The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-26
o171n1iSSioner EchoLs N 7. eSents McLendon's
 Ultin7atur71 Altitude
In Letter to President Woman Commissioner States Women and Babies Should Not Suffer on Account of Budget-Charges Expendi-
 lures Belong to McLendon

Giving as the reason of her de- partment exceeding in expenditures it's budget appropriations, during the first half of the fiscal year. the high cost of repairing automobiles at the municipal garage, all of which should not have been charged against her department but against that of the commission president, D. b. Mc Lendon, and the tremendous amount of relief work done for the unem- ployed during the winter. Commis sioner Mary D. Echols, yesterday replied to the ultimatum issued the commission last week by McLendon.
 In her reply Mrs, Echols points out that the welfare department fed thousands of unemployed men during the winter months and that through out the period of depression it has been called upon to make large ex penditures. She also points out the work being done in sanitary inspee- tion, food inspection, dairy control, and at the free clinic, and explains that although the city may be spend ing more than 1t makes you can't satisfy a starving child by telling it you are over your budget for the month"
 Immediate Action Boomerang
 MT. MeLendon called for immedi- ate action in reducing expenses in his letter to the members of the com mission sent out a week ago and it is in answer to this letter that Mrs. Echols wrote her letter.
 "I do not mean to assume the atti- tude of criticizing in my letter, stat ed Mrs. Echols last night. T merely wanted to call Mir. McLendon's at toI tsRk a sort of explanation-no criticism"
 Commissioner EchoIs' Letter
 "You will find upon referring to the report that item No. 3, city physi- clan, quarantine etc., is over the bud get $1,735.26. This is merely carried on my payroll for convenience and does not really concern my financial standing; besides, I am assured that there are sufficient funds in that de- partment to offset this.
 ''The welfare department is over it's budget. It has only $12,500.00 for the year. With the beginning of winter we were faced with the dire need of hundreds of deserving people who had to be fed. Not one deserving case was turned away. Thousands of un- employed men were fed at the ex- pense of this department. It was not deemed wise to make this public al the time lest We hava-an4 influx of tramps seeking an easy place. As commissioner of this department was severely criticised because of my apparent heartlessness in refus- ing to provide for people whom knew we were feeding. I made no effort to defend myself, Knowing that it was not well for the city to have the word go forth that tramps were fed by the city of Birmingham.
 "We have many volunteer workers in this department, one teacher who gives her spare time and services and several other useful women; we also have few paid workers, one of whom was offered S150 month re- gently but who is staying with us for $50.
 Winter Liabilities
 "A welfare department always has more expense in the winter. Coal and heavy clothing and shoes for little children are not needed in the summer months. We are rapidly coming down in our expenditures and will soon be within our means. I am