The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-02
HOPKINS SEES
WPA JOBS FOR
RELIEF CLIENTS
Weeding-0ut Process to
Create Vacancies on
Work Rolls.
BY ROBERT S. BROWN
Times Special Writer


WASHINGTON, March 2.-Early
employment under WPA for the
thousands of relief clients now de-
MED jobs because of quota limits,
or because they applied for aid
after Nov. l, 1885, was forseen to-
day by Harry L. Hopkins, WPA Ad-
ministrator.
Mr.. Hopkins expects a reduction
this spring in the present army of
three million WPA workers. This
reduction will result from several
factors
l. Other government agencies,
drawing funds from the 1885 work.
relief appropriation, will need AGO.
600 men to carry out approved con-
struction programs. At least $4,000
will come from WPA ranks.
Other Factors Involved
2. While there are many who
need and are qualified for WPA
jobs, there also are many holding
them who are not qualified. WPA
is preparing to go through present
lists and weed out this latter group.
Each job thus vacated will be re-
filled.
3. There is small proportion of
farmers drawing WPA wages. Care
Of these individuals and their fam
lilies is a job for the Resettlement
Administration. Others will go off
WPA because of a seasonal in
crease in farm labor.
4. The voluntary reduction in
WPA ranks averages about 3 per
cent a month now. 1t covers those
who get jobs in private industry
and those who are dropped for va
rious reasons. This reduction is eX-
pected to continue.
Reductions Mean Jobs
with these reductions" Mr.. Hop
kins said, I'VE will be able to give
jobs to those who can't get them
now and are qualified, and st the
same time cut down the total WPA
employment figure"
Discussing this weeks survey of
the relief problem by Scripps-
Howard Newspapers, Mr.. Hopkins
said, There probably are as many
persons receiving some kind of relief
today as there were OH Federal re-
lief rolls year ago.
1T is almost impossible to get
true relief total today" he con-
tinued. When all the needy were
on FERA we knew where We stood.
Now part of them are accounted for
by state and local agencies.
Direct Relief Totals High
IT am inclined to believe that
some of the direct relief totals as
announced by the social service
groups are too high, especially as
they apply to employables. In many
cities WPA has taken over every
employable.
Either these figures as reported
in the survey are overeStimated, or
the figures generally reported for
bOboA uAlClIAPlOylllSllO ak JUO l1lSIl.
He believes that the answer to the
relief problem rests in social secur-
ity legislation. He thinks the social
security act of 1885 is inadequate,
but he hopes that as time goes on,
and the social security board begins
to function, the scope of old age
pensions will be expanded, care for
dependent children increased and
unemployment insurance benefits
standardized.
Continuance of the present WPA
work program is up to Congress-" he
said. I'VE are doing a good job and
we stand on the record"
Probable Cost Not Estimated
The WPA chief would not eSti-
mate the probable cost Of WPA for
the fiscal year beginning next July
!. He said he would have sufficient
funds from the original four billion
dollar relief appropriation to carry
WPA through June 80.
He does not expect a concerted
turn Of the Federal dole when Con-
gresS begins consideration of new
move on the part of states for a re-
relief appropriations next month.
To employ man on WPA low
costs sos month on the average.
II Mr.. Hopkins expects to employ
three million men on the 1867
program, Congress will have to APP
propriate approximately $2,3OO,O0O,-
0cO for WPA alone, not taking into
consideration almost certain de-
mands from the Resettlement and