The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-01
ROOSEVELT is
HARASSED BY
JOBS PROMISE
Pledge to Halt Dole Still
UnfuIfiIIed; Program
StrayS, Lays.
BY ROBERT s. BROWN
Times Special Writer


WASHINGTON, Oct. The
difficulty of making good a nine
month-oid promise is plaguing
President Roosevelt during his
ss-country conference with Harry
Hopkins and Harold Ickes.
Nine months ago the President, in
q message to Congress, decreed that
'the Federal government must and
shall quit this business of relief,
and that work must be found for
sble-bodied but destitute workers.
He estimated that 100000 en-
playable persons were on relief. In
the fiscal year that started last July
] this great army was to be given
jobs, he told Congress. To that end
the history making appropriation
of S4830,O0O 900 was voted.
The President said members of
his administration had spent
months devising plans. He present.
ed a comprehensive list of 'prac-
teal principles" on which the work
program would be based.
Today, nine months later, stock
taking reveals that the program
has strayed far from its original
course. The President himself con-
cedes that it has moved more
slowly than 1 hoped" A COMPARE
son of his January plans and his
October accomplishments is illum-
mating.
Only 1000, 900 Get Jobs
As 2 cardinal item, the President
declared in January that "all work
should be useful in the sense
that it affords permanent improve
ment in living conditions or d.
creates future new wealth for the
nation"
Most OF The fund has been allO-
Gated although fewer than 100000
persons have received jobs. Most
of the employment so far has come
through expansion of the Civilian
Conservation Corps. Projects actu-
ally supplying employment have
been provided largely by the Works
Progress Administration glorified
CWA. Most of the projects started
have been of the makeshift sort
that can be completed in few
weeks.
Few Dollars TO Return
preference should be given to
those projects which will be self
liuuidating that the govern
ment will get its money back at
some future time" the President
ruled.
What has happened? This type
of project was delegated to the Pub
lie Works Administration and $780,
600 900 was to be available. Today
that sum has dwindled to 1926, 000, 900
and has been allotted mostly on a
direct grant basis. Only a few mil
lion dollars will reform to the
Treasury.
The President said that "the
projects undertaken would seek to
assure work during the coming
fiscal year" The fiscal year be
gan July I. Three months have
passed without any notable reduc-
ton in the relief load. Works
Progress Administrators Hopkins
hopes to have 100000 employed
by Nov. l. but that entails the hir-
ing of more than $4,000 persons a
day, herculean task.
Three Leaders Differ
Many reasons have been given for
the deviation of the work program
from its prospectus. The delay in
getting started is laid at the door
OF the three administrators, MI.
Ickes, Mr.. Hopkins and Frank
Walker. whose personal opinions on
work relief differed so widely that
they were unable to agree on a uni
fed policy.
GIsring examples of cross-pur-
poses occurred in which one branch
Of the three-headed authority tried
to undermine the other two. Final
w. months after the program was
To have been under way, the Presi-
cent dissolved the authority. and
gave Mr.. Hopkins full rein over the
spending of three-quarters of the
four billion fund.
Now only the bareSt outline OF
the original plan remains.