Evening star., 1934-12-17
Praise and Doubt Greet
Proposal Involving Expend-
iture of Billions.
Permanent P. w. A. FOR
DEVELOPMENT is HIT
River Improvement, New Land
Policy and Decentralization Of
Industry Recommended.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A gigantic plan for Americas natu-
raj resources, proposed to President
Roosevelt as a means of distributing
human welfare" through the land,
stirred a mixture of praise and doubt
on Capitol Hill today.
While some described the report OF
the Presidents National Resources
Board as "very progressive" and "ex-
cellent," others expressed doubt about
the wisdom Of permanent Public
Works Administration, which the
board suggested.
Many, including regular Republican
leaders, withheld comment pending
more study Of the 100, ,000-word report
on a long grange plan for the Nations
land, water and mineral wealth, which
included these salient points:
/. A six-year public works budget,
with a $4,000, ,000, 900 reserve fund
and elimination of extravaganza
caused by the failure to coordinate
public works-Federal. State and
local"
Would Retire Land.
2. A program to retire $4,000, 900
acres of submarginal or hardscrabble
lands at the rate Of 100000 acres
annually.
g. An expansion Of subsistence
homesteading with further decen-
traliZation of industry.
4. Federal assistance to and control
of the mineral industries to mini
mize waste of natural resources, main
tain reasonable wage standards and
protect investments"
5. Surveys looking to the develop
ment of power, irrigation and food
control in II watersheds.
9. An end to heavy losses Of soil
caused by uncontrolled erosion"
7. Better programs for socially
useful" public works and a lump sum
from which the President could allot
money under at least a six-year plan.
Would Create Board.
8. A permanent flve-member plan
ming agency to serve as an advisory
general staff" for the President to CO.
ordinate longtime public works
planning, land use, water resources,
mineral policy and mapping"
The report made many other recon-
fnendations, covering increased land
purchases, additions to forests, parks
and wild life refugees, land uses, irri-
cation, grazing land extensions, Indian
policies and State and regional plan
ming.
The board, which began its study
last Summer at the request of Mr..
Roosevelt, was headed by Secretary
Ickes. Other members were Secre-
taries Perkins, Dern, Wallace and
Roper; Harry L. Hopkins, relief ad-
ninistrator; Frederic A. Delano,
Charles E. Merriam and Wesley c.
Mitchell
Secretary Perkins expresses the be-
lief the vast plan could put every
ble-bodied man to work. Only the
future will tell just what recommenda-
tions the President will make to Con-
gress after studying it in detail.
Norris For 1t.
Senator Norris, Republican, of Ne
braSka was one legislator who COM
mented today. He said 1t was a very
progressive plan and think the Gov
ernment ought to carry it out"
"It would take years to do it," he
said, "but it would protect and give
to the people the use of our natural
resources which have been either de-
stroyed or given away in the past.
Chairman Harrison, Democrat, OF
Mississippi, Of the Senate Finance
Committee, termed it very splendid
study of long-range national plan
ming for natural resources" While II
would require much study before ex-
pressing sound opinion, he said, II
certainly is an excellent basis upon
which to work"
Chairman Buchanan, Democrat, oi
Texas, of the House Appropriations
Committee, declared, 1--WE have long
needed sensible national plan, but
I'm not so sure about the permanent
! Public Works Administration"
"And I'm less sure than that about
making a permanent habit of lump
sum appropriations for public works,
he added.
Fears Loss Of Control.
Buchanan's attitude is that Of many
House members, who believe Congress
| should keep more detailed contro
over construction work.
Representative Wilson, Democrat
Louisiana, chairman of the Flooc