Evening star., 1940-05-21
Roosevelt Requests
Removal Of Limit
On W.P. A. 0uhays
Says Desire to Return
To BoondossIine Could
Be Laid to Advocates
By the Associated Press.

gress today to remove q relief bill
cost limit on w. P. A. projects and
contended that advocates Of the
limitation could "be charged with q
desire to return to boondoggling."
The President, In q letter to Rep
(resentative Cannon, Democrat, Of
Missouri, expressed opposition to
provisions In the pending $975 $780,
900 bill which would limit the cost
Of Federal project to $4,000 and
the Federal contribution to q non-
Federal project to the same amount.
"The commissioner of work prof.
ects," the letter said, informs me
| that the proportion Of relief labor
| on large construction projects Is In
| many cases greater than on small
projects and, furthermore, that the
overall proportion Of relief labor on
| all construction projects now in op-
| Grafton is between 96 and 81 per
cent"
Defense Handicap Seen.
It added:
1.-The limitation would have par
ticularly harmful effect upon the
attempt which Is being made to use
the program Of the Work Projects
Administration to further national
defense"
The Presidents letter was read by
the House clerk as the members re-
sumed debate on the 194l relief bill.
In a postscript the President said
that a good deal of fun had been
poked at raking leaves, cleaning up
parks and the like and that the word
"boondoggling" had become . part
Of the political vocabulary.
1T Is true" the postscript said,
"that in those days, when the emer-
gency Of relief was great and the
machinery new, there was q certain
proportion of projects which did
not have any particularly permanent
value.
II think that people who insist
on the limitations In section II (the
$4,000 limitation provision) may,
with some justification, be charged
with desire to return to boom
doggling."
Communist Ban Expected.
Tales Of Trojan horse" activities
in Europe were generally expected
to assure House approval of legisla-
ton to purge the w. P. A. rolls Of all
Communists.
Representative Cannon told re-
porters he would support this pro-
vision. Representative Otter. Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania recently
served notice that such an amend
ment would be offered.
The drive to deny w. P. A. Jobs to
Communists was launched imme-
diately after Chairman Dies of the
Committee on Un-American Activi-
ties told the House last week that
Communists and Nazis had q fifth
column" plan for this country SINH
lar to that used In Norway.
Debate on the relief appropriation
was complicated by a long list of
proposed amendments. As approved
by the Appropriations Committee,
the bill would permit President
Roosevelt to use all the w. P. A.
money during the first eight months
Of the new fiscal year, which starts
July l.
Some members want to require the
appropriation to last q full year.
Others want to provide more than
twice as much money as the Presi-
dent asked.
Earmark Moves Planned.
Several moves are planned to ear
mark portions Of the fund. q policy
which Mr.. Roosevelt criticized last
week. Representative May, Demo-
crat, of Kentucky, said he would at
tempt to set aside $50, 900 900 for
flood control and 10000 900 for
rivers and harbors improvements.
Other amendments will seek to re-
serve portions Of the fund for public
buildings and public works.
Adoption of either Of two amend
ments, prepared by Republicans,
would mean liquidation Of the w. p.
A. program.
Representative Otter has pro-
posed that w. P. A. be given $780,
900, 1000 to complete projects started
before next June 80 and that on De-
cember 81 1t 60 out of business. As
a replacement, he would provide
$3.50, 900 900 for direct relief grants
to States and $400, 900 900 cash plus
$500, 900, 900 in contract authoriza-
tions for q public works program.
Representative Taber, Republican,
Of New York, wants the entire
$975, Csc, 900 appropriated for direct
grants to community governments.