Evening star., 1933-08-06
BY HAROLD L. ICKES,

spending orgy"
BY HAROLD L. ICKES,
Secretary Of the, Interior and Federal
Public Works Administrator.
The national administration is en-
gagged on many fronts in a mighty mass
attack to beat down the depression by
creating jobs and thus restoring pur-
chasing power.
The Federal emergency administra-
ton of public works, created last month
by the national recovery act. Is one
governmental establishments now work.
ing day and night to achieve this goal.
The national public works program
has the twofold objective of creating
employment and useful public works at
the same time. To this end We are
proceeding as rapidly as is humanity
possible, while maintaining at all times
the necessary safeguards.
Nearly Billion Issued.
In the six weeks since the public
works act went on the statute books
nearly billion dollars of the $780,
100000 authorized for public works
have been allocated. The President has
appointed 10 regional advisers and 48
State Advisory Boards. and the organi-
cation in Washington is being perfected
day by day.
Obviously, we cannot say to the coun-
try: Here is fund, $4,000, ,0O0, 900;
come and get it." There must be a
plan. Each and every application for
funds must be carefully examined and
checked. Speed to get men back to
work is, of course. desirable, but not
the haste that makes waste These
dollars belong to the American people.
Every one of them comes from the
pockets of the taxpayers AS their trus-
tees we are determined to see that they
are expended wisely.
U. S. Construction Leads.
Most of the money already allotted is
for purely Federal construction. In
cluded in these allottments are s4OO.-
100000 for certain classes of roads,
$4,000, 900 for roads in national parks,
Indian reservations, etc, and S238,000,-
600 for naval construction. Twenty-fiv
million dollars also was set aside in the
law for subsistence homesteads.
The road program has advanced to
the point where actual construction op-
erationS soon will be under way in vir-
tuaIly all the States. Contracts already
have been awarded by the Navy Depart
ment for new ships. Both the road and
shipbuilding programs will give imme-
diate employment to large numbers of
unemployed workers.
The purely Federal projects are the
first upon which work is beginning be-
cause they were passed upon here in
Washington by the Federal agencies
involved and the special board of public
rly @;xofn Iv, hn Dra 80
advise with the administrator in the de-
termination of policies and he selection
of specific projects The President him
self, despite his many and arduous
duties. has personally scrutinized and
sanctioned all projects in the list thus
far approved.
State Boards Must Act.
The non-Federal projects-those on
which the Federal Government will
make grants and loans-must be first
considered by the State advisory boards
under the Public Works Administra-
tions decentralized organization. This
will give an opportunity to men fanril-
liar with the local financial and unem-
ployment problems Of the community to
pass first on applications for Federal
aid.
Heavy responsibilities rest upon these
State advisory boards. Undoubtedly
strong pressure will be brought to bear
in support of doubtful projects. 1t will
be as much duty of these boards to
say mo" as it will be to say Eyes" AL
though appointed as representatives OF
States the members of these boards
really are agents of the Federal Gov
ernment
Applications for grants and leans
will be considered by the advisory
boards from a standpoint of policies
laid down by the Public Works Admin
istration. The project must be socially
desirable 1t must be feasible from an
engineering and technical standpoint.
There must be an acceptable showing
of financial responsibility. Local
budgets must be carefully scrutinized.
The United States expects these loans
to be repaid.
Prefer Integrated Work.
Priority will be given to projects
which can be entered upon at once and
completed with relative speed. Prof.
ects which are located in or near a
center of unemployment should be pre-
ferred SO far as practicable ito those
located in areas where the problem OF
unemployment Is less acute. Projects
which are integrated with others into
a significant plan will be preferred to
projects which are isolated and unre-
lated.
There will be no orgy of spending
this fund simply for the sake of spend
ing it. Political pressure will be re-
sisted. Projects without merit will be
discarded. The hard-earned cash OF
the American people will not be dis
sipated.
The American people are in a fight
not unlike war We have drawn gen.
erously upon the Nations resources
to wage the battle. We have the in
spired leadership of the President and
the determination of our citizens to
pull through. The end is in sight. Let's
drive onward together.
Copyright. 1888, by North American News
paper Alliance, Inc)
kfHuDIcTH IC C0MD0CITE