Evening star., 1932-09-13
HEATH DESCRIBES
BUILDING PROGRAM
Employment Benefits From
$3.50, 900, 900 Construction
Detailed in Forum,

4AC TCOCIdl pIOBIhLu uAS
grown since the World War from q
pork barrel" proposition to q business
like planning of governmental activity
housing neeos with q broad grasp Of
the future, Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury Ferry K. Heath, In charge Of
Government construction, declared last
night. His speech was made in the
National Radio Forum, arranged by The
:. Washington Star and broadcast over a
coaSt-to-coast network OF the National
Broadcasting Co.
This program, with total Of public
works underway or projected to cost
S536 1000, 900. has come at time when
the employment entailed could do the
most good for the country, and under
the protection Of the Bacon-Davis act,
which provides that the prevailing rate
of wages be paid on all Government
contracts workers have enjoyed to the
fullest the effects Of the Government
spending, Maj. Heath asserted.
Sees Budget Reduction.
by the end Of the fiscal year 1888"
Maj. Heath declared, the Government
will have under contract practically 90
per cent OF all public works coming
within scope Of the present plan. The
taxpayers of the country may we'll ex-
1884 and 1885 to show considerable re-
duCti0n In the abnormal expenditures
required during the present and pre-
ceoing fiscal years, which were brought
about to provide better Government IA
cilities and aid the unemployment stu
alton during the period Of the de-
preston"
Through these trying years wherever
the Government could help unemploy-
ment without waste Of the taxpayers
money, the Government has helped.
Never were such preparations made for
Stemming the tide of economic reaction.
Never in the hitsory of organized So
ciety have such efforts been put forth
to ward of the effects Of grim economic
adversely. = =
The employment Of 100 900 men in
Federal buildings, with perhaps 300, 900
more employed in fabricating and ma
terial plants will not cure the unem-
ployment in the building trades. But
certainly the 1000 men working today
on the huge new post ofice at Chicago.
and the 5000 men fabricating materials
for that building and the families OF all
these men and the purveyors Of food
and clothing and other necessities for
these people must be grateful for this
Federal expenditure.
millions in Postal Savings"
Maj. Heath sees in the post ofice con-
struction program alone the prospect
OF saving millions of dollars for the
Government. declaring all business in
terests will shortly appreciate the i'm
proved efficiency to be provided at these
gateway5 of mail distribution"
President Hoover, he said, always has
been an advocate Of advanced plan
ming of Government work, saying:
While Secretary Of Commerce. Presi
dent Hoover had recognized the great
lack Of facilities everywhere in the way
Of adequate housing for Federal activ-
tiles.
Following the first shock of business
depression, the President directed that
the public building program be acceler-
ated to the extent possible under the
legislation. Immediately my department
availed itself of the legislation permit
ting the employment Of private archi-
tects and contracts have been let with
264 firms for plans for buildings repre-
senting more than 5000 ,000. 900 in cost.
which action increased progress by
more than 100 per cent.
Full text of Maj. Heath's address
follows:
Last october, through the courtesy Of
The Washington Star. the Treasury
Building program was described in de-
tail Time is not available, nor would
your patience stand q repetition Of that
information. Tonight 1 will attempt to
acquaint you with the actual progress
Of the work and the plans the depart
ment Is making TO carry out the provi-
sions Of the emergency construction and
relief act passed by the last Congress
and becoming a law July 81, 1882.
In the days before the great war
Federal buildings were the recognized
means of exchange in Congress. They
were the rewards granted Senators and
Representatives for services rendered
for various forms Of cooperative action
in other legislation. They were the
scalps brought back by the returning
Senator or Representatives to prove to
his tribe what a great warrior he was
in Washington. The whole system was
the opposite Of bU5iness-like and Or
derly procedure and oftentimes q pure
waste Of public funds.
War Stopped Building.
Then came the war. Throughout its
duration and for 10 years thereafter no
public buildings were built. The busi-