The Omaha guide., 1935-07-27

National. and. international
Problems Inseparable from 10
cal Welfare.
900
On April s, Congress, at the re
quest of the President, passed a
bill appropriating 81, $50, 0OO, 900
for work relief.
At that time, Mr.. Roosevelt
stated that by July l all the ma
tons unemployed who we're able
TO work, would have federal jobs,
and would be off the local relief
rolls.
Juy / came and passed. More
than 800, 100000 had been ap-
proved for 474 projects, yet not a
single man had been put to work
The reason it two-fold: First,
and m ost important, the works
program IS supposed to employ
3,50O,0 900 men for one year. If
that is done, the cost per worker,
including materials, must be held
down to the very low figure of
81, 143.
Second there has been constant
disagreement between Secretary
Ickes and Relif Administrator
Hopkins. Mr.. lexis is the head of
the Public Works Administration.
and Mr.. Hopkins guides the
Works Progress Administration.
The two bureaus inevitably over
lap-and both executives claim
jurisdiction over the same pro-
jects-
Mr.. Ickes is Of the opinion that
relief money should be spent for
projects of permanent benefit
grade crossing elimination, river
and harbor developments, road
work, etc. Mr.. Hopkins, on the
other hand, is concerned only
with putting men to work, and he
knows that the adoption of pro-
iects in which material costs are
high will defeat that purpose. AS
a result, he favOrs projects which
require only labor, and demand
few or no materials-woodland
clearance, malaria control, repairs
to public buildings, etc The two
men are so Numerically opposed
in their views that it seemed no
compromise was possible
A fortnight ago { h President
stepped in and provided a partial
settlement to the problem. He de-
cided the question of jurisdiction
by outlining which projects are to
be controlled by Mr.. Hopkins,
which by Mr.. Ickes. Result: All
projects involving the expendi-
ture of less than $4,000 are TO be
handled by Mr.. Hopkins; all
those costing more, by Mr..
Ickes. For example,: If the
President approves the building
Of a canal, Mr. Ickes will handle
tiff he says yes to a ditch, it
will be done by Mr.. Hopkins. Mr..
Ickes will build highways, while
Mr.. Hopkins builds trails. Mr..
Iekes vii erect public buildings,
and Mr.. Hopkins will landscape
the grounds surrounding them.
And 50 it goes.
The works relief program is at
last swinging into actual opera
tion-and the question that re
mains to be answered is whether
or not it can find useful and pro-
ductive jobs for the 100000
heads Of families W h are still
out Of work.
-oOo-
The legislative sit uation is
confused, chaotic. Roosevelt con-
troll Of Congress is not 50 certain
as it once was-as the House vote
on the Utilities Act dramatically
proved. In spite of talk about
adjournment, the chance seems
small that Congressman will be
able to take the train home before
September. Only a remarkable
and unlooked-fOr burst Of speed
could bring about an August ad-
journment.
Here is how some major bills
stand:
.GUFFEY COAL BILL-This bill,
which simply amounts to a
rehash Of the NRA code. seems
certain to pass and to be ap-
proved by the President, even
though it is widely believed to
be unconstitutional as well as
unavoidable.
WAGNER LABOR RELATIONS
BILL-Has passed, is apparent
II doomed to certain disap-
proval by the Supreme Court.
FEDERAL HOL CON
TROL-The Supreme Court 5
NRA decision disposed Of the
federal governments control