Evening star., 1933-07-13

As the public works program OF the
Federal Government takes form it Is
seen as a probable means Of greatly re-
ducing unemployment in the country
and the final blow at the depression. 1t
is found to have restrictions and safe
guards. with view to obtaining the
greatest possible benefits from the ex-
penditure Of billions OF dollars. IL is
also felt that each project undertaken
will materially improve condltlonS 1of
auxiliary industries.
1T is expected by Government Off
Gals that 100000 men will be building
or repairing highways within six weeks.
saws the Nashville Banker. with the ad-
vice that 1.-The benefits will not be con-
fined to giving employment to these
men. nearly all Of whom are now idle;
increased activity in mining. manufac-
turing. and industries supplying ma
terials for the highways is bound to re-
suit" The Bloomington Paragraph
states that 1.-The character OF acceptable
suggestions for Government aid is lndl-
Gated in the wording of the law-con-
srruction, repair and Improvement OF
public highways and parkways, conser-
vation of natural resources. development
of water power. or any projects OF the
character heretofore constructed or car
ried on either directly by public au-
thority or with public aid, to serve the
general interests.
Many, if not most Of the projects
suggested" according to the San Fran
cisco Chronicle, ARE old friends, matters
put forward from time to time and laid
over, sometimes regretfully, for future
consideration. Every one Of these now
requires analysis by competent planners
as to its individual merits and its part
in the general pattern" The Omaha
World Herald finds assurance that
there are to be no loans for the pipe
dreams of visionaries." for whatever Is
done with Federal aid must be socially
desirable" That paper believes that "a
spurious form Of relief, mere stop-gap
in depression suffering, would follow the
aimless employment Of men. at Govern.
ment expense, to do unnecessary JOBS.
The Morgantown Dominion-News un-
derstands that "the President himself
is ready to check proposals very care
fully, to make sure that only worth
while construction is undertaken"
1t is pointed out by the Chicago Daily
News that already 250,000 are in for
estation camps" and thus the first
phase of the national experiment IN
supplying work and wages is being car,
ried out successfully" The Oakland
Tribune comments: THE Federal pro-
gram includes upward of 400 million
dollars for highways, grants 80 per cent
of the cost of other projects outright,
and permits local governments to bor-
row the remainder Of the cost at low
interest rates. In the main the projects
to be financed will be on 10 per cent
borrowed money. Government aid and
present price Of materials offer argu-
ments for construction Of those projects
Which are really needed"
1.-TWO features Of the program" In the
opinion of the Fort Worth Star-Tele-
gram. "are vastly important. These are
the requirement that IS per cent OF
funds allotted for work on federally
recognized highways shall be expended
for extension Of routes through munich
palities. and the stipulation that prece-
dence in general construction shall be
given to completing pavement of gaps
in existing Federal aid highways. The
unwise and inequitable provisions in
which forbade the use of Federal funds
within municipalities Is thus dispensed
with"
Maryland's demand that highways
for traffic passing through the State
should be viewed largely as national
projects and be financed chiefly by the
Federal Government" is taken up by
the Baltimore Sun. with the suggestion
that "the argument is plausible, but 1t
may be difficult to persuade Washington
to accept it, since application Of thl
rule throughout the country would In
volvs an end eouS outlay"