The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-21

SLOW III Ldh4AAE dQF dAAtdEN IA 49,
public works act that many may
lose the opportunity to participate
to any real extent in the fund for
iob-giving work. Plans for spend
ing the rest of the government s
money on all-federal projects in
order that il may be used as quickly
as possible now are getting the ad-
ministration's principal attention.
For. while federal departments
also have been slow in spending the
money already allotted to them. the
tempo there can be quickened
readily BY direct orders from Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
Reason for Delay
The DELAY. in relation TO the in
dustrial recovery program, Is for
this reason;
The industries in which most I'M
employment exists are building
construction. steel, machinery and
materials. These are the so-called
producers goods industries. In
crease in wages has little effect on
them until purchasing power be-
comes great enough to permit ex-
tensive home building, expansion of
businesses, replacement of worn out
mT chinery, extensive improvement
of railroads or public structures.
The NRA program calls for
shorter hours and higher wages in
these industries, but the industries,
without increased orders of business,
have no way of meeting these in
creased costs. From the start Of
the recovery program, the govern
ment's public works expenditures
were counted on to reopen the steel
mills, machine tool plants and other
producers goods shops.
NRA officials believe that if this
is not done soon, continued loss in
these groups will have an adverse
effect on gains in employment made
in the consumers goods" indus
tries. such as textiles, clothing,
shoes. furniture and other things
bought directly by the persons re-
ceiving wages.
Little Work Under Way
About half the public works. fund
has been allotted, most of 1t to fed
eral departments. Very little work
actually Is under way. however.
Probably less than 10000 men are
at work, though accurate figures
are not available.
The biggest single allotment,
s40O, 1000. 900, was set aside in the act
for road building by the states. The
federal public works administration
had this all allotted by the middle
of August and had approved 465
specific projects for expenditures by
the states, but at that time only
sixty-seven contracts had been let.
During the last month this work
has been speeded up somewhat. but
the actual number of jobs still is
not more than about twenty thou
sand. A number of states have
taken no steps to submit projects
and secure the money awaiting
them.
The public works administration
headed by Interior Secretary Har-
old Ickes. has taken two recent
spending by cities and states, and
these have made a marked differ
ence in tempo within the last two
weeks. Still more speed is neces-
sary. officials believe. if the pur-
poses of the general recovery pro-
gram are to be served.
Temporary Funds Let
About a month ago the admin
istration agreed to make temporary
allotments to local governments in
order that funds might be available
for preliminary surveys. on condi-
ton that details be completed and
a contract offered within thirty DAYS.
More recently Deputy Administrator
Henry NJ Waite. with legal and
financial aids, has undertaken a
quick dash around the country TO
bring home to local officials the
need for prompt action on public
works and to help them meet legal
requirements concerning advertising
for bids. letting of contracts. posting
of bonds. and in some cases taking
of a popular vote.
Until Sept. /. no local projects
were before the administration for
action. Recently they have been
coming. with approval from state
public works boards, at the rate Of
about twenty-five a day
An application from Salem. Mass.
was approved by the PWA two DAYS
-
ton and 400 men were put to WORK
three DAYS later. but few Of the
non-federal applications have been
received in such form that this
could be done.
Resistance of contractors TO min
imum wage scales fixed by the PWA
for all work to be done with its
money is also complicating the
problem. The public works board ap-
proved minimumS ranging from 40
to so cents an hour for unskilled
labor and from 81 to S1.20 for skilled
labor after negotiating with the
American Federation of Labor, and
directed that all contracts be let
on this basis.
Seek Lower Scales
Contractors are fighting for lower
scales proposed in the master con-
tracing industry code and sub-codes
recently laid before NRA.
Until this question is settled by
the President. conflict between the
contractors desire to secure public
work and TO keep general wage rates
down will continue. Failure to COM
plete the NRA construction code also
is causing delay in awarding con-
tracts.
The public works act is far more
generous to states and cities than
any previous one. 1t permits out
right gift OF 30 per cent OF the cost
of any project by the federal gov