Evening star., 1933-10-25
PROGRAM MAPPED
FOR NEGRO RELIEF
Federal Agencies Survey
Problems of Race Rendered
More Acute by Slump.

By the Associated Press.
The Federal Government is contem-
plating constructive experimentation
to improve the economic and social
status of the 12CO0 900 colored persons
In America who compose the country's
largest racial m nnority.
Preliminary Eudies by those in charge
OF formulating a program have disclosed
that approximately 100000 colored
tenant farmfTs have been adversely af-
fected by acreage curtailment and that
the effect al the opera ton Of N. r. A.
codes has tended to substitute white
for colored labor and has increased the
percentage of colored persons on relief
rolls.
Problem Rated Serious.
The administration was described as
regarding the economic status of the
Negro one of its serious problems.
Officials estimated that IL 00OO00 of
the 100000 colored population came
within the range of those whose buy
ing power the Government Is trying to
raise. Within the past few weeks two
new positions of Importance have been
created in executive departments to
deal particularly with economic prob
lens affecting the Negro.
Secretary Roper. a South Carolinian
last week created a colored division of
the Foreign and Domestic Commerce
Bureau of the Commerce Department
and named Eugene Kinkle Jones of
New York, a widely known colored
leader, to head it. The division was
charged with consultative responsibility
In connection with problems that i'm
mediately affect the business and eco
nonic life"
A few weeks ago Secretary Ickes. a
Northern man, appointed Dr. Clark
Howell Foreman of Atlanta, nephew of
the publisher, Clark Howell, adviser to
the Secretary on the economic status of
the Negro. The Commerce Department
Is concerned primarily with the Negro
business mans problems: the Interior
Department with social and economic
problems of the rGce as a unit
Not Aided by Codes.
Preliminary surveys have shown not
only that colored tenants are losing out
along with white tenants in acreage
curtallment, but that the codes calling
Ior increased wages have not affected
the two occupations in which the
Negro is primarily employed in the
South-farming and domestic service
Ihey have been forced, upon the other
hand, to pay higher prices for their
1oodstuffS which come in the neces-
sites classes.
II mas been ascertained, too, that in
q great many cases, increases in wages
made mandatory under N. R. A. codes
nave operated against the Negro. He
has been crowded out in favor of white
persons, even in occupations in which
cials said this was due to the fact that
Whl'e people who formerly refused
mpnlQI
In a Southern city that officials said
was fairly typical, 1900 cases were
closed by relief workers in September.
Of them 1900 were white and 200 COL
ored, indicating that whites were going
back to work In greater proportion than
colored persons. The proportion should
be go per cent white and 40 per cent
oolored, based on population figures.
Authorities expect the relief survey
now under way to disclose the extent OF
unemployment among colored persons
They estimated it at 100000 mini
mum which is higher than the average
for the total population.
To meet a situation which he con-
siders growing worse rather than better,
DR.. Foreman is endeavoring to guar
antee the Negro his share of jobs under
the public works program and Secretary
1ckes has issued orders there shall be
no discrimination either in employment
or rates of pay on public works pro-
grams.
Ickes is endeavoring, too. to obtain
special consideration to projects sub
mitted by Negro leaders designed to
improve the races economic and social
status. including housing and SUBJ
sistence programs.
Negro leaders are being urged to can
vass the possibilities Of Incorporating
communities eligible to receive loans
under the law for public works.
DR.. Foreman also has in mind for
Negroes a subsistence homestead pro-
gram such as has been started in West
Virginia, where 200 miners perma-
nently out of employment are being
financed for small plots of ground and
are given incidental employment in
community factory.