The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-01-30
ong-Rdnge Public
Works pldn Urged
Permanent Unemployment
Is Predicted By National
Resources Bourd

Washington, D. c. QLNS).-Long-
range planning of public works, advo-
Gated for years by the American Fed
Grafton of Labor as national policy
is strongly endorsed in report made
to President Roosevelt by the Natl
onal Resources Planning Board.
Need for long-range public works
policy, with the two-fold purpose of
providing employment in periods of
depression and providing a program
of public construction at all times is
emphasized in the report, which sees
unemployment as probably a perma-
nent problem.
The report was prepared by J. X.
Galbraith and G. G.. Johnson, Jr., for
the planning boards Public Works
Committee. Unemployment is prob
ably here to stay and public works
and the program for financing them
should be framed with the probability
in mind, the report warns.
States Role Stressed
"Continued existence of unemploy-
ment as the central economic prob
lem Of the United States makes evi-
dent the need for planning a public
works policy on a long-range basis
if the problem of unemployment is to
be met in part through the construc-
ton Of public. works." the board said
"But even if unemployment should
cease to be major national problem
the need for continuing program of
public works construction would not
disappear.
Furthermore, it should not be as
sumed that the problem of developing
a long-range public works policy is
exclusively a Federal problem. No
matter how far the financial and
planning leadership of the Federal
Government may be carried, the role
Of the states and localities remains
of fundamental importance.
Coordination Seen Needed
"Since 1882, Federal programs for
construction have had to offest the
sharp curtailment that was made from
1880 to 1888 in state and local con-
struction. To return public works ex-
penditures approximately to earlier
levels through Federal action was an
important accomplishment.
However, future public works pol
icy should seek to coordinate for
ward-looking programs by state and
local agencies with those of the Fed
eral Government, to the end that pub
lie construction policy as a whole
shall contribute more effectively to
the rational upbuilding of the ma
tional estate and the most profitable
utilization of our resources
Accordinglys-fre.,oar recommend
ed "as matter Of long-range Federal
policy" a continued use of public
works construction as one part of a
program of employment, such policy
to be properly coordinated with Fed
aral relief and other social security
measures.
Unemployment May Last
The board conceded that the prob
lem of unemployment in relation tC
public employment was in q transi-
tional stage.
eve can no longer be sure that
unemployment is a cyclical problem
appearing and disappearing as the
economy alternates between depres-
sion and prosperity" the report said
"Unemployment may be an enduring
problem arising from continued di.
minished volume of private invest
ment. If we reckon with the posi-
bility of continuing colume of unem.
ployment, then the question of a long
term expansion Of the volume of pub
lie employment must at least be
faced"