Evening star., 1934-01-19

working 4o-hour weeks will have their
pay time cut to 80 hours, under Hops
kins' order. This order was not ex.
pected To effect the administrative
workers In the Offices Of State adminis-
traitors. =
At least one protest against the or
ders dispatched from C. w. A. head
quarters here was placed on file almost
as soon as the move became known.
The Executive Committee of the United
States Conference Of Mayors said warn
ing had been issued by their organi-
zation week ago to all municipalities
that the Civil Works Administration
would begin tapering Off"
The statement termed the hour-re-
duction move the first blow against
1000, 900 people who have been given
work at regular wages" It added that
$50 cents an hour for IS hours means
81 SO week"
Although the Mayors Committee in
terpreted the move as trimming OF
sails" by the c. w. A. to meet con-
tingencies that might arise from con-
gresslonal delay in voting additional
emergency funds" administration head
quarters here asserted the action was
necessary to keep the big project with
in its budget. -
Hopkins had figured that existing
funds would allow the continuance Of
civil works projects until February 10,
by which time Congress was expected
to have granted new funds. About
$3.50 100000 of the forthcoming presi-
Dental billion plus requested would be
allotted to the c. w. A. to continue its
activities through the Winter.
d. c. Officials Order Gut.
The reduction in the hours of work
each week Of civil works employees Of
the District, which will bring to thou
sands of c. W. A. workers here a cor
responding cut in weekly wages, was
ordered today by District officials in
compliance with the instructions Of Mr..
Hopkins.
Clerical workers employed under the
civil works program will receive a cut
In wages of about % per cent since
they are now to be placed on a 3O-hour
week instead Of the 39-hour schedule
heretofore followed
District relief officials anticipated to-
day that there would be an increase In
appeals for direct emergency relief pay
ments as result of the reduction in the
weekly payments for c. w. A. work.
George S. Wilson, director of public
welfare, said no one could tell in ad-
vance just how much the relief budget
would be affected.
Will Ask s26O,OOO Grant.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners pre-
pared petition to be forwarded later
today or tomorrow to the Federal EN-
ergency Relief Administration for a
grant Of s260.000 to replenish District
relief funds. now virtually exhausted
The figure amounts to one-third of the
sum Of public funds expended here dur
ing October, November and December
An order issued yesterday by Hop
kins, forbidding the purchase OF any
additional materials for civil works
projects here without specific approval
by his Office has raised a question Of
whether approximately 5000 c. w A.
laborers might have to be let out with
in a few days. Capt. Howard F Clark,
executive officer of the District Civil
Works Administration. said there are
on hand sufficient materials for sewer
and road projects to carry the program
to February !. These projects will come
TO halt then, however, if additional
orders are not approved.
Also it was revealed today. while
the District c. w. A. has approved
acquisitions for quantities of road and
sewer Improvement materials. large
quantities of these materials have not
yet been actually ordered 10 be shipped
because of lack of storage places here.
Should these be ruled out, the road and
sewer projects would come TO halt
sooner.