Evening star., 1940-08-25
W.P. A. Asks Wihkie
Three Questions in
Dispute on Padding
Hunter Asks Suggestions
For Reducing Rolls;
Says Nominee Misled

Says Nominee Misled
By the ASociated Press
The Works Projects AdminiStra-
ton challenged Wendell Willkie yes
terday to follow up his criticism of
the w. P. A. employment record by
answering these question::
81. Is the w. P. A. hiring too
many people?
q. If SO, how many should we
fire?
g. Specifically, in what places
should they be fired?"
Howard Hunter. acting w. P. A.
commissioner, posed the questions
In a statement after the Republican
nominee reiterated In New York
that w. P. A. had increased it's rolls
by 30 900 in July and contended that
the administration was seeking Ito
pack the relief rolls" for political
reasons.
Mr.. Hunter declared that Mr..
Willkie had been misled into re-
peating "a perfectly stupid and in
accurate statement"
Figures Offered.
As for the question of an increase
In w. P. A. employment before
election day, Mr.. Hunter said,
This matter need not further be
In the realm of rumor or predic-
ton
The exact facts he continued,
'are that w. P A. employment
for September will be held to an
average of 100000, and during
October, the month Immediately
preceding the November election,
maximum w. P. A. employment will
be 100000 persons
Mr.. Hunter said these quotas were
In exact line" with the testimony
given by Col F. c. Harrington, W..
P. A. commissioner, in estimates pre-
sented to Congress last April.
1T should be noted" Mr.. Hunter
continued, that w. P. A. employ
ment during September and Oc-
tober will be the lowest in the his
tory of w. P. A. with the exception
of 1887"
Because of floods, Mr.. Hunter
said. it is safe to predict that
large part of the 100000 national
increase in October in w. P A. en-
ployment will be placed in the South,
which any one should hesitate to
label a political move
The exchange between Mr.. Will
kie and the w. P. A. was brought
to the Senate's attention by Sena-
tor Byrnes, Democrat, of South
Carolina, who frequently has acted
as a White House spokesman.
Senator Byrnes read extracts
from the Republican nominees
charge of efforts to pack" relief
rolls and then told the Senate
that statement is definite proof
that Mr.. Willkie has little regard
for the facts"
The South Carolina Senator con-
tended that w. P. A rolls had
annually decreased 100000 from
June to July.
Mr.. WILKES reckless charges y
he said, will day by day cause
thoughtful Republicans and indie
pendent voters to regret that the
Republican convention did not have
more time to investigate him before
they nominated him
Taft Says Rolls Increased.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
interrupted to observe that w. P. A
rolls had increased 80 900 from early
July to August and that this prob
ably was the basis for Mr.. Wilkes
complaint
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee said the Republican nom
inee had made direct charges of
fraud on the Roosevelt administra-
tion," and added that it was his ex-
perience that whenever a candidate
opened campaign by charging
fraud or intended fraud, he was
never elected"
Senator Wiley, Republican, of Wis
consin remarked that the wv. P. A.
smells even way back from 1885
in some communities of this coun-
try and we don't want a repetition
of that SMELL
Senator Wiley later issued a state
ment saying he had examined
series Of w. P. A. press releases which
reported 1.6ll,2l3 persons employed
July on projects financed with w.
P A. funds. and 1,708l l54 on August
a. He added:
"On the face of these statements
of the Work Projects Administra-
tion-the agency's very own fig
ures-the number of persons en-
ployed on projects financed by its
funds has increased 96941 from
July 3 to August a.