Evening star., 1933-07-09
bob DRIVE OPENS;
|CKES IN CHARGE
Selection of Cabinet Mem.
Der Ends Dispute Over
Methods.
Continued From First Page }

without taking action, but directed a
subcommittee to report by Tuesday II
possible on projects to be included IN
the proposed $400, 0,000, 900 Federal pub
lie works program.
This is the first part Of the $780,
100000 program the administration
hopes to get under way. Most of the
projects may be undertaken as soon as
the money is allocated because the
plans have been made for them months
ahead.
The subcommittee, headed by Assist
ant Secretary Tugwell OF the Agricul-
ture Department, is checking recon-
mendations of the various departments
for this program in an effort to weed
out all but essential projects.
Disbursement of funds for State and
local construction work must await
President Roosevelts creation Of local
boards to supervise and recommend ex-
penditureS.
Meanwhile me War Department dig
ging into funds 1t already had available
from regular appropriations for that
purpose allotted $l1 100000 for river
and harbcg work previously authorized.
At the same time labor officials from
26 States were meeting with representa-
ice to map out national employment
system.
Special attention was given to setting
up agencies to supply labor for the pub
lie works program.
Plants Continue Fast Pace.
The gigantic machinery Of the Ma
tion's privately owned industrial plants
continued during the last week to turn
out consumers goods at a rapid rate,
while the retail trade asserted that its
business was failing to keep in tune
with production, the Commerce Depart
ment reported yesterday.
The administration fears some manu-
facturers are loading their stock rooms
at the expense of labor employed at
long hours before the industrial codes
go into effect. The administration
seeks a step-up in production, provid-
ing it is not speculative" to be met
by the employment of additional labor.
as will be required under the trade
agreements.
President Roosevelt is reported to
have before him. not only the Com
merce Department report, but charts
Of the Federal Reserve Board which
show that increased production was far
outrunning Unemployment and tending
to pile up depressing surpluses
Besides reporting that the upward
movement in production activity con-
tinued during the past week, the Com
merce Department asserted the major
indices moved to the highest levels
Of the year. and in numerous instances
compared favorably with the 1881
record"
Wholesale Prices Rise.
Steel activity has passed so per cent
Of capacity, and is at the highest point
since April, 1881, the department re-
ported. Automobile production con-
tinued upward, and the department re-
ported that the output for the week
was larger than at any time since
June. 1881.
The departments survey showed
wholesale prices moved higher as both
agricultural and non-agricultural prices
advanced. Wheat futures in certain
position sold above 81 q bushel, and
the cash price Of No. Winter wheat
moved above 80 cents at Kansas City
The price Of middling cotton advanced
above 10 cents a pound. while the iron
and steel composite price at $2929 a
ton was the highest since last Novem-
ber
Security prices also moved to new
HiBIlS lOT IIle year, the department re-
ported, with stocks and bonds sharing
in the forward movement.
The department warned no indication
Of "slackening in the high rate of op-
erations in industries producing con-
sumers' goods has yet appeared" and
retail trade reports indicate that the
slackening tendency evident in the pre-
ceding week has continued"
This warning was anticipated by
Johnson on Friday when he called upon
industries to come forward with trade
agreements designed to increase wages
and limit hours. The administrator
told newspaper men:
I'VE came pretty close to a complete
collapse just before the Inauguration of
this administration, and we have had q
little pull up. don't like to be q
prophet-if there was a new crash in
this country I don't know what would
happen. Now here is a plan so that
these industries can prevent runaway
price structures. 1t Is at least an
experiment."