06/17/1919 Board of Public Works Minutes

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750 a M I am attaching herewith press notice of June -3rd. by the Director General, outlining the attiOude of the -United States Railroad Administration= in ,such matters, vihic-h I think,. 'covers =the natter which you have in mind fully, Yours very truly, T. C. POWELIO FOR RELEASE IN;QED. MORNING PAPERS.) UNITED STATES RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON. - June 3,1919. PP.ESS NOTICE: Walker D.. Hues, Director General of Railroads has sent the following letter to the Regional Directors respecting relations with public bodies as to public porjects resulting in charges to Capital Account, or in charges to operating expenses in. connection- Frith Capital Expenditures, or with respect to taxes and - assessments. - *The Railroad Administration is disposed in favor of the resumption of or development of public works and improvements. In cases where the Only objection thereto is to the present comparative cost of labor and material, no protest will be made on behalf of the Railroad Administration Eeven where the burden upon the Railroad Administration in a p¢rticular district would be relatively a, large part of the total cost, the more difference between.the cost of work being done now and being done somewhat later Is net sufficient to jut i€y an attitude of opposition by the rdl.lredd Administration to a policy of resumption or prosecution of public works, ° "The Railroad Administration should not indentil'y itself with oppos itin to proposals looking to such developments or resumption of public works unless the case os exceptional, and it is clear that the expenditure will be important, or that the project is actually in a private interest and involves the public inter- est only to a slight degree and the private interest invllved will not assume the expense of the work. Nothing herein shall be construed to relate to facilities covered by General Order No. 1$. " Representatives of the Railroad. Administration should at all times make it clear to the public authori� ies that responsiblity for Capital Expenditures restsupon the railroad Corporations and not upon the Railroad Administration, and unlesa specifically authorized by the Division. of Law, shall speak Only for the Railroad Administration in proceedings before Public Service or State failroad Commissions, or Officials of Cities, Counties or municlipilties. The Railroad Administration may use its moral,, suas ion to get the Railroad Corporations to consent to go ahead with public improvements and to finane improvements. 'However# no Federal Administration officer should take any action or make arty eomaittai, the effect of which woa��e to deprive a corporation ;of an apportunity to present its objection t8 the fxpengi e " In view of the fact that the amount of money available for capitasl orpW turea is always limited, if ;a project will not be benefictahy to the public U proportion to the expense, or can between be postponed pending the completloh ' of more important Capital Expenditures, the Railroad Corporation, which will have ' to supply the capital, should present the conditions to the proper authorities. ° 330ND -ISSUES OR SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. "Railroad Admix istrat ion officals will not take any action for or aga.Inst W proceedings, the prpose of which is to authorize a bond issue or special assessment, but will as fully as practicable keep the Corporate officer of each Interested railroad advised so that if the Corporation desires to take any action, it may do so