Evening star., 1942-12-04
Roosevelt Halls
All WPA Work
As Unnecessary
Orders Liquidation
Of Project in Letter
To Gen. Fleming
BY GARNETT d. HORNER.

President Roosevelt today or
dered prompt liquidation" Of
the Work Projects Administra-
ton because the tremendous in
crease in private employment
makes a Federal work relief
program mo longer necessary"
In letter to Maj. Gen Philip B.
Fleming, Federal works administra-
tor, the President directed the
closing out of all work relief prof.
ect operations" in many States by
February l and in other States "as
soon thereafter as feasible"
He pointed out that his action will
make it unnecessary for the next
fiscal year budget to provide any
funds for the WPA, and that it will
conserve "a large amount" of the
funds already appropriated
While saying there would be no
need for WPA project funds in
the next budget. the President in
dicated that a skeleton organization.
might be continued by pointing out,
WPAs knowledge and experience
would be valuable in the post-wa
period
Defends Relief Program. nd
Mr.. Roosevelt declared "experi-
ence has amply justified" the policy
on which the Federal work relief
program was started seven years
ago-"that providing useful work is
superior to any and every kind OF
dole'-and added:
With the satisfaction OF a good
job well done and with a high
sense of integrity, the Work Prof.
ects Administration has asked for
and earned an honorable discharge.
In his letter to Gen Fleming,
Mr.. Roosevelt said certain groups
of workers who still remain on the
diminished WPA rolls may have to
be given assistance by the States
and localities" while others wilt
be able to find work on farms or
in industry as private employment
continues to increase.
1 SOmc WORKS TO be FINISHED.
Some of the certified war projects
which the WPA has under way may
have to be taken over by other units
Of the Federal Works Agency or by
other departments of the Federal
Government" the President sug-
gested.
He added that State or local
projects should be closed out by COM
pleting useful units of such projects
or by arranging for the sponsors to
carry on the work"
The Presidents letter to Gen.
Fleming indicated that they had
discussed the matter earlier as the
result OF a suggestion by the admin
lStrator that it was time to end the
WPA program
Il agree" the President wrote
Gen. Fleming, that you should di-
rect the prompt liquidation of the
| affairs of the Work Projects Admin
lstratlon, thereby conserving large
amount of the funds appropriated
to this organization" then added
Il am proud of the Work Projects
Administrators organization. It
has displayed courage and determi-
nation in the face of uninformed
criticism. The knowledge and ex-
perlence of this organization will be
of great assistance in the considera-
ton OF weli-rounded public
works program for the post war
period"
/ The WPA spent $40 1863, ,249 900 be-
| tween the time 1t was established in
the summer of 1885 and last June 80.
Rolls Down 80 Per Cent.
Mr.. Roosevelt's order came when
the organization had shrunk to ONE
tenth OF what it was in its hey-day.
The WPA reported that the num-
Der of persons on its rolls had
dropped to 354,619 by November "a,
compared with peak employment
OF 1884 ,594 back in November. 1893.
WPA's appropriation from Con-
gress for the fiscal year begun last
July l was $280,0O0 900, a marked
cut from the s875, 900 900 allowed it
the year before, and big slash from
the peak allowance of s2.25O 900 OO0
| ~ soe ANh VIC JCdl C1ueQ June 81.
1899.
The cut in funds, the shifting of
WPA workers to industrial payrolls
with the rising demand for man.
power for war production-and a
program Tightening up by WPA it,
self-Were termed contributing
causes for the decline. =
New Projects Held Up. r.
The WPA already had adopted a
policy of not starting new projects
unless the sponsor showed a definite
employment need in the local COM
mun,ty. 1t also considered whether
the project would contribute in some
way to the war effort. -
Also, Gen. Fleming had directed
that all employees and those await
ing assignment be classified as fol.
lows:
l. Those qualified for immediate
placement in war industries or agri-
culture.
2. Those suitable for training and
tSee WPA, Page A-3.) 7