Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-25
Other Flood Stories on Pese AS

to executive agencies was put
into effect yesterday by President
Eisenhower after advance APP
proval by congressional leaders.
James c. Hagerty, White House
press secretary. said the Presi-
dents action means that a
special session of Congress will
not be necessary" to meet the
flood problem.
Approves Program
Mr.. Eisenhower approved the
relief program in a brief stop
over here en- route from Phila-
delphia. where he addressed the
American Bar Association. to his
vacation headquarters in Denver.
Although the White House put
no ceiling on the cost, it indi-
Gated the United States Army
Corps of Engineers alone has
up to 500 million that may be
diverted to flood relief. The En-.
gineers, working principally
through private contractors, will
handle the bulk of the direct
work-removing debris, clearing
and patching bridges and high
ways. and repairing damage to
public property.
A group of 48 engineers left
Fort Belvoir. va, yesterday to
help get the rebuilding in dis
aster areas underway.
Many Already at Work
Maj. Gen. Louis Prentiss, COM
manding officer at the fort. said
their trip Is part of the mo-
bilization Of military and civilian
engineering and construction
personnel announced earlier by
the corps. More than so Corps
of Engineers field parties already
are at work on emergency food
projects.
Here are the steps the Gov
eminent has taken or planned.
as outlined by Mr.. Hagerty:
l. The Labor Department has
estimated that 81 million a week
will be paid out in unempioy-
ment compensation to the four
States hit hardest by the floods
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,.
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Payments will be high in New
York and New Jersey, too. The
department will draw on $40
million fund to help meet the
extra cost of processing the pay
mentS.
2. The Agriculture Department
has designated all of New Jer-
sey and Connecticut. and 90
counties in Maryland. New York,
Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania
as emergency areas eligible for
special loans. The Farmers Home
Administration has $121 million
available for loans at 3 per cent
interest.
Small Business Loans
! 8. The Small Business Admin
istration has SIS million for 3
per cent loans to businessmen
and another $35 millions at
higher rates for small concerns
which can qualify. The Com
merce Department also is sur
Iveying damage to business.
4. The Housing and Home
Finance Agency is studying the
need for new homes and is pre-
Iparing to spread the handling Of
loan insurance and mortgage
purchases to help.
S. Surplus food from the Agri-
culture Department, technical
laid from the Public Health
Service and the Food and Drug
Administration, emergency water
supplies and surplus blankets
land clothing also are being
made available.
6. And the Office of Defense
Mobilization has ordered pro-
curement agencies to channel
what contracts they can into
the disaster areas, to relieve un-
employment and help put BUSH
ness back on its feet.
The Federal Civil Defense ADJ
ministration has overall super
vision of Government relief.
FCDA Director Val Peterson said
every Government agency has
been directed to find out what it
can do to helm