The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-22
W.P.A. EMPLOYES MAY BE DELAYED
400 Workers Are Held Up Because of Controllers
 Act on RequisitiOnsa

Threat of loss of employment of 400 workers on one project aand of delay in several other city-WPA construction jobs because Of Con- troller Sherwood L. Rowland's re- fusal to honor acquisitions for sup plies was reported to the board of finance yesterday by City Engineer Charles A. Root. Thereafter, on mo- tion of Commissioner John H. GoSS, the engineer was directed to submit estimates of each project to the board of public works.
 Then, with approval of these by the board of aldermen, bond issue of $585, ,000 will be made available for the detinitely-apportioned projects, it was moved. The controller had re- fused to honor acquisitions for sup plies for the important trunk sew CTS on North Man street, as well, saying that he estimated only $33,- 00O was available, after deouctmg $5,0o0 for possible bills and the like, whereas the construction calls for outlay O1 $4z,UUU.
 Controller Gets Orders
 The controller was directed to make sufficient of the sum available to allow construction to proceed on the basis of 8 partial job, one-nal1, or tWo-thirdS, within the money he reported immediately available, pending the passage of the bond is sue winch will care for the difference along with the numerous other city jobs.
 City Engineer Root told the board that unless program of work was outlined with assurance from the controller that the money would be available, que to the delay i'll op- Camlng approval at Washington of these proJectS, that the force of ap- proximately 1900 WPA worKers is confronted WiUn possible loss of jobs. A long discussion followed the re- port or the controller on funds avail able 1n which he took leaf from Commissioner GoSS and the latter S comments at the previous meeting regarding "orderliness" of the WPA- city projects program.
 Engineer Root On Top However, the controller failed of support for his claims at yesterday s meeting and City Engineer Root had his day in court, in manner ot speaking. When the controller found that his implied criticisms were be- ing thrown back at him, he changed his tone and appeared to agree with the systematic plan for putting the program through the various boards, public works, aldermen, and, in one instance, the board of public welfare, where about $14000 will be spent by the government for domestic WPA service, without cost to the city. Commissioner GosS stressed that the furnishing of employment to the unemployed was the primary con- sideration of the board and urged that the more important projects be expedited in accordance with char ter provisions, through the boards to | the controller where payment will be directed by the finance board.
 Controller Quibbles
 The controller quibbled over the costs of the North Main street sewer job, essential now before the state starts a paving job there, in terms of the few thousands which he claimed would not be available, in spite of his report that he had deducted about $12,O00 for contractors per- centages and the $5,O00 for possible bills yet to be presented. This is a job being done by the city engineer ing department.