6. The present recession will deepen and spread unless the void created by the loss of wages of those made unemployed is filled. This direct loss of those made totally unemployed since Labor Day is already $900,000,000. It will total $2,250,000,000 by July 1. The sum of $250,000,000 will do little to fill this void.. The Workers Alliance of America asks in addition that those employed on Works Progress Administration be safeguarded against the loss of their Works Progress Administration employment if they cannot find jobs in private industry at prevailing wages. We ask that an amendment to that effect be added to the appropriation.

At the very minimum the Woodrum amendment should be repealed. We have had already the diastrous effects of this amendment. If it had not been in force, it would have not have been necessary for the administration to run in this haste for additional funds. The moneys available now could have carried until at least April 15 on the basis of an enlarged program and the question as to how much additional was needed could have been considered more deliberately and more intelligently.

Now, the House Deficiency Act continues the throttling Woodrum amendment. This means that irrespective of the developed need there will be a strait jacket on the expenditure of these funds. That is unwise, illogical, and inhu

mane.

We ask that whatever funds are voted be used as in accordance with the demonstrated need, and that if additional funds are required later a request be made for them.

We are opposed to the antialien clause because it disregards the equally dire human needs and desire for work of persons who came here when this nation and its industries required additional labor supplies and who thereafter did labor and help develop the wealth and industries of this country, we are opposed to it also because it will result in additional hardships for all Americans who need the aid of a Government work and relief program.

First, these antialien clauses add to the red tape and difficulty involved in securing Works Progress Administration jobs. Native and naturalized Americans are burdened with the obligation to prove citizenship. In many cases this is difficult and sometimes where records have not been kept or where they have been destroyed by fire, earthquake, floods and hurricanes, such records are unavailable. Secondly, many of the aliens who would be excluded from benefits of this program are the heads and sole supporters of American families, husbands or wives of American citizens, parents of American-born children.

Thirdly, failure to secure citizenship is, in most cases, due not to unwillingness but to unreasonable provisions or interpretations of naturalization laws. For example, "failure to meet educational requirements" is listed by the United States Department of Labor as constituting "an exceedingly large group-about onefourth" of those who apply for but are denied citizenship. And with respect to this the United States Department of Labor states, "No other group of objections exhibits the wide disparity of views between the various courts and naturalization officials." Migratory employment which prevents required residence qualifications, low income which makes naturalization fees a hardship, discrimination because of opposition to unions on the part of some judges, are some of the many other reasons why many decent, useful alien workers are unable to qualify for citizenship under present laws and regulations.

In the case of the specific amendment under consideration, citizens and aliens alike will be subjected to additional harassment by thousands of local Works Progress Administration officials who may employ these provisions to delay assignment of persons against whom they may be biased for political or personal reasons. Native and naturalized citizens may be required to show proof of citizenship. Aliens may be excluded because a given official chooses to use some pretext for arguing that in a given case a person otherwise qualifying cannot qualify as having "lived honorably.'

By imposing the additional task of checking each applicant's claims to citizenship, such provisions serve to greatly increase the overhead, administrative cost of the program and may thus result in the expenditure of more money than would be involved by the decent, humanitarian act of providing employment to the relatively few aliens who would be aided if the benefits of this program were extended to them.

DAVID LASSER,

ST. PAUL, MINN., February 10, 1938.

President, Workers Alliance of America, Washington, D. C.:

Of facts available, Biggers' report gives best picture of actual conditions. State direct relief load January, 45,000, one-half employable; 31,500 urban cases received $32.97 average; 13,500 rural cases, $22.48 per case. Need for increased Works Progress Administration wage indicated by 69 counties out of 87 in State giving $117,000 for supplemental relief to inadequate Works Progress Administration wages in December. Sixty-fifty State minimum wage would help rural counties now suffering most from lack of funds. Three thousand three hundred and eightythree drought-relief cases December, over two-thirds employable. Relief per case, $20.29. Federal grant to aid to dependent children should be put on same basis as old-age assistance. Low-cost housing basic need to State. Rural relief generally terrible; won't certify to Works Progress Administration, as this indicates relief need. Won't give relief, as county or town has no funds. State relief funds about 10 million short, due to State reactionary senate blocking Benson's program. As local relief officials certify to Works Progress Administration, reasons above indicate why incorrect picture always given to National Government._ Summer job and relief needs predicted higher than ever before. See my letter to Roosevelt at time of his St. Paul speech. Present needs are 100,000 Works Progress Administration job quota. Jobs for single men and women in county of residence. No forced camp assignments. More "white collar" jobs. Expand and improve N. V. A. Christgau and Becker, head of music project, are liabilities to Roosevelt and handicap to organizational work. Should be replaced with New Dealers. Substantial Federal help only way left to prevent continued misery. Wide support even among conservatives for Federal Government and big business to bear full burden of unemployment and relief.

