Evening star., 1937-09-20
DEPRESSED CITIES
IS CITED
Reorganization or ResettIe-
ment Asked by Resources
Group in Report.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Reorganization of "decadent" cities
or resettlement of their inhabitants
was recommended yesterday by
subcommittee of the National Re-
sources Committee in pointing out
what President Roosevelt described as
the ways of dealing. with many
emerging and critical trends in urban
life"
In statement accompanying publi-
cation OF the report, Mr.. Roosevelt
said:
1T may be questioned whether the
National Government has given the
same careful attention to some OF
these SPECIFIC and common problems
Of urban dwellers as it has to the
problems OF farmers.
ut is not the business of the
United States Government to assume
responsibility for the solution of purely
local problems any more than it is the
business Of local governments to as
sumo primary responsibility for the
settlement OF national problems. Yet
the United States Government does
not remain Indifferent to the common
life of American citizens simply be-
cause they happen to be found in
what We call cities"
Depressed Industries"
Studying the subject of depressed
cities and industries" the committee
reported:
Generally speaking, the continued
existence of community and an in
dustry cannot be justified if, in the
long run, it fails to afford its inhab-
ltants or workers minimum level of
existence consistent with an expand
ing American standard of living. Such
communities and such industries are
liabilities to the Nation because they
do not make their full contribution
to our national life.
"In order to decrease the dangers
to family, community and national
life inherent in decadent communities
and chronically depressed industries,
the committee recommends that the
Federal Government periodically un-
dertake an appraisal of the standards
of life in urban communities,
If private enterprise cannot or
does not solve the problem of sub
marginal communities, then the Gov
ernment should supplement in appro-
pirate cases the local resources or op-
portunities for employment. as it is
doing in the case Of depressed rural
areas
Where, because of disappearing
economic base, the conditions seem to
be chronic and appear to offer no
promise of self-support at an ac-
ceptable minimum standard, the re-
organization of the community or
program of resettlement will have to
be undertaken jointly by the several
governmental units involved"
Legislation Recommended.
Discussing other problems of city
government and economics, the COM
mittee recommended:
LIB 'oiotiOit Pi 1Oi ptitOdS Ol
economic distress creating a Federal
credit agency authorized to make loans
and grants to local governments
for the purposes of public works, ac-
QUESTION or construction of public
utilities, land purchases and similar
outlays.
"A permanent Federal public works
authority which should be directly re-
sponsible for the formulation and
execution of specific and detailed
Nationwide program of public
works.
"A thsrough-g going inquiry into
conflicting fiscal policies and taxation
in local, State and Federal govern
ments.
National legislation giving advance
consent, under certain conditions, for
interstate compacts enabling several
communities within the same metro
politan area, but in different States, to
deal Jointly with such problems as
health, public utilities, planning, pub
lie safety and welfare and education.
Continued Federal cooperation and
assistance for social welfare pro-
grams of cities, including relief, crime
prevention, use of leisure time and
cultural activities.
Since unemployment problems
carry national significance, Federal as
slstance for prevention and relief of
unemployment should be continued in
cooperation with State and local