Evening star., 1940-06-06
Harrington Orders
". P. A. 10 Speed Up
Defense Projects
Work ot Boiling Field
And Anucostiu Included
In 73 Proposals

To help speed up the national de-
fense program, Commissioner F. G.
Harrington today ordered w. P A
administrators in 81 States, the Dis
trict of Columbia and Hawaii to give
priority to 73 projects which the
War and Navy Departments con-
slider of first Importance.
Col Harrington said the program
~coyers many navy yards, military
reservations of major size and GER
tain civil airports located in stra-
tegic areas"
w. P A. work at Boiling Field in
washington and on Navy projects
In Anacostia are included in this
speed-up construction program
The w. P. A. also has a project
under way at Langley Field, the
Army air base near Portsmouth, Va,
es well as work for the Navy at
Yorktown.
Col. Harrington said types of w
p. A. work to be expedited also in
clude construction of housing and
other facilities for enlarged mill
tary garrisonS, camp and canton
ment construction and various i'm
provements in navy yards.
In Anticipation of Funds.
The w. P. A order. it was said
today, was in anticipation Of funds
expected to be made available for
such work in the pending relief bill
The Senate Appropriations Commit
tee approved an amendment yester-
day authorizing S25 100000 to sup
plement the contributions of local
sponsors in connection with projects
for military use.
Many Of the projects given pri-
ority have been started or are ap-
proved and ready for operation
Others were described by Col. Har-
rlngton as still in the planning
stage but are expected to be ready
for operation at an early date.
The plan to integrate Federal re-
lief outlays and national defense
needs appeared likely today to re-
celve prompt Senate approval.
Senator Adams. Democrat. of Colo
'rado, floor manager for the S1.O75.-
5849l6 annual relief bill, said the
measure contained few controversial
provisions.
AS approved by the Appropri-
atlonS Committee, it authorizes
non-combatant military training o1
100000 youths in c. c. c. camps
and slashes relief restrictions which
might hamper the preparedness
drive.
Along with the bill went testi.
mony of Gen. George c. Marshall
Army chief Of staff, that the 1.5O(
G. c. c. camps could prove a val.
liable asset in case of mobilization.
Services Nitally Needed.
The general told Senators that he
and the War Department opposed
suggestions for training C. C. C
youths with guns for military com
bat, because this was too difficult E
task in the scattered camps.
The non-cOmbatant services are
Vltally needed, he added. These in.
clude cooking, first aid, bridge anc
road construction, radio, photogra.
ply and mechanical work.
The relief bill contains funds fo,
w. P. A. and other Federal agencie,
Tor the year beginning July |. Al
the Presidents request, the House
voted to let all the w. P. A. money
be spent in eight months if neces.
sary.
Quarter Of Funds for Defense.
Col. Harrington told reporters yes.
terday the w. P. A. would devote
about a quarter of its funds ane
man power to defense projects.
The w. P. A. commissioner alsC
supported House-approved provi.
slons barring relief employment fol
aliens, Communists and Nazi bunc
members. He explained that he
had been criticized because "some
Communists were on relief rolls.
The Senate committee voted Col
Harrington authority to use up tc
S5,0O0,000 of relief funds to CO.
ordinate State and local agencies
which certify persons for w. P. A
jobs.
Some Political Manipulation"
Col. Harrington testified that in
some areas local agencies certified
every one who applied, while in
others he said there is some polit-
ical manipulation"
The Senate bill removes require
ments for local contributions of 25
per cent on national defense prof.
ects under w. P. A. and removes
the l30-hour monthly work limit
on them.
The Senate bill totals about
S40.000.0O0 less than the House