Ickes to Labor

Irked was dahlia-growing Public Works Administrator Ickes last week when ten unions proposed that the American Federation of Labor ask the President to "remove those officials whose laxity and inefficiency" was delaying the $3,300,000,000 Federal building program (see p. 11).

"A great deal of the delay in putting to work money that has already been allotted has been on account of what is claimed to be unreasonably high wages." Administrator Ickes shot back at Labor. "I am reluctant to believe that a serious body like the A. F. of L., having any responsibility to the public, would adopt such a resolution .unless it had sent it to a committee to investigate the facts."

The facts. PWA announced, were these: Within about 90 days, the Administration had allotted $1,659,003,310, more than one-half of its appropriation. But so far only $68,294,884 had been withdrawn from the Treasury. "The delay," said Administrator workers, "where there is any, is in putting the money to work after it is allotted." One reason that mass re-employment was being retarded on Federal works was that part of the money so far allotted is earmarked for building dams and battleships. These projects require elaborate preliminary planning, but last week The Engineering News Record was confident that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 men would be engaged in public works by winter.

The day before the A. F. of L. resolution, Administrator Ickes had allotted $5,411,900 for 61 projects in 22 States and Hawaii. The day after, he fortified his reply to Labor by another $10,095,068 allocation. Most of it went in the form of 30% grants, 70% loans at 4% interest. San Francisco was to have a low-rent housing development; Princeton, N. J. an incinerator; Fort Steilacoom, Wash, a hospital; Buffalo, N. Y. a storm drain. Other projects included airport developments, schools, bakeries, libraries, waterworks, power plants.

To speed up road building for which $400,000,000 has been set aside, the Bureau of Public Roads cut an unprecedented amount of red tape. It announced that from now until Jan. 1 any State could begin secondary (feeder) road construction with the assurance of 100% Federal aid. No plans need be filed at Washington so long as the State highway department had plans ready the day construction was begun.

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