Evening star., 1937-05-04

tneTe Will De no prOJecCS le1t ana GER
tainly there will be no money left.
The officials Of the States, counties
and cities who have a real relief prob
lem will gladly put up the so per cent
In order to secure grant of SO per
cent from the Federal Government
Few will certify that they have no
revenue and no credit. Few officials
could do 1t without misrepresenting
the facts. The bonds Of the various
cities and counties Of this country are
with few exceptions selling at par to-
day, and In nearly every instance Is
per cent above what they were selling
for in 1898.
One reason why the States, counties
and cities have been able to reduce
their indebtedness and improve their
credit is that the Federal Govern
ment has been giving them money
with which to do things they ordinarily
would have had to finance out OF local
revenues. Today, as a rule, they are
living within their incomes and re-
ducing their indebtedness, while the
Federal Government is living beyond
Its income and increasing its indebt-
edness. Judging from the balance
sheets, the States, counties and cities,
instead OF asking relief from the Fed
eral Government, should be offering
relief to the Federal Government.
Reducing this appropriation involves
no criticism of Mr.. Harry L. Hopkins,
the director of the Works Progress
Administration. No of1cial of Gov
ernment has had more difficult or
more disagreeable task. He had done
a fine Job. When he presents an esti-
mate for funds based upon the number
Of persons upon the relief rolls it
represents the best informa ton that
can be secured by his organization
But in determining whether or not it
is necessary to retain so many people
on the relief rolls, we must consider
Mr.. Hopkins sources Of information
He must rely upon his directors in the
various States, They, in turn, must
rely upon State officials. 1t must be
remembered that the agency that Ger
tif1es the unemployed to w. P. A. is q
State agency. State officials determine
who shall be placed upon the relief
rolls and how many shall remain there.
In one State where the sentiment Is
in favor Of retrenchment in Govern
ment expenditures the officials will CO.
operate with Mr.. Hopkins in his efforts
to eliminate from the rolls those who,
lln6pr ,n np{t al -
relief work. In another State, where
there is sentiment in favor Of getting
all the money possible from the Federal
Government, the officials will not CO.
operate with him. In some commune
ties there will never be an end to the
emergency. 1t will get worse every
election year.
II local governments are required to
contribute out of funds secured BY
levying taxes, SO per cent of the cost
of project. there would be less induce
ment to local officials to retain upon
the rolls those persons who could
secure employment elsewhere If they
really wanted to work.
Local GOVernmcntS Share.
Now let us see If local governments
are contributing as much as they can
contribute A statement prepared by
w. P. A. within the last few weeks
shows that through December 81, 1896,
three and one-half billion dollars was
spent for projects in the United States,
and Of this amount only S463 900 900,
or l3 per cent, was contributed by the
public agencies sponsoring the projects
Do you think that local governments
cannot contribute more than l3 per
cent?
We are accustomed to regard the
Empire State of New York as the
Wealthiest State in the Union, and yet
only 70 per cent Of the cost of projects
in New York State was contributed by
the sponsors Of those projects, which
was the smallest percentage contrib
uted by any State. Idaho, certainly
not regarded as wealthy State, con-
tributed % per cent of the cost of its
projects, which was the highest per
cent contributed by any State. If New
York contributes the same percentage
as Idaho, and all States are forced to
contribute so per cent, there will be no
cause for dissatisfaction.
Having mentioned New York State,
it is but fair to say that similarly
small contributions were made by
Pennsylvania and other States of
the Union having large populations.
1t is also fair to state that it is argued
by officials in those States that while
they contribute but little to work prof.
ects, they spend very large amounts
for direct relief. 1 contend, however,
that they are in position to contribute
so per cent to these projects. They
have the tax-paying capacity and
they have the credit. For instance,
the State OF New York, and the cities
and counties Of that State, have un-
questioned credit. In December, 1888,
its 3h per cent State bonds due in
1850 sold at 398. Today they are
selling at S12025. New York Citys
per cent bonds, which in December
1888, sold at $81, are today selling at
sl25. Nassau County ~ per cent
bonds, which then sold at S82, are
today selling at $119. There has been
q similar improvement In the market
l-----------------------