Evening star., 1933-07-17
RESURVEY ORDERED
FOR S79,o)O,0())
;Cabinet Directs Budget Bu-
reau to Recheck Public
Works Proposal.

The cabinet board in charge Of the
Federal public works program ordered
resurvey by the Budget Bureau today
OF recommendations from the Treasury
for spending about $750,000, 900 on
public buildings.
At the same time the board under
took a reconsideration of the $50 O000,-
900 river and harbor and flood control
program it submitted last week to
President Roosevelt
The board asked the Budget Bureau
to submit a new list Of Federal building
projects stripped down to the most
worthy proposals. subjecting each item
to the same tests that have been ap-
piled to. other estimates for Federal
construction.
The Treasury originally submitted q
gigantic Federal building program run
ming 70 to three-quarters Of a billion
dollars, composed Of two lists.
One included 900 projects at a cost
Of about $89,o00,ooo, while the other
included $500 or more proposals cost
ing well over half billion.
Asks Specific Reports.
I'VE spent lot of time discussing
what kind Of a public building pro-
gram. II any to recommend to the
President" Secretary Ickes, chairman
and public works administrator told
newspaper men after the meeting Of
the board.
We asked the Budget Bureau for a
report on specific projects that could
be justified on the same basis as the
other programs"
Each public building proposal Is to
be subjected to test Of social neces-
sity, the possibility of recurring cost to
the Government and other require
ments which the Federal estimates have
been called up to meet.
Ickes said the river and harbor pro-
gram submitted last week would be
carefully reconsidered to make sure
the money IS wisely spent"
This Is not . grab bag he added,
asserting the purpose was not to cur
tail the program but to be sure that
each project was necessary.
Ickes said the board wanted to CO.
ordinate the river and harbor and flood
control program to include the best
projects.
Pinchot Request Denied.
He said several proposals for i'm
provements on the Mississippi River and
its tributaries we're under considera-
ton, mentioning the 9-foot channel
project on the upper river and the de-
velopment Of the Arkansas River.
The board turned down a request
from Gov. Pinchot Of Pennsylvania for
a grant of an extra sl2,000.000 for
roads in addition to the States allot-
ment.
We didn't see how We could do it
under the law" Ickes said. Il will take
it up with Gov. Pinchot and see if We
can arrange loan
Ickes said Pinclsot wanted the money
in order to carry out his program for
unemployment relief
A change in the plan for administer
ing advances to States and local gov
ernmental units also was formulated.
Regional administrators will be set
up, together with State advisory boards
of three members, but recommendations
Of the State groups now can be sent
directly to Washington without having
to 60 through or be approved by the
regional administrators, as provided
heretofore.
Their purpose will be to coordinate
the activities of the various State.;.
Ickes said the War Department had
withdrawn its big program for Army
housing together with recommendations
for spending many million dollars On
motorizing the Army.