The Indianapolis times., 1936-03-18
S1,5OO,OOO,OOO
ASKED FOR WPA
BY ROOSEVELT
President Makes Request in
Message to Members
of Congress.
Continued From Page One)

taxes to provide revenues to cover
the added cost.
Mr. Roosevelt said that relief ex-
penditures in the present fiscal yeal
would approximate $3,50o,000 900
His budget, he said, contemplated
expenditure of an amount roughly
equal to that total during the 1897
year.
"An appropriation in this amount
would be within the limit set by
the budget message" he said, land
would in effect provide for the third
successive year a reduction in the
deficit"
On this basis, he said, he would
be justified in requesting straight
WPA appropriation of $2,000,000,- j.
600.
Il am, however, not asking this
Congress to appropriate $2,000,000,-
000," he said.
II am asking only for an ap-
preparation of $1,500,000,000 to the
Works Progress Administration. 1t
will be their responsibility to pro-
vide work for the destitute unem-
ployed."
No Federal Projects Out
The President made it clear that
the whole Of the appropriation
should go to the Works Progress
Administration that makes jobs at
yearly average of $3.50 a year per
man, including security" wages,
and cost of project materials.
MIR. Roosevelt's message clearly
ended possibility of new. non Fed
eral public works, for which he al
lotteo $330,000,00O under the cur
rent $4,880, 100000 program.
The New Deal, through it's 1886
1897 plans, also abandoned slum-
clearance and low-rent housing as
work-relief activity. At present,
the Public Works Administration
/ sconstructing 48 housing projects
with $120,000,000.
The Presidents recommendation
for WPA came when the agency.
directed by Harry L. Hopkins, was
under heavy fire of criticism for al
legged partisan politics Only today,
Mr.. Hopkins issued a general let
ter to al Estate WPA directors ban
ming political activity on all his
projects.
Asks for BLANK Check"
The special message was in effect
a request for $1,500,00o,0OO blank
check" TO be spent as Mr.. Roose-
velt directs through WPA.
Such form of spending was sue
cessfully attacked in both the SEN
ate and House when Congress de-
cdied not to appropriate regular
government money to continue the
Florida ship canal after it had been
started with work-relief funds.
In asking the sum of 81 100000
600 for WPA, Mr.. Roosevelt made
clea rthat he believed private in
dustry would have to give Jobs to
considerable numbers of the idle if
the cost was to be held within this
limit.
He indicated some doubt as to
whether private industry would be
able to accomplish this aim with
out a broad national effort.
Urges Concerted Action
Frankly" he said, there is
little evidence that large and small
employers by individual ard unco-
ordinated action can absorb large
numbers of new employees. A Wig
orous effort on a national scale is
necessary by voluntary, concerted
action of private industry"
He pointed to the success of the
NRA in encouraging re-employ-
nnent and cited difficulties of
achieving any similar success under
~esent conditions.
Is request together with those
submitted to the Con-
/. s-eoo 'ide for the Civilian
Conservation. Oorps and certain
public works will, if acted upon fav-
orably by the Congress, give secur-
ity during the next fiscal year to
those most in need, on condition
however, that private employers
hire many of those now on relies
rolls"
Repeats Tax Program
Coupled with his demand for re-
lief funds, Mr.. Roosevelt took oc-
casion to reiterate his suggested
plan of taxes for the purpose of bal
ancing the budget except for relief
expenditures.
He said that his statement "as to