The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-02
PUBLIC WORKS
PLAN ENDORSED
BY DEMOCRATS
Congress Will Be Asked to
Approve RooSeVeIt'S
Relief Program.
OPPOSES HOOVER IDEA
Bonds Would Be Issued for
Projects to Give Jobs
Throughout u. S.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times STAFF Writer

WASHINGTON, Dec. Frank
lin D. RooSevelts plan for recon-
Cling two divergent demands upon
the federal government-demands
for work through public construc-
ton and for reduced expenditures
will be presented to congress in
legislative form by Senator James
F. ByrneS Dem, S. c..
The plan calls for issuance of
bonds to pay for all public works
undertaken during the year. 1t
will have the support of the Demo-
cratic floor leader, Joseph T. Rob-
inson, and, apparently, of the en-
tire Democratic membership of the
senate, as well as a number of Re-
publicans.
The Roosevelt plan is in sharp
contrast with that of President
Hoover, who has suggested that
most of, if not all, the construc-
ton work contemplated for next
year be abandoned. His suggestion
has been countered by liberals of
both parties with demands for an
even larger construction program.
since unemployment is as serious a,
problem as it ever has been.
Would Help Budget
Issuance of bonds for capital ex-
penditures will spread over a num-
Der of years the payments for i'm
provements which will last for an
indefinite period, Byrnes points out.
The federal government is not able
to lay aside money in times of pros
perlty for expenditure in time of
want, but it is able, by this meth
od, to do work when it is needed
most and pay for it by debt retire
ment when revenues again are plen-
tiful.
Several hundred thousand dol
lare will be lifted from the total
OF current expenditures by this plan.
thus making balancing of the an
nual budget that much easier. In
1882 the federal government spent
S341 100000 for public works, and is
spending slightly more in the pres
ent fiscal years.
Tentative suggestions along this
line were made Ia.' Democratic SEN
ators at the last session, and were
troWned on by Hoover as endanger-
ing the national credit.
Proposal Is Discussed
Answering this, Democrats COM
pare total national wealth and total
public debt with an individual own
ing a $22,500 business and owing
$1,000 on it, without in any way i'm
pairing his credit.
The senate economy committee
discussed Byrnes' proposal at its
first meeting Thursday. At the
same time it learned that govern
ment departments have almost no
suggestions to make as to further
cuts, and, on the contrary, believe
for the most part that more money
should be allotted to them next
year.
Early in the fall Wesley Jones.
late chairman of the committee.
wrote the departments, asking sug-
gestionS regarding operation of the
economy act and possible additional
economies. Answers from the indie
pendent offices and bureaus dis
closed considerable discomfort with
the furlough plan, and with dis
miSsal of married persons.
Some Savings Suggested
Only few commissions suggested
important savings. Herbert D.
Brown, chief of the bureau of eff
f1ciency, urged elimination of sum-
ner camps Of the national guard,
r. o. T. c. and c. M. T. O., at a
saving of about $18,0O0,0O0.
The civil service commission urged
consolidation of all personnel agen-
cies in the government service. u.
S. Grant III, chief of public build
ings and public parks, suggested
that officials in Washington use
taxicabs instead of government au-
tomobiles in many cases; that print
ing be done by contract instead OF
at the government printing Office,
and that the District of Columbia
government be more concentrated
and forced to budget for five years
at time.