Evening star., 1934-04-15
UNEMPLOYED GET
Jobs WITH f. W.A.;;
WORK HOURS CUT
Change in Rule Removes
Large Number From
Direct Relief.
NEW MINIMUM TIME
18 HOURS PER MONTH
Total of 6,245 Engaged Here Dur
ing Past Week, Receive
$47,245.

Transfer of a majority Of the num-
Der of the unemployed on the direct
relief roster Of the District to employ
ment with the Emergency Work Ad-
miniStration here may be affected as
result of change in Federal E. w.
A. rules, District officials declared
last night.
Harry L. Hopkins Federal relief
administrator, notified the Commits
sioners yesterday the minimum time
which E. W. A. workers may be en-
ployed per month had been reduced
to 18 hours.
Capt. Harry F. Clark, executive Off
Ger of the District E. w. A, predicted
the change would solve a number oS
problems associated with the relief
and work-relief plans and effect a
big reduction in the direct relief out
lay by placing a greater number on
the work projects.
Minimum Changed.
Originally, the minimum number of
hours per month for E. w. A. work
ers was set at 81, although each en-
ploye was to receive wages amounting
only to what his budget required
Recently this was modified to permit
skilled workers to be employed for a
minimum of 80 hours per month. The
new rule issued yesterday sets the
minimum for any class of worker at
l6 hours.
The $4,000 grant to the District
for all phases of relief of the unem-
ployed here during April was based
on an estimate there were 25 600 per-
sons here needing an average of SIS
month. District officials declared
that many could not be employed in
the E. w. A. program because their
budgets were less than the wages
which would result from the former
minimum number of hours of 81 and
80. for unskilled and skilled workers.
Under Federal rules. if less than
the stated minimum number of hours
of work was required. the applicant
then was to be cared for out of di-
rect relief and could not be enlisted
under the E. w. A. 1t was found
that many skilled workers were af-
fected by this rule.
More to Get Work.
Reduction of the minimum number
of hours per month to 18, however.
will permit most all of the unemployed
who are physically able to work to be
engaged in the E. w. A. program, in
stead of being dependent only upon
charity. officials said.
The original E. w. A. rules estab-
lished a six-hour day and a four-day
week. ANY additional assistance
needed by individuals was to come
out Of direct relief.
The new orders change this sched-
ule also, since it is ruled that no one
shall be employed for less than six
hours or more than eight hours a day.
Also, it was ruled the total work al
lowed a worker in any month may
be consolidated in any part of that
month" Capt. Clark said this would
permit adoption of an eight-hour,
five-day week for the projects.
Single Men Included.
The lessening Of the minimum
number of hours per month. he said.
would permit the employment, on a
part-tlme basis, OF persons needing
as little as S7.20 a month to fill out
their budgets. He said it would per-
nit the employment of a greater
number of single men than has been
possible under the old rules. He an
ticipated a greater number of skilled
workers could be employed. Some of
the improvement projects have been
delayed because Of a lack Of sufficient
skilled workmen.
A total Of 6,245 men and women
have been engaged during the past
week under the District E. w. A.. it
was revealed yesterday when the Sat
urday pay roll figures were released.
These workers received a total of
S47,245. In addition to this number
there were $500 emergency works
employees Of Federal establishments
here who received wages totalipe
s57,527, making the total of the two
disbursements amount to Sl04,?72.