Evening star., 1939-02-05
Harrington Foresees
Drastic Curtai|ment'
OF 0fW.P.A. on April |
Reduction imperative
Unless $725,000.0 900
Fund Is Increased
BACKGROUND

Fund Is Increased
BACKGROUND
Relief stirred the first battle
in the neD Congress, an sS75,-
+ 100000 deficiency pproprtdtion
asked By President Rooseuelt
being cut TO s725,000,0 900. There
1Uere indications, ho,Deper, that
more 1could be forthcoming later
if the need justified.
The program of the Works Pro-
gress Administration must undergo
drastic curtailment" on April
unless the s725 100000 deficiency
appropriation just voted by Congress
is increased, Col. F. C. Harrington,
the Works Progress administrator
said last night in a radio address.
Il am we'll aware that 5000, 900
! w. P. A. workers and their families
perhaps 100000 persons in all
are very anxious to learn just what
the deficiency appropriation means
in terms OF jobs for the next five
MONTHS said Col. Harrington. who
was making his first radio address
since succeeding Harry L. Hopkins
as head of the vast relief organiza-
ton.
Congress has just passed a joint
resolution providing $725 900, 900 for
use in the next five months, and 1t
is now ready for action by the Presi-
dent. In this connection. Congress
has adopted a provision which, for
the time being. will prevent any
severe reduction in w. p. A. rolls.
This provision specifies that during
the months of February and March,
administrative reductions Of .Ae w.
P. A. rolls shall not exceed f1ve per
cent of the total now employed.
After April however, the amount of
money remaining. if not supple
mented. will require very drastic cur
tailment of the program
Il Won't Upset Apple Cart"
Col Harrington, former assistant
administrator, said those connected
with the w. P A. had never felt
that it was a fixed program with
fixed methods. but rather, that it
should be adjusted to meet require
ments.
"As its administrator, he en-
phasized. Il do not propose to upset
the apple cart. Whatever improve
ments I can make must evolve logi-
cally out OF the programs actual
operations"
The white collar" projects, he
said, will be continued within the
limit of our funds
There is, in particular" he am
plifled, no reason to fear that work
ers in the field of the arts will be
neglected. These workers, though
a very small proportion of our total
employment, have as musicians,
artists, actors and writer's, made q
large and significant contribution to
public needs which is deeply appre-
ciated."
The administrator declared it was
intended the w. P. A. jobs shall go
without any partisan bias or politi-
cal coercion to the people who really
need them"
Pleased At Political Bans.
In this connection, he expressed
pleasure at the structures against
politics embodied in the new legisla-
ton, declaring: These conditions
are particularly welcome to me, for
I watched first-hand the remarkable
fight which Harry Hopkins made for
years to keep politics out OF this
program"
He had a word of admonition, too,
for relief workers.
THE right of jobless men ana
women to public employment is a
right which is just being established
in America" he said. For its pres
ervation as an element of future
public policy, I want to urge that
it is now and henceforth up to every
w. P. A. worker to put in a good
days work for his days pay-just
as good a days work as he can.
whatever his rate of pay may be"
President Roosevelt has not indi-
Gated If he will sign the deficiency
bill which cut 10000 900 of the
sum he recommended for relief.
Earlier yesterday, Col. Harrington
announced that between July and
November /, the w. p. A. completed
1900 projects extending or improv-
ing sewerage systems and 600 ex-
tending or improving water supply
systems.