Evening star., 1934-01-07

will be eflcient organizations scat
tered here and there, and enthusiastic
workers, but these will be the excep-
tions. The danger is that by the civil
works program we shall drift into Com
munism without the philosophy and
the fervor which give dignity and
validity to the Russian experiment.
Then there is the little question Of
cost. I am unable to understand how
the $400, 100000 fund available for civil
works up to February Is can be
stretched to make good what the Gov
eminent has promised to 1000 900 per-
sons on the dole or out of work. I
have seen thousands of these men in
New York City. shivering in lines, wait
ing to register. So far as I can see
closer to $80o,000,000 would have been
required to pay for wages, overhead
and material for such program. This
problem has been met by simply not
employing the full 1000 900 on the
dates promised and by cutting of en-
ttrely or skimping supplies, so that
worthwhile projects had to be aban-
doned and the old made work" resort
ed to. Even at the present rate the
next Congress will have to appropriate
Gloss to 100000 900 to sustain the
civil works program throughout the
coming year.
Criticism Is Important.
1t is the prospect which makes in
telllgent analysis and criticism of the
civil works program so important to
the country, and makes it so essential
That we flnd out in advance whether
the new civil works program will stim-
ulate or retard the healthy absorption
OF workers by private business; whether
IL VIII supplement or retard N. r. A.
operations; whether it would not be
preferable to reorganize and, If neces-
sary. expand the public works program
under more efficient direction rather
than spend an additional three billions
on civil works.
II such analysis and criticism irritate
thin-skinned officials unaccustomed to
the trials and tribulations Of public life,
that is just too bad. They have no
monopoly Of sympathy for the unem-
ployed. The money In question is the
money Of all the people, and not the
private bank account Of the admins
traitors. Congress will not refrain from
discussing the problem, nor will these
officials be indefinitely immune from
questioning. After all men who cannot
stand the gaff Of criticism with poise
who shrink from honest argument and
cannot preserve a sense of humor or
develop the hide Of a rhinoceros, should
keep out Of prominent public office
They should know, anyway, that crit
icism is entirely consistent with whole
some respect.
Reports Are Advocated.
One of the best ways to obviate un-
fair criticism and confusion would be
for the new Congress to prescribe that
all the emergency organizations set up
to fight the depression, including the
Public and Civil Works and Re-employ-
ment Administrations, shall publish cur
rent weekly reports which shall disclose
exactly what they are accomplishing
the bare facts without optimistic claims
or artificial coloring
Among other things, we need to know
the total effect of all the emergency
agencies on the depression. How many
persons out Of work have been absorbed
by private industry and how many by
public and civil works? For how many
months in advance must we plan civil
works? How much more money should
go into public works? How fast can
We shift the workers from civil to pub
lie works, and from public works to
regular business pursuits? How much
do We need for materials as distin-
guished from wages. If We expect to
have anything to show for the civil
works expenditures when normal condi-
tiofs are restored? To what extent dc
R. F. c. bank, railroad and other loans
produce employment? Must we resort
to loans or subsidies to ordinary private
business as we have in effect to agri-
culture?
Questions Not Unanswerable.
These questions may be hard to an
swer, but they are not insoluble mys-
terieS.
The public works program, with all
its ramihcations, is in the hands OF
honest, well intentioned, public spirited
people. It is remarkably free from par
tisanship and apparently altogether free
from graft. What it needs and palpably
lacks is executive leadership of the
highest something Of the drive
which Is associated with war or bust
ness for profit. Can this kind of mo-
tivation be found under present condi-
tions? Here is the opportunity for those
who favor the expansion Of Government
activities and permanent public direc-
ton of industry and agriculture to prove
that the Government can do big job
well.