The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-07-12

WaShlngt0n.-t Is Sngnrly more
than three months since President
Roosevelt signed the
StOW on congressional resolu-
Works Relation appropriating
FIVE billion dollars for
use by the administration in public
works and public relief. To date, &C.
cording to the records, less than half
q billion dollars has been allocated for
expenditure on agreed projects and of
this sum approximately three hundred
million dollars was turned over to the
Civilian Conservation corps, going
institution.
The slow motion Of the administra-
ton in getting its public works relief
program underway Is giving birth to
an immense amount of criticism. If
one is to believe the undercurrent Of
discussion in Washington, 1t Is giving
more concern to the officials RESPONSE
BILE for spending this vast sum of money
in the recOvery-reform effort Of the
New Deal So many projects have been
advanced and rejected in turn, so
many new ideas have been brought
forward and ballyhooed and so many
false motions have been INDUCED in
that Washington observers are rapidly
reaching the conclusion that congress
was correct when in debate, 1t was
said the administration had no con-
crete plan for utilization of this vast
fund.
|
To review the developments since
April s, when the President signed
the appropriating resolution, Is to say
that conditions have been one continual
round of confusion. First, it will be
recalled the President sought to meet
the wishes of congress as expressed in
debate by relieving Secretary Ickes,
public works administrator, of much
of the responsibility and authority he
held. This was accomplished by the
new setup that was reported to you
heretofore. Now, it seems, the new
setup has failed to function and the
bulk of the management of expendi-
lures has settled down into the lap Of
Harry Hopkins, the relief admins
traitor.
Mr.. Ickes still has some authority.
1t apparently Is enough to irk Mr..
Hopkins. These two men differ widely
in their views. Mr.. Hopkins long has
been looked upon as reliever by pro-
fession; Mr.. Ickes has attempted, inso-
far as he has been able, to employ
practical methods in administration of
his share Of the funds.
Laying aside the personal equation
which is best exemplified by the Ickes-
Hopkins differences it must be said
frankly that next to nothing has been
accomplished. President Roosevelt has
stated and reiterated that the expendi-
ture program is getting underway sat
isfactorily, but the discussion among
observers seems to show an alarming
lack of coordination and of indecision.
One of the newest projects ad-
vanced, and it has just passed the
stage of an executive
The Youth order setting up
prorron, new agency, is the
so-called National
Youth administration. This new alpha
betical unit-the NYA-has received
fifty million dollars to spend in helping
boys and girls between the ages of six
teen and twenty-five. 1t Is supposed
to be a means of preventing idleness
among the young people who are of
the age during which, unless they are
occupied, irresponsible tendencies de-
velop.
In announcing the new program, the
President departed from his previously
announced intention of assisting only
persons now on relief. Whether this
departure means that he has tossed
aside definitely the rule laid down last
winter that the dole must go or
whether this is to be an isolated ex-
ception to that rule, is not Immediately
determinable. 1t remains as fact
that the governments assistance I'M
der the NYA will be available to needy
young men who are not on the dole
as well as to those who are on relief.
Secretary Perkins, Of the Labor de-
partment, said the plan had been
worked out by her and her associates
in the children's bureau. She figured
that 2,5OO,OOO would be eligible for as
sistance under the plan. Those to be
helped will be selected by local volun-
teer committees, thus establishing In
each community another agency sub
ject to federal domination and federal
guidance.
Succinctly, the scope of the NYA as
outlined by Mr.. Roosevelt includes:
Finding employment in private in
dustry for unemployed youths.
Training youths for industrial. tech
nical and professional employment.
Providing for continued attendance
of needy youths in high schools and
colleges.
Providing work relief on projects to
meet the needs of youth.
Miss Josephine Roche. an assistant
secretary of the treasury, and Aubrey
| Wy xry.Irso,,. occictank A6nnfOic-