Evening star., 1938-04-06

rising unemployment situation.
BY the Associated Press.
Mounting relief costs have revived
talk among administr alton officials of
possible establishment o. a huge new
public works program, not only to
pine industrial pumps, but to give
direct employment 10 thousands.
A decision has not been reached,
officials emphasized today, pointing
out that arguments have been ad-
vanced both for and against such 4
course.
Any basic improvement in employ
ment, they said, necessarily depends
on better business conditions Aubrey
Williams, deputy w P. A. admins
traitor, declared that rising unen;ploy-
ment would necessilate a substantial
increase in Federal relief expenditures
when present funds are exhausted.
While he would hazard no predic-
ton as to what sum President Roose-
s.
he recalled that sl,750, 100000 was ap-
propriated for the present fiscal year.
and added:
There's going to nave to be a lot
more than that spent Iext year. You
can't spend less than that and keep
the peace"
Funds to Last Until June.
Funds now available, other officials
said, will be exhausted by he end Of
the fiscal year, June 80 In January
Mr.. Roosevelt tentatively projected a
81 10000 100000 appropriation for the
1889 year. Some relief experts say
now that this figure may have to be
more than doubled.
Contributing directly to the unem-
ployment situation, these officials said,
are several factors, including:
l. The absence of marked business
improvement this spring. coupled with
the usual prospects Cor sluggish sum-
mer business.
2. The end in few weeks of social
security compensation payments to an
estimated 100000 unemployed. This
will be brought about, it was explained.
both by the expiration Of the l2-week
limit on payments and by the exhaus-
ton of State funds.
3. Reduction in farm production.
under the new farm bill One informed
official said that crop curtailments
would throw many agricultural laborers
out of work.
2,394,S56 on Rolls.
For the three months remaining OF
this fiscal year. the w. P. A. has about
$500 100000 left from an original ap-
preparation of 81 800 900. 900 and re-
cent deficiency allotment of $3.50 ,O00.-
600. During the week ending March
rs there were 2,394,856 persons on
work relief, compared to the peak de-
preston load Of 3,035 1852 in February,
1886
Congressman are beginning to talk
Of the possible benefits of expanding
such agencies as the Farm Security
Administration. the Rural Electrical
ton Administration, the Civilian Con-
servation Corps and the National
Youth Administration.
The House Appropriations Commit
tee approved bill Monday to ap-
propriate $4,000 900 and reappropriate
s28.000,000 of unobligated funds for
the c. c. c. in order to prevent the
closing of 800 camps July /.
A public works program, if ap-
proved, could become operative about
the same time that legislation goes
into effect to increase business loans
by broadening the fiscal authority Of
the Reconstruction Finance Corp.
Bill Provides Loans.
The r. F. c. would be empowered
both to make public works loans to
States and municipalities and to ex-
ercise wide discretion in lending to
business enterprises. The bill carry
ing this authority needs only technical
congressional action before it will be
ready for President Roosevelt's sig
nature.
The hard-pressed railroad industry
may draw heavily on this source of
capital. Some administration leaders
expressed hope that the utilities indus
try also would avail itself Of the op-
portunity to undertake long-delayed
expansion programs.