Evening star., 1933-08-02
Public Works Policies.

The Federal Emergency Administra-
ton of Public Works has laid down GER
tain rules and policies which will govern
contractors for the work on projects and
in the selection Of the projects them
selves. Wisely it has provided as the
initial rule governing labor that the jobs
shall 60 first to the qualified workers
who are unemployed. The public works
program is primarily designed to give
work to the unemployed. Otherwise
there would be no slightest excuse for
it, beyond the stimulation of the indus
tries which produce materials necessary
to the projects. To take men already
employed and put them to work on the
public work projects perhaps would
leave their old jobs open to unemployed.
Another Of the policies announced
with regard to labor is that so far as
practicable human labor shall be used
instead Of machines Here is plainly an
attempt to turn back time. on the
theory that the fewer machines the
more hands will be necessary to per-
form a certain task This Is in entire
violation Of the policy adopted in tn
dustry in this country for many years,
policy that has sought to accomplish
the greatest amount Of labor with the
least possible number Of laborers and a
policy that has been, perhaps, more in
the interest Of the employers Of labor
than in the interest Of labor. Surely it
must be dawning on the American
people at last that the recovery pro-
gram-as in this instances virtually
revolution, shift in the direction to
greater thought Of and for the masses
than of and for the Individual Re-
strictions are made also in the method
Of payment of labor by contractors.
There is to be no charging off wages
against goods, rents, ETC.; the wages
must be paid in lawful money, with
the workers free to make their pur-
chases where they will.
The Public Works Administration has
passed the billion-dollar mark in its
allotment Of funds for the prosecution
of projects under the recovery act This
Is huge sum Of money. 1t will be
weeks before work can actually be
begun on many of the projects, while
on others the work may go forward i'm
mediately. If there is any real hope Of
Unemployment from a public works
program, 1t should be definitely estab-
lished before long. All Of this money
must eventually come out Of the pockets
Of the American taxpayers. There is
no getting away from that. The. tax
payers will insist upon knowing whether
the huge expenditures for public works
have been worth while and have really
assisted In recovery.
In the selection Of projects on which
money is to be expended preference is
being given to water works, to sewers
and to sewage disposal, all In the inter-
est Of the public, and as far as possible
the administration is approving those
other projects which may be Of the
greatest benefit to the communities in
which they are to be located. In addi-
tion, the administration is giving con-
sideration to the ability of the COM
munities to carry through and to make
the repayments to the Government that
are called for under the law.
The administration of a fund of
$4,000, 100000 Is no slight task. The
Secretary Of the Interior. Mr.. Ickes, is
at the head Of the whole administration
with board to aid him in making his
decisions. The matter has been tackled
expeditiously and courageously. The In
terests Of the people and Of the Govern
ment are being cared for. If the public
works program shall prove a success,
If 1t shall bring the necessary stimula-
tion to employment and industry. not
only will 1t haSe proved its value, but
1t will be a great accomplishment and
an honor to the men who are ad-
ministering it.