DAVID LASSER,

CHESTER WATSON, President, W. A. M.

GREAT FALLS, MONT., February 10, 1938.

President, Workers Alliance of America, Washington, D. C. Montana relief unable to provide for unemployed or keep up Works Progress Administration certifications. Situation serious. Need Works Progress Administration quota increase of at least 10,000 for State. Five hundred jobs needed for Great Falls. Twelve hundred forty-five for Butte alone. Must have Federal aid for direct relief and raise in security earnings to eliminate widespread suffering and starvation. Urge repeal of Woodrum amendment and passage of SchwellenbachAllen resolution.

W. M. DAVEY, President, Montana Workers Alliance.

SEATTLE, WASH., February 10, 1938.

DAVID LASSER,

Washington, D. C.

Seven thousand certified for Works Progress Administration since February 1. Works Progress Administration quota filled for State. Over 200,000 unemployed in State. Relief clients forced to wait from 1 to 6 weeks before getting relief. No rent being paid. Very little clothing. Medical treatment inadequate for unemployed and Works Progress Administration workers. Over 48,000 in need of relief in State. Forcing Works Progress Administration workers to work below classification. Those who refuse are dismissed for cause. Governor refuses call special session of legislature. Suffering and misery acute.

G. CANALLE.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF., February 10, 1938.

DAVID LASSER,

Workers Alliance of America, Washington, D. C.: Works Progress Administration jobs available only through certification State relief administration, whose rolls 68,000 increasing thousand week. Twelve thousand applications pending, all employable, and denied Works Progress Administration jobs. Works Progress Administration claims State relief administration refusing certify. State relief administration claims insufficient suitable

projects. Both right. Single resident employables refused Works Progress Administration. Approximately 250,000 employable in State need, want, Works Progress Administration jobs. More projects needed Works Progress Administration. Must arrange direct certification and increased quota. Additional 70,000 transient families stranded refused any aid. Two thousand women just laid off, 3,000 more slated, Los Angeles. Sewing projects used contemplating 700 layoffs, Los Angeles. Unemployment rapidly increasing throughout State.

DAVID LASSER,

Washington, D. C.:

NORAL.

Tampa, Fla., February 10, 1938.

Tampa cigar factories working 35 percent capacity; from five to six thousand unemployed in industry. No relief or Works Progress Administration work available, suffering unbearable. We ask that you request Roosevelt for an immediate appropriation to adequately meet this emergency.

DAVID LASSER,

CIGAR MAKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, 500,
GEORGE SALAZAR, President.

GREAT FALLS, Mont., February 10, 1938.

National President Workers Alliance of America,

Washington, D. C.

Four hundred thirty one employables now on direct relief in Cascade County. Many more without jobs who have not yet applied for relief. We feel that an additional 500 jobs should be provided on Works Progress Administration to care for immediate needs.

HOMER WHITMORE,

Secretary, Cascade County Trades and Labor Assembly.

DAVID LASSER,

PORTLAND, OREG., February 9, 1938.

Workers Alliance of America,

Washington, D. C.

39,307 persons direct relief State December; 17,775 in Multnomah County increase in January, 9,845 county; no figures for January on State increase 2,000 clearances to Works Progress Administration waiting assignment in county; figures from State and county, officials direct relief $1 per person per week, situation very critical; no rent paid; fighting for fuel.

DAVID LASSER

T. A. PHILLIPS.

ROXBURY, MASS., February 10, 1938.

Workers Alliance, Washington, D. C. One quarter State getting some kind relief. Only 7 percent on Works Progress Administration; 30,000 Boston relief; 20,000 Works Progress Administration; double total in desperate circumstances. Boston workhouse system jeopardizing trade union pay standards with $2 daily maximum for forced labor. We demand 100 percent increase Works Progress Administration Massachusetts including Federal project continuation.

DAVID LASSER,

Washington, D. C.

DAN GOODHUE, President, Workers Alliance Boston.

PITTSBURGH, PA., February 10, 1938.

Sixty thousand unemployed Pittsburgh according to figures of unemployed Insurance Board. Ten thousand eligible for Works Progress Administration jobs according to Works Progress Administration relief authorities. Delegations of needy women and men are storming relief units in Pittsburgh district for last

2 weeks demanding food. Destitution and hunger widespread. Red tape restrictions a barrier to assistance of needy. Urge immediate Works Progress Administration and supplementary relief funds for State. Situation growing more desperate.

FRED CARRENA,

Chairman of County Committee of Workers Alliance.

CHICAGO, ILL., February 10, 1938.

DAVID LASSER,

Workers Alliance of America, Washington, D. C.

