Evening star., 1935-06-24
DISTRICT OFFICIALS
SEEKING PROJECTS
in WORK PROGRAM
Allen Gives $50" Signal for
Selection of Plans to
| Employ 5000.
PROPOSAL DRAFT LEFT
| TO Department HEADS
Seven Recommendations Already
Sent to Federal Agency.
Start Awaits o. K.
A half-hundred District department

A half-hundred District department
executives set to work today to find
projects under which the District will
spend millions of dollars within year
in giving steady employment to the
$4,000 or so persons on the relief rolls.
The "go" signal for preparation Of
work programs as speedily as possible
was given by Commissioner Allen, Dis
trict works progress administrator, at
a meeting of all department officials
in his Office at II am. He advised
them that those who were wise would
have suggestions on file by tomorrow
morning.
Allen left preparations Of the pro-
grams directly up to the department
heads, saying they should submit pro-
posals for all projects deemed needy
and worthy.
$500 Limit Is Fixed.
Under Federal rules for the District,
the expenditures on projects must not
exceed 5000 per year per man, includ-
ing material costs, but Allen explained
projects of higher cost could be bal
anced by those less expensive. 1t was
indicated this would restrict the works
program to projects mostly along the
lines of highway and sewer work,
building repairs and alterations, i'm
provement of grounds and wide field
of white-collar projects. In other
words, there is little chance for in
clusion Of many construction jobs,
where the cost Of materials and the
employment of skilled workers would
run the cost of an individual project
well in excess of the 5000 limit.
Allen cautioned the officials, how
ever, not to be too bashful" in pro-
posing projects calling for materials
and skilled workers if they deemed the
work of permanent value to the Dis
trict.
Allen has sent to the Federal Works
Progress Administration seven projects
designed to give employment to $500
men, and these will start as soon as
Federal approval is forthcoming.
The Commissioner announced he
expects the program will be started
about July Is, and will be IN full
swing by September or October. Allen
has been informed Of the granting Of
a huge sum for the conduct Of the
program, but the Federal apportion-
ments have not been published.
Decision on what projects will be
started rests with Allen as admins
traitor, subject to approval by the
Federal administrator. 1t was ex-
planned the Federal agency will not
review proposals for projects and will
act only on those forwarded by Allen.
Asks About Branch Libraries.
DR.. George F. Bowerman, public
librarian, asked the Commissioner if
he was correct N assuming that con-
struction projects, such as the tuild-
ing of branch libraries, had but little
chance of approval because OF the
cost Of materials and skilled labor.
"Yes," said Allen.
Details Of procedure in preparing
projects and fling applications were
outlined by Capt. Howard g. Clark,
District deputy administrator; Will
liam c. Cleary. administrative as
sistant, and Maj. Daniel j. Donovan,
director of finance Tor the program.
Until the works program is in full
swing those now employed or the
emergency works p.ogram Will be
continued on the present work-relief
program until drawn into the new
system.