Evening star., 1955-10-07

GEN. PHILIP B. FLEMING
say-so about expenditures which
iran into billions.
Federal Works combined pub
Lie roads, public buildings and
community facilities. It also
took over the remnants Of the
depression-born Works Progress
Administration and Public Works
Administration. Gen. Fleming
was not the first Federal Works
administrator. but he was an
early one.
Associates described him as a
top administrator and a great
public servant. Such was their
confidence in his ability and
counsel that both Presidents
Roosevelt and Truman had him
attend cabinet meetings although
his ONCE was not Of cabinet
rank.
He began his service with the
Roosevelt Administration In 1898,
serving in many capacities al
though he regarded himself as
/ q political independent. He was
executive ofiicer and deputy adj
Iministrator Of the Public Works
Administration from 1888 to
1885. In charge Of the Passama-
Iquoddy tMe0 project from 1895
to 1895, and co-ordinator OF the
Resettlement Administration in
1867. In 1897 he was ap-
pointed District Engineer at St.
Paul. Mimi, and served for two
years in charge Of improvements
ION the upper Mississippi River.
Was Wage-Hour Chief
Gen. Fleming made headlines
day after day after his appoint
ment as administrator Of the
Wage and Hour Division OF the
Department Of Labor In 1899 as
he fought to protect fair labor
standards during the defense
crisis. Declaring he believed In
sitting down and talking to
people" rather than cracking
down, he nevertheless made his
position on the 40-hour week In
its relation to the war effort
perfectly clear. In the face Of
considerable expressions Of opin-
ion that limitations on work
hours we're hurting Americas
defense efforts, he declared that
the way to increase production
Of defense materials was to work
machines. rather than men.
longer hours. He recommended
shift work and overtime.
In an address to the National
Association Of Manufacturers,
he warned the industrialists, re-
ferring TO the wage and hour
act. enforcement of this act is
as certain as death and taxes. /"
He dec hred on several occasions,
howeve that ''the attack on
wages and hours was not com.
ing from heads of business. f.
But from college professors and
newspaper columnists and edi-
tors"
His job at that time was de-
scribed as "the toughest admin
istrative job in Washington"
Nov I am a soldier, not a
labor man." he said. in an air
address. National defense Is the
function and responsibility Of the
military. II / found the over
time penalty was interfering
with defense production, / would
report my observation TO the
President just as fast as a sentry
reports the presence Of an enemy
to his superior officer. have
found no such thing"
Held Works Post
Gen. Fleming went on to be-
come Federal Works Administra-
tor In l94l. He served in that
post until l949, when President
Truman named him chairman
Iof the Maritime Commission. He
was named Ambassador to Costa
IRica in 1851. after serving briefly
las Undersecretary of Commerce
for Transportation. He was one
Iof the staunchest administration
advocates Of completing the Pan
American Highway to Panama.
Gen. Fleming retired from
Government service with the ad-
vent of the Eisenhower Admins
Itration. He became chairman
tof the Armed Services Hospital
Iity Committe. a post he held at
the time OF his death. One of
his last public appearances was
at a party for disabled service
men at the Woodmont Country
Club last summer, when he came
on crutches with a broken foot.
Gen. Fleming had divided his
time recently between his home
here at 1854 Thirty-fourth street
NV. and his summer home in
Sandwich. N. H.
He is survived by his widow,
Dorothy: a son, Carson, and a
daughter. Jocelyn Gutchess, all
of Washington.
Funeral services have been set
tentatively for Tuesday morning
at ArIin0toy Coynatarv