Evening star., 1934-12-29
ROOSEVELT MAPS
STATEP.W.A. LAWS
Moves to Open Benefits of
Next Fund to PennSyI-
vania Towns.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, December 29.-
President Roosevelt in a letter to Gov
elect George H. Earle yesterday set
forth a tentative legislative program
whereby Pennsylvania municipalities
can take full advantage" Of a pro-
posed new Federal public works pro-
gram.
The President outlined a suggested
seven-point legislative plan to expe-
dite action on the program, should
Congress authorize it, and informed
the Governor elect that local COM
munities will be expected to share in
the cost of work relief under the pro-
posal
The letter also said the President had
instructed Interior Secretary Ickes,
public works administrator. to place
at the disposal Of Pennsylvania the
legal division of the P. w. A. for the
purpose of suggesting required legis-
lation by the State Legislature.
Earle to operate.
Gov. ELECT Earle Immediately pledged
whole hearted cooperation with the
Federal Government, to the end that
every unemployed person in the State
may be put back to work.
The President, in stating the seven
legislative suggestions, wrote that he
was submitting them for your con-
sideration in formulating your legis-
lative program"
The text of President Roosevelt'S
letter follows:
MY Dear Gov. Earle:
In the event that an additional
public works program is authorized at
the coming session of the Congress, I
should like to see the municipalities
of your State legally able to take full
advantage of such program. With
this in mind, I have instructed Ad
ministrator Ickes to place at your dis
posal the Legal Division Of the Pub
lie Works Administration for the pur-
pose of suggesting bills which, if en-
acted into law, would enable munich
palities of your State to secure the
benefits of this phase of the recovery
program.
Our experience in the past Is
months has brought to light the diff
ficulty Of gearing machinery which
has, served municipalities of your
State adequately for decades to the
speed with which the Federal Govern
ment must extend credit to achieve
desired results. 1t has been found
that revision of the procedure relative
to municipal financing is essential. at
least for the duration of the existing
emergency. I wish to submit for your
consideration in formulating your
legislative program, the following sug-
gestions:
a. Enactment of temporary
bond law for bonds to be issued to
finance public works projects, which
would shorten the period Of time re-
public sale and would relax the eX-
isting limitations on the power to pay
debts. Such law would be of uni
form application to all municipalities
and would confer additional powers
20 construct public works projects
to finance such projects by the is
suance of general obligation bonds
and to make such contracts with the
Federal Government as may be
deemed to be in the best interests OF
the municipalities.
Permanent Amendments.
%. AS an alternative to the above
enactment of amendments of a per-
manent nature to the act of 1874
tP. T. So and other laws concerning
the issuance of bonds by the various
classes Of municipalities for the pur-
pose of simplifying and clarifying the
statutes relative to municipal fnanc-
ing.
"3. Passage of an act to put into
effect Section Is of Article TX of the
Pennsylvania constitution specifically
outlining the procedure to be fol-
lowed in authorizing revenue bonds
and amending in certain respects the
act of 1915 CP. L. 846).
a Creation of authorities for all
counties similar to the Allegheny
County Authority, and the creation
of municipal improvement authorities
without power to tax, but with power
to issue bonds payable solely from
the income of revenue producing i'm
provements, such as water, sewer and
electric light and power systems.
IS. Authorizing municipalities to
engage in Slum clearance, including
condemnation of necessary lands, and
the construction, operation and main
tenance of low-cost. housing to make
contributions therefor, and to enter
into contracts with the Federal Gov
eminent in connection Herewith.
Non-Profit Agencies.
"6. Providing for the creation of
non-profit public benefit corporations
or agencies to provide for the electri-
flcation of rural communities with the
assistance of the Federal Government.
~. Valuation of bonds and other
obligations heretofore issued by mu-
inequalities for public works projects
and sold to the Federal Government.
If you will write me how you feel
about these suggestions, I will request
Administrator Ickes to have prepared
such bills as may be deemed ad-
Visable.
Quite apart from the above sug-
gestions, think it would be helpful
if arrangements could be made
whereby the Public Works Admins
tration Is furnished with copies of all
laws enacted at the forthcoming legis-
lative session. This will materially
aid the administration in advancing
funds on approved projects.
Very sincerely,
(Signed)
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT"