The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-07-11
Slow ON Works Relief

Roosevelt signed the congressional
resolution appropriating five billion
dollars for use by the administra-
ton in public works and public re-
lief. To date, according to the
records, less than half billion dol
lars has been allocated for expendi-
ture on agreed projects and of this
sum approximately three hundred
million dollars was turned over to
the Civilian Conservation corps, q
going institution. ..#.3 H.. -
The slow motion of the admins
tration 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 Wash
ington, it is giving more concern
to the officials responsible for the
spending of this vast sum of money
in the recoyery-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 OBJ
servers are rapidly reaching the
conclusion that congress was cor
rect when, in debate, 1t was said
the administration had no concrete
plan for utilization of this vast
fund.
To review the developments since
April 8, when the President signed
4I,o ,,,,,,.ov,r;o fivan, ,.aco1,,f;n,, 10 ~
say that conditions have been one
continual round of confusion. First,
it will be recalled the President
sought to meet the wishes of con-
gress as expressed in debate by re-
1ieving Secretary Ickes, public works
administrator, of much of the re-
sponsibility and authority he held.
This was accomplished by the new
setup that was reported to you here
tofore Now, 1t seems, the new set
UP has failed to function and the
bulk of the management of expend-
itures has settled down into the lap
of Harry Hopkins, the relief admin
istrator.
Mr.. Ickes still has some author
ity. 1t apparently is enough to irk
Mr.. Hopkins. These two men differ
widely in their views. Mr.. Hopkins
long has been looked upon as a re-
lever by profession; Mr.. Ickes has
attempted, insofar as he has been
able, to employ practical methods in
administration Of his share Of the
funds.
Laying aside the personal equa-
ton 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 expenditure pro-
gram is getting underway satisfac-
torily, but the discussion among OBJ
servers seems to show an alarming
lack of coordination, and of indie
cision.
The Youth Program
One OF the newest projects adj
vanced, and it has just passed the
stage of an executive order setting
up a new agency, Is the so-called
National Youth administration. This
new alphabetical unit-the NYA-
has received fifty million dollars to
spend In helping boys and girls be-
tween the ages OF sixteen and TWEEN
ty-five. It Is supposed to be means
o. preventing idleness among the
young people who are Of the age
during which, unless they are oc-
cupied, irresponsible tendencies de-
ve1op.
In announcing the new program,
the President departed from his
previously announced intention of
assisting only persons now on re-
lief. 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 exception to that
rule, is not Immediately determine
BILE. It remains as a fact that the
governments assistance under the
NYA will be available to needy
young men who are not on the dole
as well as to those who are on re-
lief.
Secretary Perkins, of the Labor
department., said the plan had been
worked out by her and her asso-
ciates In the children'S bureau. She
figured that $500, 900 would be ell
igible for assistance under the plan.
Those to be helped will be selected
by local volunteer committees, thus
establishing in each community an
other agency subject to federal
domination and federal guidance
Succinctly, the scope of the NYA
as outlined by Mr.. Roosevelt in
cludeS: f. t@.s@
Finding employment In private in
dustry for unemployed youths.
Training youths for industrial
technical and professional employ
ment. s ..... & ssss..
Providing for continued attend
ance of needy youths in high schools
and colleges.
Providing work relief on projects
to meet the needs of youth.
Miss Josephine Roche, an assis-
tant secretary of the treasury, ant
Aubrey W.. Williams, assistant tx
Administrator Hopkins, have beer
given sole responsibility for man.
agement of the latest alphabetical
agency. The selection Of Miss Roche
was said by the President to hav'
been in recognition of her long ser.
vice in the social field and her thor
ough understanding of problems o
the growing generations.
High schools and colleges, o
course, are available to provid