The Camas Hot Springs Exchange

Revived CCC Might Do Great Job
Editorial from CAMDEN (N.J.) COURIER-POST

By the narrow margin of 47 to 45, the Senate has voted to approve a program that would amount to a revival of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
It may be recalled that this was one of the most successful New Deal projects in the early administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The program would start with 50,000 boys between the ages of 16 and 21, and grow to 150,000. It would be a Federal-State operation, with participating States required to match Federal expenditures. The latter are estimated at $125 million for the first year, growing to $375 million in the third and later years.
Youths enrolled in the program would receive $60 a month plus subsistence, with increases for those who re-enrolled, for leaders, and for those showing special skills.
The program is sponsored by Senator Humphrey. of Minnesota, 19 other Democrats and 1 Republican. Its principal objective is declared to be the development and conservation of natural resources and maintenance of rest and recreational facilities in the national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.
Second, the program is advanced as "an investment not only in conservation or natural resources, but in the conservation of youths who face uncertainties as to employment as they leave school." Its proponents say the number of youths in the 16-21 age group is increasing faster than employment opportunities. This, they say, creates the chance of a large number of them being turned out on the streets to become potential juvenile delinquents.
"The corps would not be juvenile delinquency oriented," says one sponsoring Senator, but "is not intended to exclude young men because they have been apprehended by juvenile authorities.
Recruits for the corps would come in part from areas of substantial unemployment and in part from other areas under a State-by-State quota system.
Opponents of the plan, mostly Republicans, say it would amount to instituting a depression program during an era of prosperity. They claim it is deceptive in that its main aim is actually to help solve the delinquency problem. not conservation of natural resources as its advocates assert. They predict that President Eisenhower will veto the bill if the House passes it.
The prediction may turn out to be erroneous. Both the objectives of the bill seem worthy enough. It doesn't particularly matter which is the main objective and which the secondary.
The CCC did a great job of giving useful work to idle hands during the years prior to World War II. It also did a great job, which has not been adequately done since, in rehabilitating and improving our national parks and forests. The money the Senate has proposed to spend in reviving this youth corps might turn out to be exceedingly well spent.