Evening star., 1943-09-19
fLdst OF a Series.)
BY MIRIAM OTTENBERG.

gram to insure employment for
millions after the war has been
discussed widely as a method of
supplementing job opportunities in
private industries, but so far the
program has not been completed.
Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming,
administrator Of the Federal Works
Agency, has boldly propagandized
IN the past few months for Federal
works program while urging cities
and states to start their planning
of postwar construction now, with
out waiting to see how far Federal
funds will 60 in supporting their
programs.
Congress has appropriated funds
so far only for the Public Roads
Administration and the Public Build
ings Administration. With $50 ,0OO.-
600 available for planning purposes,
matched by State funds, the Public
Roads Administration and State
highway departments are planning
several billion dollars worth Of new
road work.
The Public Buildings Administra-
ton has $500, 900 with which to study
new materials and designs and to
determine the needs for new Gov-
ernment construction. It. has been
estimated that about $500, ,000, 900
could be spent on the Federal pro-
gram In the first year after the war.
Planning Takes Time.
Gen. Fleming and others who are
urging public works planning make
the point that planning sometimes
takes longer than actual construc-
ton and pose choice between con-
structive projects and a new form of
leaf-raking. s
Gen. Fleming has said that he
expects the funds for construction
will be available sooner or later but
he added that when he was deputy
administrator of public works I'VE
had plenty of money, yet for year
and a half we were unable to make
sizeable dent in unemployment
simply because there were no usable
plans for spending the money"
On the other hand, those who are
opposing shelf" of public works
take the position THAT If the plans
are ready. they will be used even if
workers could be employed in pri-
vate industry. They also contend
that It would be better to let work.
ers In war-swollen centers 20 back
to their home rather than freeze"
them in the former boom towns on
public construction jobs.
Big Program Believed Needed.
Generally, however, there is agree
ment that a sizeable public works
program will be necessary to take
care of the deferred needs of the
past few years.
Gen. Fleming gives this picture
OF an adequate postwar program of
public constructions:
Thousands of projects would be
prepared by Federal, State and local
governments. Included would be
both small and large projects, short
term and long-run projects.
BY the end of the war, legislative
authority, If required, would be OBJ
tanned; sites would be, chosen; the
engineering surveys would be COM
pleted and the actual preparation of
working drawings and the writing of
specifications would be done.
Some means of national control
would be worked out in advance 50
thai, the program could be managed
to supplement the reconversicn Ell
forts of private business. This would
avoid the danger that extensive nro4-
ectse Would BE undertaken when and
where they were not urgently needed
and would also prevent public agen-
cies from getting into competition
with private business for materials
or labor.
The program would be handled in
an order of priority based on ur-
gency OF need. Adequate water sup
ply and sanitary sewage disposal
would come before convention halls
and football stadiums. s@
A considerable number of noncon-
struction projects would be included
50 that those without construction
skills could be employed-since
stenographer. salesgirl or school
teacher Cannot be very efficiently
employed carrying the hod up q 20
foot ladder"
On all postwar public works prof.