Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-12
President Sees Jobs
Picking Up in Month
Continued From First Page

y
Continued From First Page
with the current situation. This
paper outlined nine items COW
ering the fields of housing.
highways, urban renewal pro-
jects, defense contract awards,
civil public works, General
Services Administration pro-
grams, Export Import Bank
and credit policy.
Item on District
One point affects the Dis
trict of Columbia rather than
the Nation as a whole. The
item on the District read:
THE Bureau Of the Budget
has approved submission to
the Congress by the Commits
sioners Of the District Of Co.
lumbia of proposals for con-
struction of needed improve
Inents. These projects will en-
tail borrowing from the Treas
ury over a period Of five years
Of 500 million dollars"
In his statement, Mr.. Eisen-
hover urged that current de-
velopments must be viewed In
perspective.
In discussing the effects Of
the recession, Mr.. Eisenhower
mentioned, in addition to the
unemployed, "ThoSe That have
gone on a shortened work
week."
Plight of UnderemplOyed
This recognition of the plight
Of the underemployed followed
closely recent statements by
labor leaders complaining that
the cold unemployment statis-
tics give a warped picture OF
the true situation. A notable
example of such statements
was that of United Auto Work
ers President Walter P. Reuthel
at Detroit last month when he
said that a man who is working
only three days a week is in fact
two fifths unemployed ever
though he is not carried on the
iobleSS rolls.
While earlier statements on
the part of the Government
have indicated with greater
or less degrees of assurance
that an upturn should occur
this spring, Mr.. EiSenhower's
statement today was believed
to be the first authoritative
prediction setting so definite a
time as March.
Labor economists are frankly
skeptical of the possibility OF
q quick upturn. In sharp con-
traSt to the Presidents eau
tiouSly optimistic statement on
the economy, a report issued
last week end by the AFL-CIO
Executive Council in Miami
Beach, Fla, asserted that
things would be getting worse
economically before they got
any better.
Fingered on Pump Printing
Because much of the work
"on the shelf" bore some re-
semblance to "pump-priming"
projects Of the 1930s. Mr.. Hag-
erty was asked what his reac-
ton would be to the use of the
phrase pump printing" in con-
nection with the prese mt
programs.
II never quarrel with a re-
porter's use of a word. but /
wouldn't use the word myself"
Mr.. Hagerty said.
There appeared to be no plan
to setup any sort of public
works administration such as
handled the depression born
projects that resulted in the
construction of many Govern
ment buildings here, as we'll as
major construction jobs
throughout the country. What
ever work is done by the adj
ministration to restore the
economy to a healthier situa-
ton, it was indicated, would be
within the framework of exist
ing Government organization.
In his fact paper, Mr.. Eisen-
hover pointed to a number of
steps already taken in the hous-
Ing field and additional points
on the docket for congressional
action.
Examples Cited
The reduction of down pay
ment requirements last August
and the rescission in January
of the rule requiring closing
costs to be paid in cash were
examples cited by the Presi-
dent. He also pointed to the
recent release of SIT million
for military housing and other
federally supported building
Jobs.
In the future, Mr.. Eisen-
hover said, there was need for
congressional approval of a So
million supplemental appro-
priation to expand the staff
which processes Federal Hous-
ing Administration loan insur-
ance applications. He also
asked elimination of the in