Evening star., 1934-01-23
DENIES SFOSTER|NC
c. ". A. PROTESTS
Hopkins Says Flood of Let
ters Is Result of Spon-
tane0us 0utburst.

Civil Works Administrator Harry L.
Hopkins today disclaimed any part in
the huge campaign that has developed
in the past few days until about 5000
letters and kilograms are flooding the
c. w. A. headquarters and members of
Congress appealing fol legislation to
continue the civil works program when
the present funds are exhausted, about
February IS.
At the same time however, Hopkins
reiterated his belief, often expressed
since the civil works program was
started in December, that it should be
carried on in some form to combat un-
employment
The evidently organized portion Of the
campaign, 1t was pointed out. has been
undertaken by Paul " Betters. secre-
tary Of the United States Conference of
Mayors and secretary Of the American
Municipal Association. Mr. Betters, it
was learned, has been acting under Or
ders of Mayor T. S. Walmsley of New
Orleans, president Of the Conference of
Mayors.
Called Spontaneous.
A much larger portion of the cam
paign, 1t was stated. has come spon-
taneously from city officials. civic lead
ers and private citizens throughout the
country. who. feeling that the c. w. A.
has been Of vast benefit to municipali-
ties. many Of which are near bank
ruptcy, want it continued
The letters were precipitated by
Hopkins announcement that, to stay
within the original fund provided to
run only until February IS, it will be
necessary to begin curtailing activities.
and orders call for the immediate slic-
ing of approximately 261 900 names
from the c. W. A. payrols.
Additional orders have been issued
to cut down working hours in some
areas. 1t is expected approximately
SOC. 900 names will be dropped from
c. w. A. payrolls by February l.
Meanwhile. the administration Is
proceeding with the drafting of legis-
lation calling for more than billion
dollars to continue unemployment relief
work. About S35OO of this money
would be used to carry Civil Works ac-
tivity into next Spring. an almost equal
amount to continue the Civilian Con-
servation Corps for another year and
lief activities of the Federal Govern
ment
Not on c. w. A. Payroll.
Hopkins emphasized that Betters,
whose kilograms sent throughout the
country have urged that pressure be
brought to bear on Congress to continue
the Civil Works program. has no official
connection with the Civil Works Ad-
ministration. Hopkins said that Betters,
whom he has known for some time,
has been helpful with advice in carry
ing on the work Of the c. W. A., but
that he Is not on the payroll and has
no voice in c. W. A. policies.
Hopkins, ever since the success OF the
c. w. A. program was assured late IN
December, has stated that he hopes
Congress will see fit to carry on the
work as an unemployment relief mea-
sure, or as an alternative to unemploy-
ment insurance However, he denied
the flood of letters and kilograms which
has descended upon the administration
and upon Capitol Hill were inspired
directly by him.
Lopping off of the c. W. A. workers
Is expected to increase the HOW OF
protests, particularly from the IA states
chiefly affected In all these the
C. w. A. employment has been in ex-
cess Of the quota set and the looping
of Of workers Is being done in an effort
to make the available money string out
to the deadline originally set for Febru-
ary IS.
Opposes Expansion.
At the White House, President Roose-
velt was represented as determined not
to expand Federal spending beyond the
limits mentioned in his budget and IN
his budget civil works activities were
provided for only until May.
From February l Hopkins Is ordered
to reduce the c. w. A. pay rolls by
about 100000 jobs. until the army OF
the employed unemployed" is disbanded.
The States affected by the first re-
duction order are:
wisconsin. 81 900 reduction ordered;
Illinois, to cut the rolls to 100000. the
exact number to lose jobs not being
listed; Ohio. $4,000: Texas. $4,000:
Arkansas, 10000: West Virginia and
Michigan. 10000 each; Kentucky.
10000; Washington, 10000: Minnesota.
$500; Maine, New Hampshire and Okla
homa, 1,5O0 each. and Utah. 1000.
Other retrenchments included hours
of work. as follows:
All 30-hour- -a-week jobs ordered re-
duced to "a hours in cities Of $500 and
over, while in communities less than
that size the hour limit was cut to
Is Jobs previously running for 40
hours q week were cut to 80 and many
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