The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-30

ENelN@~ASA1 eA-fN N-e%s departments of the state govern n1ent under which they have oper- ated, and are now operating, asked for them. All we of WpA have done is to try to give the best kind of cooperation possible. We have never, since the inception of WPA in l935, once tried to force upon this state sa single project of any description. Any statements to the contrary are deliberately false and misleading and are without substantiation.
 Does Governor Baldwin mean thAt the huge state institutional building program, toward which WPA Is contributing so much, under the direction of the State Depart ment of Public Works, is something that the Federal government has forced on the state?
 Does he mean to imply, in his general disparagement of the works program, that this work is not only forced on the state but is also of no value?
 Does he mean that the work projects asked for by the State Highway Department, the State Forest and Park Commission, the Legislative Council, the Rivers, Har- bors and Bridges Commission, the Dairy, Animal and Food Commis- sion, the State Department of Edu- cation, the State Fish and Game Commission, the Connecticut State Police, the Agricultural Experiment Station, involving many millions of dollars in Federal funds for wages and materials, were forced on an unwilling state government?
 Position Clear
 I don't know how I can make the WPA position clearer, for 1t has been told repeatedly, and it is abso- lutely true, that WPA cannot ini- tiate work projects.
 "WPA cannot initiate projects for the State of Connecticut any more than it can initiate them in the 169 towns and cities of the state. The only reason we have work relief pro- jects in operation at all in Connec- ticut is simply because persons in authority in the state and local gov- ernments have asked for them. That is the plain, simple truth.
 "It is likewise true that should the state and local officials sudden ly decide that they want no more WPA projects, these projects would cease to exist and the 24,000 Con- necticut citizens who work on these projects would be free to accept those good jobs in private industry.
 T am in complete agreement with Governor Baldwin's assertion that there is no substitute for a good job-a good job in private inc dustry. As matter of fact, if the governor can provide the jobs, can give him at once list of qualified men and women who will be tickled to death to get them. can give him 50000 names, at least-24 900 from the WPA rolls and the rest from the direct relief rolls.
 You cannot feed, shelter and clothe people with platitudes. We must face the realities-and they are grave, assure you. We ought to avoid the vague and meaning less generalities iYidulged in every so often concerning these good jobs ;Ll private industry. All that private in- dustry has to do is provide the jobs. Connecticut's WPA employees and relief clients will do the rest.
 Back in 1887 business was mak |. ing huge forward strides. Jobs be- came available and the states WPA rolls dropped to the all-tifne low Of about 13,000. What happened to the other ten or fifteen thousand WPA workers then? They took the good jobs in private industry that were offered. And they'll do 1t again-to- morrow-or just as soon as these private jobs are available.
 Per Cent Maximum
 "The Governor made reference to returning relief to the states. I re- gently stated in radio speech that we tried the state system under CWA and EZRA. and found these systems to be extravagantly costly to administer and productive of lit- tie physical or moral good. Under the old system of Federal grants to tha states and administrative costs ranged from 10 to 16 per cent. WPA administrative costs are limited by Federal law to maximum of 5 per cent--and the national and state averages are considerably under that figure.
 People who advocate the return to the old system certainly must have their tongues in their cheeks for they know that there is nothing to justify their demands either on the side of economy or efficiency.
 I've read lot and heard a great deal about the states budget being in balance. Putting aside what req sonable doubts which may exist re- lative to this statement and assum- ing that it is in balance, I cannot help wondering If this statement and assuming that 1t Is in balance, I cannot help wondering if any bal- ance could be achieved were 1t not for the Federal funds made avail- able to Connecticut for requested work projects of various kinds. The answer is obvious. Without the an- nual average of about IS millions of dollars flowing into this state through WPA. channels alone it is self-evident that any budget balanc- ing, actual or assumed, would be out of the question.
 Dole Un-American
 Reference was made by the Gov ernor to the Federal government taking advantage of the distress of large sections of our population to extend its powers into the states. If he means that the Federal govern nient, by providing work for employ able American citizens who cannot get jobs in private industry is tak- ing advantage of their distress, then p0CT CTTTnENTC IM