new plans
which do not produce such i'm
result or which extend
commitments beyond this period
are not warranted.
The enlarged rivers and har-
bOrS, public building, and high
way plans authorized by the Con-
gress last session, however, offer
an opportunity for assistance by
the temporary acceleratiOn Of con-
StructiOn Of these programs even
faster than originally planned, eS-
pecislIy If the technical require
ments Of the law. which entail
great delays could be amended in
such fashion as to speed up &C.
quirements Of land and the letting
of contracts.
Will Ask S1OO,OOO,OOO
With view, however, to the pos
sible need for acceleration, we,
Immediately upon receiving those
authorities from the Congress five
ago, began the necessary
technical work in preparation for
such possible eventuality.
/ have CanvaSSed the depart
ments Of the Government as to
the maximum amount that can be
added to our present ex.
penditure to accelerate all con.
during the next six
and / feel warranted in
the Congress for an apprO-
priatiOn of from 100000, 900 to
$15O, 100000 to provide such fur.
ther employment in this emer.
gency.
In connection Herewith we
neel some authority to make en-
larged temporary advances of
Federal-highway aic to the States.
I recommend that this appro-
priation be made distributable 20
the different departments upon
recommendation of a committee
Of the Cabinet and approval by
the President. It's application to
works already authorized by the
Congress assures its use in direc-
tions Of economic Importance and
to public welfare. Such action
will imply an expenditure upon
construction Of all kinds Of over
$3.50 nm nm d1YTsiy1or &ha 1oax1h 30