Evening star., 1933-03-29

Three phases Of the Presidents pro-
grams for employment are debated as
offering moral force that is valuable
to the country. Attention given to the
idea of reforestation is accompanied by
statements as to the ease Of putting the
plan into execution, while the need of
pushing public works and giving aid to
States has heretofore been indorsed.
There is a strong chorus Of approval
for all three, although the Boston
Transcript upholds the idea of caution,
and emphasizes the point that leach
State, or preferably each city, should
aid its own" That paper believes that
the money SO expended should be
raised by local taxation, for the double
reason that the needy are public
charge and that the cost of caring for
them should be borne by all persons
able to pay taxes, and not by the will
ing few"
There are untold opportunities" ac-
cording to the Uniontown Herald, "of
throwing open minor public works pro-
grams such as cleaning up Of highways.
including city streets; minor improve
mentS on streets and roads; cleaning
and repairing Of public buildings in
the municipal subdivisions and cleaning
banks and beds of streams" The Her
aid adds that ANY number of taxpayers
would be glad to meet their taxes If
they had the opportunity to work them
out" The Miami Daily News says of
the general program: There are now
unemployed somewhere between 12,000,-
600 and 100000 men. To give, say,
$500 worth of work in a year to all
would require wage fund of $6000,-
100000. BY forestation, flood control,
or by whatever means are employed,
this form of relief takes on an enormous
expense. 1t is not necessary, of course,
in order to start the wheels rolling. to
put everybody to work at once. The
re-employment Of even a million men
would give. through the consuming
power which this produced. percepti-
BILE impetus to economic recovery"
Denying that there is any danger to
wage scales in the relief program, the
Rochester Times-Union points out that
1T is provided that skilled workers, en-
ployed at their trades. in connection
with this program, shall receive the
prevailing wage of the locality for the
particular crafts in question" That
paper emphasizes the point made by
gain in giving men an opportunity to
work." The Hartford Times feels that
"the underlying thought is that Uncle
Sans helping the unemployed shall be
a temporary accompaniment Of the
other measures that are being under
taken or will be proposed for improving
the economic situation generally"
"The dispiriting and demoralizing
effect Of prolonged unemployment" In
the opinion OF the Indianapolis News,
"is matter Of great social Importance
to the country. During the years OF
economic recession, many young men
have come into the age of normal self
support without knowing the satisfac-
tion OF continuous and profitable en-
ployment. They are subjected to the
temptation Of trying to live without
thought Of gainful occupation. Men
accustomed to employment, and to re-
lance on their own efforts for support:
are. OF course, affected In another. and
that they have been defeated IN q
struggle against unseen forces" The
Morgantown Dominion News directs at
tention to the fact that "the Roosevelt
plan does not call for creation Of new
machinery for control and direction OF
the work.; that "the already existing
facilities Of the Departments OF Labor.
Agriculture, War and Interior are ade-
quate," and that "he does not ask new
funds at this time"
It Is agreed by the Rock Island Argus
that 1.-The Presidents plans have the
merit Of proposing action without
delay" and that paper adds: 1T ap-
pears to be obvious that further
financial grants to States for relief pur-
poses Will be necessary, as money pre-
viously advanced will be exhausted by
May and In some cases sooner than
that. =, It Is conceivable that II such
legislation was enacted and work pro-
ceedA othgN Ngactical needs Viii como