Evening star., 1939-07-30
W. P. A. Halls
DisnissaIs Until
House Acts
Harrington Awoits
Body's Action on
Lending Amendment
BACKGROUND

BACK
The Relief Act of 1910, signed
by the President on June 80, re-
CURED q 30-day turlough for nom
Deter1n D0rkerS Uho had been
on relief more than 18 consecu-
tine months, and stipulated 100
hours OF ,Dork a month for the
same 1oage as previously paid for
so to 80 hours This led to a
series of w. P. A. strikes through.
out the country. Demands for
modification OF the laW haze been
supported by the A. F. of L. and
the c. /. O.
Col. F. C. Harrington, work prof.
ects commissioner, acted swiftly yes
terday on the heels of Senate action
to halt temporarily the laying off of
any more of the 650,0O0 workers who
have been on w. P. A. rolls continu-
ously for l8 months or more.
His order was sent to all State
administrators, telling them to stop
dismissals pending further instruc-
tions. It was based on the Senate
amendment to the lending bill which
would have the effect of nullifying
a provision of the month-old relief
act, which requires the dismissal of
relief workers who have been on
the rolls 18 consecutive months.
The amendment was approved
Friday night by a vote of AZ to 80
on the motion of Senator Murray,
Democrat, of Nevada, and was re-
ported to have carried the approval
of Col. Harrington. 1t faces a hard
fight in the House, however.
Awaits Final Decision.
Because of the uncertainty over
the outcome, Col. Harrington sus-
pended all further dismissals in tins
class of workers until the final de-
cision by Congress on the amend
ment. If it is defeated and the
clause in the w. P. A. act is retained,
the estimated 650OOO workers af-
fected must be cleared from the rolls
by September l, leaving them only
a month of grace.
The layoffs, which are for 80 days,
have been continuing rapidly since
July /. There was no official count
available yesterday, but it was be-
lieved nearly 100000 have been
dropped from the rolls to date. AL
though the new law specified the
total reduction necessary should
take place by September l, Col
Harrington had decided to stagger
the curtailments. He therefore had
issued orders that 100000. workers
should be dropped from the rolls by,
August /, only two days hence
There will be no requirements, it
was said.
In compliance with the dismissal
order a month ago, the District w.
P. A. notified 320 workers on July
18 that they we're to go on fur
Tough. About $500 come under the
18-month ban in the District out
of total of 1920 actually en-
ployed, according to an estimate by
George Parker, acting deputy w.
P. A. administrator here. Some
5000 are eligible, but unable to get
on the rolls.
Exemptions Are Provided.
The Murray amendment, Col.
Harrington notified all State ad-
ministrators, repeals the 18-month
ban imposed in the new w. P. A.
Act and substitutes a provision
giving preference in employment to
persons who have been certified for
jobs three months or longer and
are waiting for assignment. The
amendment also provides certain
exemptions, he said, allowing con-
siderable administrative discretion.
Pending final action on this
amendment by Congress-" he in
structed his administrators, mo
further examinations should be
made under section 16 CD of the
act until further instructions are
received by you. Such instructions
will be transmitted at the earliest
possible moment"
The Murray amendment, ap-
proved by the Senate in the face
of reports that it's adoption would
endanger the lending program, was
designed to soften the provisions Of
the 18-month ban to make room
for those who have been certified
for w. P. A. jobs, but have been
unable to get them. The revision
would prevent the removal from
the rolls of any longtime worker
who had tried without success to
get private employment, or if en-
forced removal would injure the
efficiency of works project, or if
the worker would suffer personal
hardship through dismissal