The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-14
PRESIDENT. ASKS
 FOR RELIEF FUND
tContinued from Page D

\OOlltl1lu6Q HUH rage U cltar that I am not sending this message to the Congress merely for the purpose of going through motions.
 Condition, Not Theory
 'aThe government of the United States is faced with condition and not theory. The insufficiency of the money appropriated will compel the administration (of WPA) to dis charge about million and a. quar- ter actual workers in the immedi- ate future.
 T cannot bring myself to believe that these discharged men and wo- men will contribute to the prosperity of the United States, nor do be- neve that the merchants and land- lords they are now dealing with will become more prosperous when their trade ceases.
 Therefore, the responsibility for the situation in which all of these people will find themselves during the coming three months rests of necessity within the decision of the Congress of the United States"
 Relief Situation Serious , Mir. Roosevelt said the action of Congress in cutting his original request from $875 ,000, ,0O0 to $780, 100000 had left the relief situation every serious.
 within three weeks," he said, "the reduction of Works Progress Administration employment must begin in order that the remainder of the appropriation may be ap- portioned over the months of April, May and June. unless more money is appropriated quickly"
 He noted that, partly due to sea- sonal factors, unemployment has increased since December both in industrial and agricultural lines.
 He reported that WPA rolls in February and March have been maintained at an average of 2,996,- GOO persons and tha. despite this high level the number of persons eligible for relief but unable to get on WPA projects has increased in the past month. M
 3OO,O00 May Go Back
 While predicting that improve ment in business conditions between now and June, will reduce rolls somewhat, he doubted that more than 300,000 of the idle would thus be absorbed into private business.
 "All possible economies in admin istration and operation are being sought and will be constantly checked, but here again the cold facts which have been given insuf- ficient emphasis require restate- ment," he said.
 He said that WPA will be forced to issue orders within the next week to start reducing it's rolls in April If no additional appropria- tion is voted. He said plan- called for cut of 100000 in the first week of April and of 600,000 the first week in May.
 100000 More Going
 In June an additional 100000 will be taken from the rolls, he said.
 Figuring that each WPA worker helps support three other persons, he said "the number of persons, including dependents, affected by this reduction will be four million within the next fe.. weeks and nearly a million more later on. To these must be added the waiting list category - because 1t Is obvi- ous that while people now on the rolls are being discharged no peo- pie can be employee from the waiting list"
 MT. Roosevelt declared it had been the policy of Congress and the administration for six years to provide relief for needy unem- ployed.
 aThat policy" he said, T am more than ever confident, is right. It should not be abandoned now"