In Chicago 99,000 families on relief; 67,000 on Works Progress Administration; 35,000 on old age. Statistics reveal 75.000 trade unionists unemployed, 40,000 recently. Also at least 50,000 unemployed not on relief. Terrific relief breakdown pending. Direct Federal grant to Chicago our demand.

ROBERT FOLEY.

DAVID LASSER,
Washington, D. C.

BIRMINGHAM, ALA., February 9, 1938.

Relief applications increase, doubled January over December. Director states February indicates increased needy cases. State figures unavailable, concensus officials contacted, situation worsening. All urge President have Congress act without delay to increase appropriations immediately. J. G. BURKE,

Jefferson County Workers Alliance, Alabama.

BUTTE, MONT,, February 10, 1938.

DAVID LASSER,

Washington, D. C.

740 men certified for WPA; 505 in process of being certified; approximately 900 have not applied as yet for aid; all above men in Silver Bow County. Do what you can for raise in Montana quota.

DAVID LASSER,

Workers Alliance, Washington, D. C.:

SYLVESTER GRAHAM, Chairman, Miners Union Relief.

NEW YORK, February 10, 1938.

One hundred and eighty-five thousand on home relief and 110,000 eligible for W. P. A. jobs. Applications for relief have increased from 2,000 to 6,400 per week with 50 percent usually accepted. Unemployment increasing, especially in shoe, furriers', radio and electrical, painters', and office workers' unions. Report 50 unions will parade through Wall Street Saturday, February 19, to protest role of 60 families in current recession. Unemployment, now estimated at 800,000 including dependents, affects 21⁄2 million. State took away 2-percent utility tax for relief purposes and LaGuardia fears shortage in March. Evictions increasing and desperation more evident because of E. R. B. and W. P. A. retrenchment policies. Somervell antipathy to white-collar projects, teachers' research recreation, halted W. P. A. hirings in these fields. Everybody wants jobs not, relief. Let's go back to the C. W. A. principles and start off with a minimum of 100,000 additional W. P. A. jobs for New York City.

WILLIS R. MORGAN, President, Workers Alliance, New York.

DAVID LASSER,

National President, Workers Alliance,

Washington, D. C.

TOPEKA, KANS., Feb. 9, 1938.

61,425 registered U. S. Reemployment office, 36,109 certified for W. P. A., 33,500 employed W. P. A. Certification rules too tight. 40 percent unemployed needing jobs declared ineligible. Direct relief standards far below decency, health. Federal funds needed to supplement local relief under Federal standards. Kansas should be raised to Region 1.

DAVID LASSER,

Washington, D. C.

ERNEST F. McNUTT, State Secretary, Kansas Workers Alliance.

TOLEDO, OHIO, Feb. 10, 1938.

Wired Roosevelt 10,000 Lucas County on W. P. A., 4,000 more certified waiting. Quota filled. 15,000 families on relief and thousands refused. All funds exhausted April 1. MILDRED WARD.

MILWAUKEE, Wis., February 9, 1938.

DAVID LASSER:

Workers Alliance of America, Washington, D. C.:

Lay-offs continue in private industry, need additional 10,000 W. P. A. jobs immediately, relief situation acute, no relief for transients, no W. P. A. jobs given to single persons.

DAVID LASSER,

Washington, D. C.:

THOMAS F. LAPEAN.

SAN ANTONIO, TEX., February 10, 1938.

Census shows over 300,000 jobless in Texas, Texas W. P. A. quota 65,000. Demand 3,000,000 W. P. A. jobs and $15 relief grants to States. Surplus commodities only available relief here. Bexar County relief rolls reduced January 1938 from 4,092 to 2,516 at present. Fifteen thousand unemployed demand W. P. A. be extended to all needy regardless of citizenship in view that Mexicans form overwhelming majority in south Texas, they cannot be regarded as noncitizens.

EMMA TENAYUCA.

DAVID LASSER,

PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 10, 1938.

President Workers Alliance of America,

Washington, D. C.

Inform President Roosevelt as follows: In Philadelphia at present 70,000 cases relief, 30,000 applied unemployment compensation, 25,000 on W. P. A., 8,000 new W. P. A. jobs available, but city council holding them up. State relief administration piling up huge deficit; relief grants totally inadequate. Special request Philadelphia that W. P. A. furnish necessary material temporarily so jobs can start Federal Government assist State direct relief so grants can be adequate, JOHN MULDOWNEY.

WORKERS ALLIANCE OF AMERICA,

Washington, D. C.

RICHMOND, VA., February 9, 1938.

Hundreds of workers waiting unemployment compensation, five, six weeks. Local relief roll crowded city State Works Progress Administration officials. Refuse employment until compensation turned down by commission. Works Progress Administration jobs are available. Understand order amended to give jobs until compensation starts if such is case will you see Works Progress Administration here notified. HILLIARD BURNSTEIN.