Evening star., 1939-06-13
Harrington Planning
To Reorganize W.P.A.
Theater Project
Administrator AssuiIs
Many Charges Against
Agency as Unfair
BACKGROUND

ohS n 1loCN ~ IL
The House Appropriations Com
mittee put of to the last minute
drafting OF relief approprid-
tionS bill so it could hare the
benefit OF Information turned up
during its w. P. A. Investigation.
At one time during the inquiry
it UdS thought the committee
1Could sharply curtail Federal
control of 1Cork relief.
Col F. c. Harrington, Works
Progress administrator, today told
the House Appropriations Subcom-
mittee which has been investigating
w. p A. expenditures, that he pro-
posed to make administrative
changes in w. P. A., including re-
organization of the Federal Thea
ter Project
The theater project has been crit
icized in testimony before the sub
committee as having been dom
mated by the Workers Alliance
Proposing reorganization of that
branch with view to improved
administration and efficiency" Col
Harrington at the same time dis
puted many charges against w. P.
A. as inaccurate" and obviously
unfair"
Before his appearance, informed
legislators said the new relief bill,
scheduled to 60 before the House
tomorrow, contained a broad provi-
sion intended to block any efforts
by such organizations as the AL
lance to, control white-collar
projects.
Says Record Is Good.
The w. P. A. chief told the COM
mittee, which will recommend addi-
tional funds to finance relief activi-
ties for the year starting July l. to-
gether with possible sweeping
changes in its administration, that
he thought the w. P. A. investiga-
ton had revealed its record as "one
of remarkable integrity"
There were reports in informed
circles the committee had decided
to recommend abolition of Col. Har-
rington's post as sole administrator
Of the w. P. A. and substitution of
a three-member board.
He did not touch on that phase
OF the question in his prepared state
ment, however, but vigorously pro-
tested against legislation which
would prohibit the w. P. A. from
engaging in heavy construction
projects.
Asserting that if such a require
ment were imposed the tendency of
private sponsors would be to submit
separate items of large undertake
lngs as individual projects, Col. Har-
rlngton said "the resultant waste
and confusion would be enormous"
Silent on Details.
Committee members remained
tlght-lipped about the cetails of
their proposed recomme adations.
but it was said authoritatively a
S5O,0O0,000 slash was contemplated
in the $123,0OOOOO requested by
President Roosevelt for the National
Youth Administration.
Discussing criticism of the Federal
arts projects, COL Harrington made
a plea for their continuance. He
said he had intended to make a
number of changes in their admin
lstration, but delayed them to avoid
conflicting with the committees
work. He listed the proposed
changes as follows:
(a) Move the Offices of the di-
rectors of all projects to Washing
ton, where they will function under
the close supervision of the national
Office.
ob) Endeavor to secure local spon-
sorship in as great degree as pos
slble for these projects.
tc) Reorganize the Federal The
ater Project.
(d) Make certain changes in per-
sonnel to the end of securing more
enectlve project operation.
Legislators discussed their pro-
posed new restriction on what they
called outside domination of prof.
ects, privately and not in detail.
Col. Harrington asserted there
mad been certain glarlng misstate-
ments OF fact" presented to the in
vestigating committee, but said he
would not attempt to refute them
IN detail. He mentioned specifically,
however, as disproved by load tests
testimony that contract for GER
tain trucks which lacked CAPACITY
for the work involved had cost the
Government $1,5OO,OOO.
Concerning contentious that bet