Evening star., 1940-05-15

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Iilitary award.-A. p. Wirephoto.
days. Col. Harrington asked for q
15-day furlough period. but that
was turned down.
Commenting on the law under
which w. P. A. operates, the report
said that despite criticism, TT Is
sufficient to say that the current
law has vindicated itself through
an improvement Of the program
and a better and more just and
more economical distribution Of the
work relief benefits under the act" 3"
Looking at the long-range relief
problem, the committee said: ANY
change from w. p. A. to any other
method of furnishing this same
type Of work relief needs long-range
preparation and planning with am
pie opportunity for States, cities
and other cooperating public bodies
to get ready to meet their RESPONSE
bilities."
Left-Wingers Seen In Power.
The chief investigator Of the
House w. p. A. Committee charged
that organized pressure groups Of
definitely left-wing beliefs" have
exercised virtual control" over
many supervisory w. P. A. ofncials
The allegation was made by ].
O'Connor Roberts, committee coun-
sci, in a report on investigations
In dozen States.
Thomas C. Elder, a General Ac-
counting once investigator, who
also participated In the inquiry, said
that w. P. A. is the rottenest Or
ganization" he had ever seen.
Discussing so-called left-wing &C.
tivities, the Roberts report referred
to q writer's project In Los Angeles
as "a training school for Commun-
lists" and asserted that members Of
that political party received prefer
ence in the New York City relief
establishment. Mr.. Roberts declared
that in many cases "left-wing pres
sure" was responsible for poor ad-
ministration and other undesirable
conditions.
Some "Nests" Cleaned Out.
The frequent references by Mr..
Roberts and his aides to nests" of
Communism in w. Ps A. prompted
w. P. A. Commissioner Harrington
to suggest that Congress take q
definite stand on whether Commun-
lists should be barred from w. p. A,
work.
I'VE have cleaned out a good
many nests here, there and else
where and expect to continue that,
Col. Harrington said, adding, how
ever, that he did not believe Com
munists should be barred by law
from w. p. A.
The statements by Mr.. Roberts
and Col. Harrington were part OF
a record Of private hearings made
public by the committee.
In the hearings, the committee in
vestigators charged w. P. A. with:
Purchasing zoos wheelbarrows for
project which employed only 10a
persons.
Spending $2e7 per rat in a New
Orleans vermin determination prof.
ect.
Helping build homes for Gov
Richard Leche of Louisiana, since
resigned, and for Mrs. Huey P. Long
widow of the Senator.
(Col. Harrington replied that To-
cal rather than w. p. A. officials
were responsible for this diversion
Of labor and materially
Del-Mar Track "A Ride"
Expending 1921 ,047 to build the
Del Mar, Calf, race track, later
leased to Bing Crosby, the singer,
and associates. (Col. Harrington COM
mented, I'VE were taken for . ride
on that.')
Increasing w. P. A. rolls in Penn
sylvania by 10000 just before the
1888 primary election. (The COM
missioner said the increase was due
to "the seriousness Of the unem-
ployment and relief situation
there.)
The report likewise charged W.
p. A. carelessness in records and
audits and the approval Of projects
where officials knew the sponsors
were unable to meet their share.
The report alleged that in one
13-month period Howard Hunter
deputy w. p A. commissioner, whose
home is in Washington, spent 20oh
days In Chicago, his former home
at Government expense.
Mr.. Hunter, the report likewise
asserted, went to Louisville At Ken
lucky Derby time four different
years on = Federal expense account,
Mr.. Hunter replied that there was
nothing irregular about his attend
innR the Derby. He also said that he