Evening star., 1941-05-21

Uett message 70 congress yes
terday on Work relief erpendi-
tures for the merit fiscal year
tollolDS:
In my budget message to the Con-
gress in January, I estimated that
Sa95, 100000 would be required dur
ing the ensuing fiscal Year for con-
tinuing the relief program by the
Work Projects Administration of the
Federal Works Agency. Since the
transmission of that message, funds
appropriated or recommended for
national defense have been sub
stantially increased and the lend
lease program has been set in
motion.
While the increase in defense
expenditures will have an important
bearing on employment, we cannot
anticipate an increase in employ
ment in the same proportion as the
increase in expenditures for next
year. Moreover, this increase will
not necessarily result in a cores
ponding decrease in unemployment.
The labor force will increase, partly
due to natural growth and partly
due to additional employment of
workers such as students who during
normal times would continue to pur-
sue an education. Also, many
youth and workers on submarglnal
farms will obtain jobs during the
present emergency.
An additional factor initiating
against as great a reduction in un-
employment as might appear pos
sible is that there are many OF the
presently unemployed who have
little chance to be absorbed by the
defense effort. Certain regions of
the country are not affected by de-
tense activities, and many types
of workers are not in demand.
1886 600, 900 Recommended.
After weighing all factors recon-
mend an appropriation Of 1886 ,O00,-
900 for the next fiscal year, of which
s11 100000 will be required for ad-
ministrative expenses of agencies
other than the Work Projects Ad-
ministration. The remainder Will
provide for an approximate monthly
average of 100000 persons to be
employed on the relief program,
It has been customary in recent
wears to provide in the relief appro-
priation an amount for ALLEGATION
to Federal agencies for construction
and other projects falling within the
several categories set forth in the
Relief Act. The agencies receiving
such ALLEGATIONS frequently nave
projects of a similar nature lncluoeo
within State Work Projects Admin
istration programs. 1t is my bene1
that most of these projects. and par
ticularly those of the War, navy
Agriculture and Interior Depart
ments. should be provided for in the
State programs. therefore recon-
mend that provision be made 1or a
limited amount, not to exceed So
100000. for Nationwide Feoerai
non-construction projects. 1urtner
recommend that 100000 be set aside
for ALLEGATION, with the approval OF
the director of the Bureau OF the
Budget. to those Federal agencies
engaged in the planning OF projects.
or the review of projects submitted
through State Works Prolects Ao-
ministration programs. Ihls sum
will offset the per cent admins
tratiye allotment now made IN con-
nection with the ALLEGATIONS TO red
eral agencies for projects.
During the current year the WORK
Projects Administration has been
authorized to train workers !ol
manual occupations in industries
engaged in production for national
defense. I recommend the broaden
ing of this authority to accelerate
the employment of Work Projects
workers in private
industry.
Would Embrace Aliens.
The Works Projects Adminlstra-
tion is now required to remove from
EMPLOYMENT those persons VINO nave
been continuously employed for IL
and to make Investigations
at least once in IL months to deter
mine the continuing need of each
project worker. I believe that the
first requirement works a great
hardship on many people. The sec
ond requirement is unnecessary and
costly. I recommend the elimina-
ton of these requirements from the
1912 act.
Under existing law aliens are de-
MED the right to employment on
relief projects. I believe that this
works hardship upon class of
persons whose private employment
opportunities are becoming increas-
ingly limited. I recommend the re-
noyal of this barrier to permit the