Evening star., 1939-07-18
$40 Workers Here
Among Thousands
Dropped by W.P.A.
100000 to Go OF Rolls
, For 30 Days by August !.
350,000 More in Month

Work relief rolls were being pared
by new thousands today as initial
discharges were issued in compli-
ance with the 1910 Relief Act pro-
vision that all those on the rolls for
Is months be given 30-day layoffs.
Although the law specified that
this reduction take place by Sep
tember l, w. P. A. Commissioner
F. c. Harrington decided last week
to stagger the curtailments and TO
make the first cut effective by Au-
gust I. To accomplish this, he Or
dered discharge of 100000 through
out the country by August and dn
estimated $4,000 more by Septem-
ber l.
In compliance with this order, the
District w. P. A. notified 320 work.
ers today they were to 60 on fur
Tough. About $500 come under the
l8-month ban in the District, it was
explained by George Parker, acting
deputy w. P. A. administrator here.
First to be dropped, Mr.. Parker ex-
planned further, are those having
longest service on the relief rolls.
None Result Of Strikes.
Mr.. Parker explained that 1920
persons were on the District w. P.
A. eligible list, although only 1920
actually were employed at the last
check-up few days ago. During
the intervening weeks. workers with
the longest service will be dismissed
gradually, with as much notice as
possible, Mr.. Parker said, and with
whatever assistance can be given
them toward finding employment in
private industry. The August quota
Of workers for the District has been
set by the national w. P. A. at
10280.
None of these dismissals, local or
national, arises out of the recent
strikes and demonstrations against
the new requirement that relief
workers put in 100 hours monthly in
return for the minimum security
wage.
AS protest against this provision.
either by strike action or pressure
for corrective legislation. appeared
near an end, it was indicated the
next strategy by labor groups which
have been most outspoken In their
dlSpleaSure, particularly the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, will be to
throw their support to increased ap-
preparations for the public works
program.
Projects financed by P. w. A. are
actually done under private contract.
With wage scales fully protected, a
condition in contrast to the w. P. A.,
where recently enacted provisions
that workers must put in 100 hours
monthly for the minimum wage have
the effect OF undertaking prevailing
wage rates.
At headquarters here w. P. A.
chiefs studied means of eliminating
geographical differentials in pay to
preserve the present national aver
age security wage of $500. Col.
Harrington said this would necessi-
tate increases in the South and de-
creases in the North and West. He
predicted it would cause a howl
President William Green and other
A. F. L. ofhcials called on congress
sional leaders yesterday Mr.. Green
said the labor officials were neither
encouraged nor discouraged by the
reception of their suggestions. but
most Congress members predicted
the session would end with no
change in the law.
After conferring with Vice Presi-
dent Garner, Mr. Green said:
Il gained the impression he felt
there would be great dificultv in
getting anything through Congress
this session"
The strike situati ton in Pennsyl-
vania and Minnesota differed from
that apparent in most other States
w. P. A. of1icials said only 766 were
absent from the II PHILADELPHIA
w. P. A. projects, and SOL of IS. .725
w. P. A. workers were out in Pitts
burgh.
Walkout Set Tomorrow.
These figures were termed ridic-
ulous by James L. McDevitt, presi-
dent OF the Pennsylvania Federation
OF Labor.
After surveying the response to
the walkout order, Mr.. McDevitt
announced union members would be
called of all Government financed
projects in Philadelphia. That walk
out is to be effective at the close
OF work tomorrow. He listed the new
Federal courthouse. new Municipal
Court building, navy yard building
and several lum-clearance projects
as those that would be affected.
Gov. Harold Stassen of Minnesota
was attempting to reach a solution
of the Minneapolis strike problem
through conferences with labor
leaders. All but few minor w. P.
A. projects in Minneapolis were
closed.
President Roosevelt yesterday
asked Congress to authorize the w.
P. A. to expend up to $4,000. 600 to
pay for accumulated leave for ad-
ministrative personnel separated
from the pay roll as of last June 30.
The Budget Bureau said many of
these employees. whose dismissal was
necessitated by reduced appropria-
tions, were entitled to 80 days an
nual leave with pay and, conse-
quently, must be carried on the pay
roll for an additional 30 days, al
though they are no longer working.
Congress in Brief