Evening star., 1935-02-24
|CKES DEPL0RES
WORK BILL DELAY
Holds Congressional BaIk
Unfortunate as Huge Prof.
ects Await Funds.

With more than $8,50o. .000, 900
worth Of new public works projects
already proposed by States in the ma
tional inventory conducted by p. w.
A. headquarters. Secretary Ickes was
prompted yesterday to declare con-
gressional delay in passing the ad-
ministration's work relief bill is most
unfortunate"
Nearly $4,000 specific projects Of
every description have been listed by
P. w. A. State engineers and State
planning boards. Virtually all OF the
projects reported are new proposals,
although there has been some over
tapping.
Follows Lcng's Action.
Secretary Ickes' comment was
made at a press conference held
shortly after Senator Huey P. Long
started a move in the Senate to pro-
vide s2,500, 100000 for highway con-
struction in a revised measure.
Given the funds, P. w. A. officials
said yesterday that the inventory OF
public works undoubtedly could take
care of this huge expenditure in rec
cord breaking time. Listed In the in
ventory, which is still incomplete, are
1903 projects for street and high
way construction, estimated to cost
1892, ,563,835. Another $333,756. .593
could be speedily expended, they said,
on the 1926 projects reported for
eliminating grade crossings.
These two items Of construction
work alone, it was pointed out. prac-
tically equal the s2.500. 900 900 urged
by Senator Long for highways. In
cluded in the unexpended highway
program already being constructed
with the aid of P. w. A. funds are a
sufficient number Of projects to more
than make up the difference.
Highway construction, Secretary
Ickes reported last week in an analysis
of projects, puts more men to work
in a faster time than any other form
Of public works.
Capital Not Included.
The national inventory, which will
not be completed until March !,
covers all States, but omits the Dis
trict Of Columbia. No request for an
inventory was made Of the District
Commissioners because the District
government must first obtain au-
thority from Congress to borrow from
P. w. A. funds for specific projects.
There is nothing. however. to prevent
the Commissioners from submitting a
list of desirable local projects for the
consideration Of P. w. A.
Secretary Ickes has been marking
time for several months on new prof.
ectS to put men to work, because OF
the inavailability Of funds. Only
about 1896, 100000 remains for new
projects, and from this sum the Emer-
gency Relief Administration Is draw
ing millions for the support Of the
unemployed until Congress passes the
new work-relief bill.
Already se5,OOO,OO0 has been bor-
rowed from P. w. A. for relief pur-
poses. The money has depleted Sec
retary Ickes' s15o,oOo, 900 housing fund
until now there is only $15,000,00 re-
naming for low-cost housing, Until
the money Is paid back, the low-cost
housing program will be practically at
a StandStill.
Measure Held Needed.
Commenting on the delay in pass
ing the $3.50, 100000 work-relief bill,
Ickes said:
II am convinced we need a work
bill to take unemployed Oh the dole
and give them Jobs"
In the National inventory no analy-
sis has been made to determine the
proportion Of Federal and non-Federal
projects, but a cursory examination
of the lists shows that most Of the
projects reported are non-Federal.
New Jersey, with LISA projects, re-
quiring 1,40S, ,722, 1854. leads New York,
which reports 742 projects. to cost
1,267,645,177. Maryland has listed
892 projects, estimated to cost $751;
095,250. and Virginia has listed 1886
projects. for which s1o6.64l.5o1 would
be required.