The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1935-08-01
PROJECTS TO BE
CLOSED TODAY;
FUNDS STOPPED
ST., 100000 From U. S. For
August Blocked; Regional
Deficits Not Honored
2 MORE COUNTIES BOLT
Martin and Mower Commits
sioners Vote to Set Up
Own Relief Agencies

An order shutting off Federal al
lotments in Minnesota, which will
force closing Of nearly all SIERRA
work-relief projects for the month
of August, was issued late Wednes-
day by Howard Hunter, regional
relief director, it was learned from
sources high in the sierra.
The order, contained in a men,
orandum said to have been signed
by Hunter, will mean cessation of
work for some 10000 persons en-
ployed on the various state relief
projects today, it was reported.
In the face of denials by Hunter
Wednesday night that he knew
anything of an order closing down
all relief projects in Minnesota"
SERA sources maintained the
typed memorandum were receiv-
ed by officials at A p. M, too late
to order stopping of work today.
The memorandum stated that
Minnesota Federal allotment Of
81, 250, 900 for August is not to be
made, that no part Of the money
will be allowed any project, except
where cessation of work would be
damaging to the public good" that
in any case allotments can be
made only in Hennepin, Ramsey,
st. Louis, Anoka, Freeborn, Otter
tail and Stearns counties and then
only with approval Of E. S. Guck-
ert, Hunters special agent in Min
nesota.
The memorandum also was said
to contain a paragraph stating that
the ERA would not honor any de-
ficits incurred by the state relief
administration.
This order was taken to be an at
tempt by relief officials to hold a
club over counties which have
baked at WPA provisions requir-
ing counties to finance non-relief
costs, such as materials, on work.
relief projects, especially in view
of the fact that one large county,
with thousands of employables on
relief, has not submitted any pro-
ject to the WPA to date.
sierra officials are scheduled to
hold a conference early this morn
ing, after which they expect to is
sue orders stopping relief work.
Meanwhile, Martin and Mower
counties Wednesday night voted to
sever connections with the sierra
and return to locally administered
relief.
Action was voted unanimously at
special meetings of the county
commissioners. The two counties
are the first of the Is southern
Minnesota counties to take direct
action in their revolt against the
state relief organization.
The Martin county board, meet
ing at Fairmont notified l.. p. Zim-
norman, acting SIERRA administra-
tor, that it would take over relief
affairs today. It is expected that
the SERA office, employing four
persons, with three more devot-
ing their time to outside work, will
be closed. The county board said
it might use one relief agent.
An offer by the state relief ad-
ministration to continue handling
relief in Martin county during
August, If the county would contri-
butte $4,000, was turned down. The
board said that with farmers hunt
ing for workers, such a sum was
not needed for relief this month.
At a meeting at Austin, Mower
county commissioners set up a
county relief system which Is to
start functioning today. They like
wise turned down a SERA request
for $1,000 as the county's quota to
continue relief administration for
August, characterizing it as Tex
orbitant."