Evening star., 1934-08-31
E.E. R. A. EXPLAINS
LEATHER POLICY
Surplus From Drought Cattle
Will Be Processed Mainly
by Going Concerns.

BY the Associated Press.
The job of making millions Of
shoes for the needy unemployed this
Winter Is going to be divided between
private manufacturers, who will
handle the bulk Of 1t, and idle fac
tories reopened by State relief ad-
nninistrations.
ofacials Of the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration made this dis
closure yesterday to end speculation
regarding disposition Of hides from
cattle purchased by the Government
in the drought area.
They said the administration would
rely principally On ''going concerns"
to tan the hides and convert them
into shoes and other goods for the
unemployed. State relief administra-
tions-financed largely by Federal
funds-will be permitted to lease
shutdown factories and employ idle
leather workers now on relief rolls.
Money VIII Go Farther.
In these work relief plants, the Of
ficials said, relief money would go
farther toward reducing unemploy-
ment than in private plants because
IT ALI would 60 into wages and not
into profit.
They explained only q small part
of the work could be handled in such
a way. however, and that the great
majority of it would 60 to plants now
in operation.
Ouestioners were reminded OF a
statement wednesday by Harry l..
Hopkins, Federal relief administra-
tor. that treatment of the hides from
the drought area cattle in general
would follow the same policy now
being applied in the disposition OF the
meat"
1t was disclosed that some Of the
unemployed on relief rolls, who were
experienced in slaughtering, boning
and canning cattle, have been put to
work In plants leased or otherwise
made available to State relief ad-
ministrations.
Shoes for 100000.
The relief administration wants TO
provide shoes all around" for the
more than 100000 persons now on
relief. Some shoes have been handed
out by relief agencies in q number
of States, but the need for millions
of additional pairs is seen by officials
here. The amount Of hides available
for manufacture into shoes and other
products for the needy will not be
known until the slaughter program
has progressed farther.
Hopkins said Wednesday the system
OF producing and distributing meat
and other goods provides an outlet
for surplus products ''to people who
otherwise would be without them and
who are not potential purchasers"
mo articles will be produced beyond
the need of the unemployed" he said.
"None will be for sale"
He added that contracts soon to
be let by the Federal Surplus Relief
Administration for tanning hides
would be spread among commercial
tanners in virtually every district
where the industry now operates. In
making contract awards the amount
of unemployment In various tanning
districts will be taken into eonsidera-
ito, Hopkins said.
Companies Protest.
Several shoe companies have re-
Gently protested that it was "dis-
tressing to note the tendency OF the
Government to go into business"
Employment OF Jobless persons on
relief rolls to make mattresses for
others unemployed was halted by
State officials in Ohio recently, after
protests from private mattress makers.
Hopkins subsequently observed that
relief made mattresses were being
distributed to people who couldn't
otherwise have them, and that many
States were co-operaing eagerly in
that form Of work relief.