Evening star., 1934-07-12
ICKES SAYSP.W.A
FUND EXHAUSTED
Secretary of interior Gives
Review OF Problems in
Radio Forum Speech.

Public Works Administrator Harold
L. fckes stood before q microphone
In the National Radio Forum last
night and told a country still clam
orfnE for more p. W. A. money TO
borrow that ne already has virtually
exhausted" the S40O 900 900 made
available by Congress less than two
weeks ago for new work projects.
'"rhe country might as well realize
this situation now he said. 1t is
Inevitable that thousands Of appli-
cantH are doomed 10 disappointment.
Although an additional 500 100000
may later be given by the President
and the X. r. C. may buy some OF
the State and municipal bonds held
In the portfolio OF p w A. he point
ed out. the distinct possibility is
that very little IN excess OF the
t400. 900 900 already granted will be
made for public works during this
second year.
Renders Accounting.
Secretary Ickes rendered an ac-
counting Of the SO 300, 600 900 p. w. A.
fund expended during the first year
and unburdened himself about the
problems now cnfrontiug him in the
speech sponsored by The Evening
Star and broadcast over eoast-to-
coast network OF the National Broad
casting Co. Today upward OF
1000 600 persons, called from idleness
to honest work at fair wages, are
at work behind p. w. A. construc-
ton signs or providing materials
he clamimed. THAT is the recovery for
which you are paying
To critics who demand more speed
the administration said Public works
cannot and should not be a slap-dash
affair. To the impatient, and I am
one Of them, they seem to start with
a glacical slowness, but they also
move on with glacial sureness."
Points With Pride to Record.
He pointed with pride to the years
record. Construction site employment
on P. w. A. projects has doubled since
March ] he declared; more than three
quarters Of all projects are now under
construction or contratc; the average
weekly expeditures now about $3O,-
600 600. has doubled also since March
] anG over 1000 projects have been
completed
Secretary Ickes carefully eschewed
politics in his radio talk, but he man
aged a back-hand slap at the politi-
clans.
With money available TO meet
scarcely one in five of the demands
made for projects, he reminded that
I'D "A clar1anr Cf
the past IL months P. w. A. has
adopted and clung to certain princi-
pies that can never be popular, espe-
cially with the politicians. How
ever, he added, I'VE belive these prin-
ciples to be sound in recovery agency
and they have been and will be pre-
seved in"
The text OF Mr.. Ickes speech fol-
lows
Within a week of its adjourn
ment the Congress, at its last ses-
sion, passed the emergency appropri-
alton bill. which gave the President
the right to allocate to public works
a sum not to exceed 10000, 900.
In the exercise OF this authority the
President, before leaving Washington
S400, 900. 900 for the Public Works
Administration. Although an addi-
tional 500. .0Oo. 900 may later ge given
to us by the President, and while the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
may buy some of the State and mu-
nicipal bonds held in the portfolio of
the p. w. A, thus releasing further
funds for our program, the distinct
possibility is that very little in ex-
cess of the $400 ,000,0 900 already
granted will be available for public
works during this second year. Ac-
cordingly, we are proceeding on the
theory that we will have $400 600 900
to spend, in addition to the $780,
o000 900 originally granted by Con-
EreSs last year and already spent.
P. w. A. has started its second year
80 briskly that it has already virtu-
ally exhausted that portion of the
new funds available as loans and
grants to cities. counties and other
non Federal bodies In the past two
weeks more than $780, 900 900 have
been allocated to about 1900 non
Federal projects Practically all of
the balance has been earmarked to
carry on the work begun last year
This fast action in getting 1900
new projects under way almost over
night was possible because of care
ful advance planning, 1t demonstrates
the advantage Of such planning
With total OF only $400. 900, 900 i'm