Evening star., 1934-11-18

may UC 1lCCoCu 4Ol yCoAo w
come, cities throughout the
~ country are considering
permanent programs. The
immediate necessity is to solve the
grim problem of cold weather relief,
with an estimated 2o,o0o00O mouths
to be fed by February. The Federal
city joint program is being evolved
on the accepted theory that local
responsibility tor the jobless and
destitute comes first. Mayors of ITO
large cities will meet Tuesday in
Chicago to draft a workable plan.
Meantime, the relief question is in
turmoil in the country's two largest
spending agencies-the Federal Gov
ernment at Washington and New
York City's government. Senator
William E. Borah's attack on what
he called shameless waste" in F. E.
R. A. funds has brought an imme-
diate departmental investigation and
the promise of further congressional
inquiry. Mayor Fiorello H. La
Guardia, after putting it up to the
Board of Aldermen to form a quick
new tax plan, was in Washington
last week to learn what aid the city
might expect from the Federal
Government.
Declared a City Problem.
The mayors will confer next week
on the newest and, in some respects,
the most unusual relief program thus
far offered. This program has been
outlined to President Roosevelt by
the Executive Committee of the
United States Conference of Mayors
The committee believes that the
States and cities should care for their
unemployable jobless excepting
veterans, while the Federal Govern
ment should take care of unemployed
who are able to work
After three years of houndering.
this plan is regarded as the first
realistic effort toward a solution, and
hence may influence the course of
important social changes.
Paul v. Betters of Chicago, secre-
tary of the mayors conference, eX-
plains that this plan entails funda-
mental reorganization of the entire
system of administering and financing
unemployment relief.
1t is flve-point program providing:
I. That all people on relief be di-
vided into the general classes of en-
ployables and unemployables. -
2. That it be recognized. as a
premise, that the employable group
those able and willing to work-hnd
themselves out Of work as a result
of a national economic collapse.
8. That the Federal Government
take the responsibility for caring for
this group, under work program and
not under a dole, as is now pri-
marily the case.
4. That major emphasis in such a
program be given to low-cost housing
5. That the unemployable group be
completely cared for by the cities
and States because this responsibility
has been and should be the obliga-
tion of these governments.
Believed Long Program.
L. Lazlo Ecker, Republican, of the
F. E. r. A. statistical department,
who had a hand in the origin of this
program, believes that relief must be
financed on the assumption that un-
employment will continue for years.
The mayors program, therefore, is
designed to be permanent on the
theory that the country is reaching a
new normal level"
1t Is certain that the cities cannot
forecast their finances and draft
budgets with any certainty until the
Federal Governments responsibility
to them has a fixed status.
The mayors seek a permanent fund
to be expended primarily in employ
ing persons on Federal, State and
local nublic works. Those so en-
ployed would receive wages according
to regional standards, yet these
wages would cover the amount OF
benefit predetermined as necessary
for sustaining them comfortably. The
central government would supervise
the program and. by implication,
would bear large share of the cost
Municipal Credit Is Topic.
Harry L. Hopkins, Federal relief ad-
ministrator, will discuss this proposal
with the mayors, City Manager Clar-
ence A. DykStra of Cincinnati, leading
the mayors part of the discussion
Adolph A. Berle, jr. city chamberlain
of New York City. will speak on mu-
nicipal credit in national affairs Dr.
Simeon E. Leland of the University of
Chicago, member of the Illinois State
Tax Commission, will discuss munich
pal revenue. The Mayors Executive
Committee is headed by Mayor La
Guardia.
1t is realized that such program