Evening star., 1933-07-30
RELIEF ROLLS CUT
IN PENNSYLVANIA
$4,000 Families Dropped as
Industrial Conditions in
State Improve.
JOHNSON IS TO SPEAK
JOHNSON is TO SPEAK
Will Explain Recovery Program to
Residents Under Auspices of
State Chamber of Commerce.
BY WALTER d. ROOS.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
HARRISBURG, Pa. July 29.-The
most striking evidence of re-employ-
ment in Pennsylvania thus far pro-
duced was furnished by the State
Emergency Relief Board this week.
1t announced reduction of $4,000
families on relief lists since the high
tide of 467,000 families in May. The
reduction in less than two months was
II per cent If the same proportion
pertains to the number of unemployed
who have returned to work, it means
that approximately 10000 persons re-
turned to pay rolls in this period.
Because of the reduction in number
OF jobless, food relief grants again have
been reduced for August by per cent in
Philadelphia and Allegheny County,
which includes Pittsburgh, and by Is
per cent in other counties. The total
grant of Federal and State relief funds
for August is $5.435,856 compared to
$6,700,0Q0 month last Spring.
Plans Much Road Work.
To increase employment the board al
located $5,000,000 in Federal relief
money to be spent in road work in
$600,000 monthly installments until next
April. This money will finance construc-
tion of thin macadam surfaces on 1000
miles of rural roads. and is in addition
to the $l8,891 900 Federal road money
allotted to Pennsylvania by terms of the
public works act. State funds will
finance another program of rural road
improvements to be carried on next
Winter to provide work at the time
when outdoor employment usually lags.
In Philadelphia, where the number
of unemployed has been greatest. the
industrial research department Of the
University of Pennsylvania reports
$1,000 persons were given jobs in three
months. In March, 421 900 persons
were unemployed i'm the city. The list
of jobless was reduced by 1000 in April
23500 in May and 20,500 in June.
The results the Roosevelt administra-
ton expects in Pennsylvania from the
national recovery program will be ex-
planned to meeting CT industrial, COM
mercial, agricultural and labor repre-
sentatives next Wednesday by Gen.
Hugh 8. johnson. national administra-
tor. The meeting is sponsored by the
State Chamber of Commerce in order
to get first-hand information on kinks
in the law which have been perplexing
employers who must operate under
codes.
Support Pours In.
Meanwhile pledges of support for the
recovery program, and the stop-gap
blanket code, poured in from manufac-
turers and merchants in all corners of
the State in a constantly increasing
tide. Pay increases, in some instances
as high as 200 per cent, were reported
simultaneously by some Of the en-
ployers.
Partly due to the improvement in
business conditions, Gov. Clifford Pin
chot this week announced he will not
call a Summer special session of the
Legislature. The industrial codes opera
tions have removed immediate necessity
for legislative action regarding child
labor, maximum hours and minimum
wages. which had been considered for
templated session. Sufficient votes also
were in sight to assure passage of
an old-age pension amendment to the
constitution in time to permit 1t to be
advertised the required period before
submitting it to voters for ratification
in November.
At the time of adjournment of the
regular legislative session in May it was
anticipated special session would be
necessary not later than next Spring to
provide additional funds for relief of
the unemployed. If relief requirements
continue to decrease at the present rate,
"a session for that purpos may become
unnecessary An emergency meeting of
the General Assembly may become i'm
,perative about the end of this year.
however, to enact laws to control and
tax liquor. if repeal becomes an ac-
complished fact by that time and the
Federal Government does not assume
entire control of dispensing intoxicants.
Pennslyvania's old liquor licensing law
was repealed in 1928 at time Of adop-
ton of State enforcement act phrased
to meet conditions of the Volstead
period.
Back Repeal Ratification.
The Democratic State Committee
this week threw its full power behind
Pennsylvania ratification of prohibition
repeal by directing all its county chair
men to organize local campaigns to
elect repeal delegates and cooperate to
the fullest extent with the national ad-
ministration" in its repeal stand. This
maneuver is regarded as more than
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