Evening star., 1935-05-18
POVERTY CLAIMS
BY CITIES FEARED
IN WORKS SET-UP
Pressure to Get Grants as
Gifts Believed Sure
to Increase.
ROOSEVELT MAY DEAL
WITH WAGE ISSUE SOON
Stand Likely With Decision on
First Batch of Projects
Waiting Approval.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A vision of cities throughout the
land Fastening to take sort Of
figurative "pauper's oath" so they
could claim outright donations from
the $4,000. 100000 work relief fund
caused concern in some Government
quarters today.
They expressed some worry lest in
dividuals, as we'll as cities. rush to
declare themselves poor. Officials
were seeking to work out methods of
preventing such a stampede.
Meanwhile, billion dollars worth
of work-rehef projects waited Presi-
dent Roosevelt's approval and a de-
cision as to wage rates.
Mr.. Roosevelt let it be known that
he intended to pass on the long list
of enterprises early next week. In
some quarters, it was predicted he
would deal at the same time with the
highly controversial wage question,
announcing the wages to be paid
relief workers and the number Of
hours they will be required to labor
per month.
AOS AIdl IOkCStS lSlONeu.
The Roosevelt administration has
laid down the policy that fairly pros
porous cities must repay substantial
share OF the money spent on projects,
while cities that have no borrowing
power left are to receive 100 per cent
grants-that is, gifts.
An official who would not permit use
Of his name for publication said "ob-
viously one city will protest having TO
pay back some of the money while
another doesn't"
A somewhat similar policy has been
laid down for individuals. In general,
1t has been said, unemployed persons
not on relief rolls will not be given
direct work on the Government
financed projects. Officials, however.
have expressed the hope they will be
absorbed into jobs with concerns sup
plying materials and equipment.
But one official said he believed un-
employed who had managed to stay off
relief rolls because they had not en-
tirely exhausted their private resources
would make strong effort to get di-
rect employment in the $4,000 100000
program.
Financial Status Known.
Data on the financial capacity of
States and communities already has
been assembled by Harry L. Hopkins,
Works Progress chief, in his drive for
larger relief contributions. But just
how he, Secretary IckeS and Frank c.
Walker, head of the Applications Di-
vision, wound decide Federal contribu-
tions was not disclosed.
In some quarters the suggestion that
the Federal Government donate so
per cent of allotments on all non-Fed-
eral projects and loan the remainder
was advanced to replace the present
30-per-cent grant 70-per-cent-loa
idea, but the President reiterated yes
terday that each State and city would
be bargained with separately.
Projects in cities receiving 100 per
cent grants are to be administered by
Hopkins Progress Division.
Wage recommendations will be made
to the President by Hopkins
80 Per Cent Less Pay Talked.
Under one of the proposals which
he has considered, work-relief en-
ployes would be paid 80 per cent less
than the rates prevailing in private
industry. Senator McCarran, Demo-
crat, of Nevada, who led an unsuc-
cessful fight to make the work-relief
bill require the payment of prevailing
wages, planned to make a speech pro-
testing this plan. Hopkins had sew
eral other proposals under considera-
ton.
Until the wage question is settled
officials Of the dozen agencies waiting
to begin actual work said little be-
yond preliminary preparations could
be done. 1t was explained that the
rates will have to be included in spec
if1cations submitted to bidders on
those projects which are handled
under contracts.
Public roads officials said it would
take two weeks after the labor regu-
lations are completed to approve prof.
ects submitted by State Highway Com
missions. Army engineers asserted
that work could start within two
weeks on some of the projects in
cluded in a proposed allotment OF
$112 1876, 500 for rivers and harbors.
Housing officials said they believed con-
tracts would be let on Is projects by
August l, but that they did not ex-
pect all of the 81 housing projects
now before the President to be under
construction until December.
The billion-dollar batch of projects
was recommended to Mr.. Roosevelt
earlier this week by his Works Allot-