Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-04-09

NEXT YEARS RELIEF
POLITICAL PICTURE
CONGRESS FACES RELIEF
PwA STATISTICS
A LOBBYIST ENTERTAINS
REORGANIZATION NEEDED
SOME INQUIRIES FRUITFUL
THE SEAwAY PROJECT
The American Federation of Labor
in its current monthly survey, take.
a passing lick at the Supreme Cour
by ~contending that the United State.
has failed to put its producing mech
arism to work chiefly because We
were not permitted by the judiciary
TO work out our attempt TO discover
how this should be done" Asserting
that with the technical progress made
since 1929 we could create a n~ationa.
standard of living at least 6 per cent
higher than that reached in 1929, the
labor organization points out that we
deny work TO over two million, main
tain nearly five million of them in pow
erty at government expense, and dc
nothing for the rest
The Federation reports the tragic
fact that industry is falling to solve
the problem of unemployment and de-
plores the death Of the NRA, which,
it says, increased production and
| NIrnrlnrS' h,txInn Atun 81 ohA,,t tho
same rate through increased wages and
shortened hours. By contrast is the IA
per cent increase of production in 1895
and the 3 per cent increase in workers
buying power. In 1884, says the FEEDER
atom, under the NRA, these two elem
ents rose a per cent each.
The President asked Congress to
provide a billion and a half dollars for
relief purposes during the fiscal year
which begins next July. Just before
leaving the capital for his fishing
cruise in southern waters the Chief
Executive outlined the situation in a
special message, stressing the fact that
additional funds might be necessary
next year unless private enterprise abb
serbs some Of the unemployed. Point
edly he observed that the ultimate
cost of relief, to the government,
would depend upon what business
does to employ workers.
The new funds would be used en-
tirely in the Works Progress Admins
t~ration, according to the President,
who thus gave critics of the WPA a
fairly plain reply. With one billion OF
funds already appropriated to be spent
in the coming fiscal year and with
5000, 000,0 900 in the budget for public
works and the CCC the sum available
for spending is impressive, aggregat-
ing SO, 100, 0O0, 900 as compared with the
estimate of So, $500, 900, 900 in the cur
rent fiscal year.
The political picture has been fairly
quiet-that is, nothing really startling
has happened. The grist of the mill has
been about along the line expected,
except perhaps indications that oppo-
sition to Roosevelt in the Democratic
convention will be less than it seemed
and the Liberty Leaguers are hearing
that they are not near as effective in
aligning public sentiment as they had
hoped to be. The Republican nomin-
alton battle moves into the pre-pri-
mary stage with some evidence that
Senator Borah and Governor Landon
might stage a real battle.
With the relief question squarely
before Congress, one may expect sharp
discussion before the matter is finally
| I,c~acnI &c Cr,tfpr nrl,,Iin, p,arnLnre
of both parties, will charge politics
and attempt to prove the case. The
Administration will again be accused
of usirg relief expenditures as a
"slush" fund. There will be consider
able criticism but in the end the relief
fund authorization requested by the
President will be granted.
The charge of politics" is denied by
Harry Hopkins ard his administrators.
Moreover, the opinion is gradually
getting around that the expenditure of
huge relief funds may be more of a
political liability than an asset. In al
most every community there are per-
sons on relief projects bitterly de-
nouncing what they consider unjust
treatment and talking about what they
call 'favoritism" to others.
While the writer of this column is
no astute politician, and readily adj
mits the possibility Of political benefit
through relief expenditures, he is not
so sure that the Administration will
receive any great political reward
from its relief activity. Certainly, there
are arguments for both sides of the
debate.
The PWA reports that about $780,
100000 has been spent on 1880 prof.
ectS and az equal sum will be expend-
ed on public Improvements now I'M
der way. Under construction are 2,0O7
new non-Federal projects by munich
palities, financed by the PWA to cost
$467, 300, 900. In these the community
supplies 55c for every 45c of Federal
funds. Also under way are 1903 local
non,-F leral projects, financed from
the old Public Works appropriation, at
a cost of $751 ,4OO, 1000. There are iii
Federal projects with no local partici-
patton, to cost $782, $1,000, including
post offices, river and harbor improve
ments, dams, and power plants. The
housing division has 49 projects in
slum clearance and low-rent units un-
der way.
An interesting story revealed before
the Ca,ato TnLLx, Co~co;++oo ALL L..