The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-06
TREND OF WPA
LATEST TOPIC
OF COMMENT
BY EARL GOODWIN

HOW long Is the WORKS ETOBISSS
Administration set-up to last?
President. Roosevelt will send a
relief message to Congress on or
about April IA, setting forth the
relief needs for the next fiscal
year and carrying also the latest
budget figures.
The President has been talking
about relief needs through the
Hopkins organization Of $500 mil
lion dollars; the well-knit organiza-
ton Of the mayors of hundred
industrial cities insists on 1900
million dollars.
The National Economy League
suggests that the time has come
to disperse the complex WPA
set-up and put relief back on the
States and local communities
with Federal grants where strictly
necessary to supplement local
resources" The leagues sugges-
ton is in line with others dis
cussed by the Presidents more
conservative advisers, including
Cabinet members.
Conservative Tide Cited
It would be surprising If the
President made any such recon-
mendation to Congress in his April
IA message, as he has great faith
in WPA Administrator Hopkins
and a firm belief in the Hopkins
program Of work-relief.
Vat A1aA 1N11SspAaSa ard ~ tia A "A.
miniStration points out that con-
sentative tide Is running strongly
among the rank and file Of Ameri-
cans, and that it is politically and
financially advisable to take a new
tack In the handling Of Federal
relief. Figures have been given the
President to show that in four
years ending June 80, 1887, the
Federal Government will have
spent $9,500, 600. 900 for relief OF
all kinds exclusive Of emergency
public works.
Although there is considerable
pressure on the Administration to
expand WPA, its opponents de-
clare 1t has neither solved unem-
ployment nor lessened the burden
borne by State and local govern
mentS. d.
The subject of WPA, reopened
again by the Presidents announce
ment that Federal funds would be
withdrawn from Mr.. Ickes' heavy
WPA construction, is just as alive
now as it was two years ago, with
Harry Hopkins wing for supre-
macy with PWA Administrator
IckeS.
Secretary Ickes let up on his
type of construction long ago be-
cause Of an order by the President
making it necessary that pubic
construction under IckeS be done
BY labor drawn from Hopkins re-
lief rolls. These rolls, however,
have so few skilled workers md
so many unskilled ones that WA
Administrator IckeS found it not
only impracticable but dangerous
to erect public buildings.
Many cities and states, which
had been clamoring for millions
for schools, aSylums, hospitals,
jails, etc., cooled off, too. Another
factor in the slowing up Of public
works, was the refusal Of con-
tractors to let unskilled workmen
use their machinery or materials.
Yet, the halt in PWA money
to heavy industries does not put
an end to current PWA work; it
merely stops new programs.
Plenty Of Federal money is going
to construction under the Army,
Navy and other building appro-
priations. But the lack Of skilled
labor on PWA work has resulted
in an almost complete cessation
of requests for PWA grants by
local governments, who do not
want their buildings erected by
amateurs.
Some Seek Liquidation
Critics in Congress declare the
WPA contains a large organization
of 1937.type brain trusters intent
on making 1t appear necessary to
expand the organization. Critics
closer to the President feel that
I1IC CO1ASC4 VdOAVO OCCG4O44 "a JA4C
public would be more satisfied If
the relief set-up were iquidated.
However, the President is not
expected to break it up; he has
in mind q Public Welfare Depart
ment and Public Works Depart
ment-two new Cabinet positions
with relief, public works and other
related subjects divided between
them. That Is part Of his reorgan-
ization plan as drawn up by the
Brownlow committee.
Further, congressional critics
feel that WPA has used some of
it's administrative money for I'M
authorized purposes; they point
to the recent junket by a WPA
committee to Sweden to study CO.
operatives. This junket was paid
for out Of Surplus Commodity
Corporation funds, but the report
does not throw any light on how
the Swedish methods could help
distribute surplus commodities to
the army Of the unemployed.