The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-31
FIVE BILLIONS
NEEDED IN '35
TO HELP idle
Congress to Be Asked to
Appropriate Sum for
Work Relief.
fCopyright 1884. BY united Press

lC0DTrlglL 1919. Dl AAAAtGA 1851
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31-Con-
gress must appropriate at least
S. 600 100000 to provide work for
the unemployed in 1885, it appeared
today from a review of 1884 Federal
construction and relief costs.
Public works, emergency relief, the
Civilian Conservation Corps and the
now defunct Civil Works Admins
tration altogether spent about
s511O.OO0 900 in 1884 creating work
and financing relief for some 19,5OO,-
600 persons.
Costs are not expected to decline
materially in the next few months,
although the Administration hopes
for a business revival. American
Federation of Labor figures showed,
however, that unemployment IN
creased by 100000 persons in No
vember.
Harold L. Ickes, Public Works Ad-
nhnistrator, declared that employ
ment of some 100000 persons" can
be traced to the So 800, 100000 IN
public works expenditures during the
past year. he pointed out approx
mately 100000 persons" including
dependents of those gainfully en-
ployed, received benefits directly or
indirectly from the PWA program.
9IOO Projects Completed
PWA. he said, spent more than
500 100000 on all phases of public
works. completed 9100 construction
pro- ects, while 1900 are being built,
and 2.8O1 have received alOtmentS.
About S2.OOO,OOO,OOO in applications
still are pending.
Mr.. -ckeS, looking forward to
1885. said "PWA has cleared its
decks for action and can launch, in
short order, whatever new program
the President recommends and Con-
gress approves" He intimated low
cost housing and subsistence home
steads would be its backbone.
FERA spent around S1,051 ,407 ,479
in 1884 giving jobs, food and cloth
ing to a gigantic relief roll that
averaged 100000 dependents a
month. Actual expenditures for the
first nine months, according to Mr..
Hopkins. totaled S676. 4O7 479. Allot-
ments for October, November and
December were estimated at $685.
100000
New Policy Adopted
The December relief list reached
the 10000 O00-nanle mark. Mr.. Hop
k.ns took immediate steps to reduce
it by announcing that, after FEB
l, states, counties and municipali-
ties must raise and spend their own
money to care for about 100000
ployable-chronic dependents
physically Or mentally unable to
work.
Although Mr.. Hopkins order will
reduce Federal relief rolls by 20 per
cent, Administration officials pre-
viOusly had estimated unemployment
would reach its peak next February
with 100000 persons needing aid.
If those predictions hold true. the
number now on relief. will remain
more or less stat until spring.
Mr.. Hopkins order was interpre-
ted as opening The way for sub
StitUtion of work relief for direct
relief next year. Purchase of ma
terialS necessary in Work-relief will
increase costs about is per cent.
CWA spent S814OO0,OO0 between
Nov. 15 1888, and March 81, 1884.
when it was in effect. officials es-
timated the program cost S4OO. 900 900
during the first three months of
this year.
Costs of CCC activities were ap-
proXimately S36O.OOO,OOO during 1884.
Camps maintained an average of
slightly more than 100000, who sent
some S85,OOO,OOO, or five-sixths of
their earnings, home to dependents.
PWA and F'ERA are marking time
pending action Of Congress in grant
ing new funds for the work.
Mr.. Ickes has between $1,000. 600
and 100000 on hand for allot-
ment to construction projects. Mr..
Hopkins has estimated the $780,
100000 he has for the start of 1885
will last only until Feb. Is.