Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 14
435 CONFIDENTIAL Press Conference #68 Executive Offices of the White House November 10, 1933, 4.10 P.M. (The Secretary of the Interior was present at this conference.) THE PRESIDENT: You will remember a number of weeks ago, in fact a couple of months ago, I talked about the study we are making in regard to postoffice buildings all over the United States, particularly for towns which did not do a great amount of business. We have finally come through not only with a definite policy but also with a definite allo- cation of money, and a definite decision as to the locations of these postoffices. The policy is to allot public works funds for the con- struction of needed postoffices of a sensible utilitarian character instead of the monumental edifices which have been built in past years. The application of this rule of reason by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works has made possible a justification for a number of new postoffice structures at a greatly reduced cost, structures which will serve all the requirements of the communities affected and also give them the benefits of wider employment during construction. In place of the characteristic elab- orately ornamented structures of stone which are frequently produced as new postoffices, more modest and more fitting buildings which will save the government literally millions