Evening star., 1935-05-22
PRESIDENT GIVES
FUNDSF0R WORK
o. KS Initial Grants Total
ing BiIIion-FuII Opera
tion by Fall Seen.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Recommendations of the Allotment
Board for spending the first billion
dollars under the $4,000 000, 900 works
program were approved today by Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
The actual orders will be signed as
quickly as the budget director drafts
the desired form.
The President repeated today at his
press conference that he hoped to have
the program in full operation by about
November /.
Meanwhile, he has started a study
of projects which may be undertaken
which do not come within the
mandatory class specified by Congress
From one-fourth to one-half of the
$4,000, ,000, 900 has been earmarked by
Congress, including some projects Of
costly nature. such as highways and
elimination of grade crossings.
Local Projects Sought.
Mr.. Roosevelt and his three prin-
cipal aides-Frank c. Walker, Secre-
tary Ickes and Harry L. Hopkins
conferred at length last night on the
problem Of finding somewhat cheaper
local projects.
Particular attention was given to
Indiana and Alabama, whose State
directors were here.
The President said both States pre-
sented very comprehensive plans. This
was regarded as somewhat indicative
Of approval of their work programs.
Mr.. Roosevelt explained the $4,0O0,-
100000 fund has been cut up into State
segmentS and will be carried through
on this idea. Early announcement of
the allotments to States is in prospect.
He has laid down the rule that State
programs must provide for taking off
the relief rolls all of the employable
unemployed.
The individual projects approved by
Mr.. Roosevelt today were announced
recently when the Allotment Board
recommended them.
The allotments include funds for de-
velopment of the Upper Mississippi
and Upper Missouri Rivers; $780,
100000 for Wisconsin and $4,000 900
for start on the Passamaquoddy power
development in Maine.
The President said he probably
would take five or six weeks to work
out local projects for the various
States. In this classification comes
construction of schools, bridges and
the like.
The President said the Federal Gov
eument would donate only 80 per
cent for the Wisconsin plan," and for
the s7.500,000 sewer project in New
York City because the State and city
were able to borrow the remainder.
He made no reference to Secretary
Ickes' recommendations for a new
loan and grant policy, which it was
understood called for increasing Fed
eral contributions.
Meanwhile, the controversy over
work-relief wages continued with
labor leader saying union carpenters,
bricklayers and electricians will not
be advised to accept the rates fixed
by Mr.. Roosevelt and that this will
cause strikes throughout the country
which we will be unable to cope with"
Continuing criticism which broke
over the wage scale soon after 1t was
announced, j. w. Williams, building
trades leader, asserted:
"It's breaking down so years Of en-
deavor in the building industry to es-
tablish decent living wage"
Scale Held Settled"
williams, who Is president of the
Building Trades Department, recog-
nized by William Green, president of
the American Federation of Labor,
renewed the labor attack on the $19-
to-$94 monthly wage rates after Hop
kins had visited the White House and
emerged with word that "the wage
scale is settled"
Hopkins, who submitted the rates to
the President in his capacity as works
progress administrator, said the con-
troversial question did not even come
up during his conference at the ex-
ecutive mansion.
In the face of protests by many
union officials and a declaration by
Senator McCarran, Democrat, Of Ne
vada that the work-relief wages would
wreck" all wage scales, it was said
in authoritative quarters that only a
sharp rise in the cost of living would
bring a material increase. One Off
cial added, however, the individual
cases" would be subject to change.
Word came from a reliable source
that the payments would be revised
within three months, but that this
was part Of the administrations
original plan and not the result Of
criticism.
Observers noted, meanwhile, that
Secretary Ickes told newsmen yeSter-
day he had had no part In drafting
the work-relief wages and that higher
P. w. A. rates of pay would be main
tanned on permanent" structures.