Evening star., 1936-06-18
.|CKES TO SPEED
P.W.A. PROGRAM
House Action on Deficiency
Bill Paves Way for
Projects.
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

Administrator IckeS has a new
$500, 100000 to $750O0O,000 public
works program ready to smack down
on the counter as soon as President
Roosevelt signs the first deficiency
appropriation bill.
House acceptance Of Senate
amendment providing for use of a
$500, ,000,000 revolving fund for P. W.
A. grants, computed on the basis of
As per cent of the total cost of prof.
ects, paved the way for continuance
of a regular public works program.
There was jubilation today in the
Ickes camp, for the action of the
conferees meant a hard-won victory
for the administrator of public works,
with an added balm for wounded feel
ings. The s3O0,000,000 earmarked
in the bill for Ickes is for his ex-
elusive use Only President Roosevelt
may dictate how 1t shall be spent,
If he chooses.
Reserved for a public works pro-
gram, the revolving fund is entirely
freed from raids by the Works Prog
ress Administration, which nearly
scuttled Ickes' program this past year.
BY separating it entirely from the
81 400 100000 relief fund provided for
Harry L. Hopkins the bill safeguards
it from any depletion at the hands
Of the w. P. A. administrator.
Less Friction Seen.
It was the consensus that the new
public works program will be carried
forward with minimum of friction
and speed that will outdo past per-
formances. There will be an absence,
no doubt, Of the administrative fric-
tion between Ickes and Hopkins that
resulted in Spasmodic rumors that the
public works administrator was about
| to turn in his resignation to the
President. While Ickes came forward
quickly each time with emphatic de-
mails, the rumorS persisted, to his own
embarrassment and that Of the White
House.
Included in the new program which
Ickes now is about ready to launch
are two important items for the Dis
trict. The first is 100000 ear
marked for the proposed Municipal
Center court buildings. The other
provides $500, 900 for long desired i'm
provements at the Lorton, Va, Re-
formatory.
On the face of it, however, the re-
lease Of funds for the District is not
50 simple as 1t might seem.
The new P. w. A. program is strict
ly for non-Federal projects on o loan
and grant basis.
Items on Preferred List.
The District Commissioners have
given no indication to p. w. A. that
they wish to exercise the authority
given them previously by Congress te
apply for any more loans and grants
| Yet the two items are included In 9
preferred list of public works projects
in Ickes' office, and If the Commits
sioners should feel 1t necessary to ado
to the Districts p. w. A. indebtedness
there is little reason to feel, officials
said, that the administrator would
turn down the application.
During the first three years of the
Public Works Administration, Icke:
has approved q total of $94, 900 ,OO(
for expenditure in Washington prof.
ects. With the exception of abou-
$5,400,000 for the municipal sewel
disposal plant, the Glenn Dale Sana-
torium and some smaller items, all OF
the amount was expended for Fedora
projects in the District.
Ickes said today there will be no
change in the established policies OF
the p. w. A. which have stood q
three-year test In operations. As In
the past, he said, preference will bs
given to applicants seeking grants
only.
This would not mean that the Dis
trict Commissioners would be unable
to operate as formerly under the
special act passed by Congress gov
erning their relations with the
IP. w. A., Ickes explained.
Under the new program, the admin.
istrator said, communities will con-
tinue to provide from their own local
funds the major part Of the finances
required for projects.
Coincident with the passage of the
law authorizing continuation Of the
public works program, Ickes issuec
instructions to State directors. His
letter read:
every effort will be made to sn
courage spplicantz 70 Ev'de sppli