The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-28
GRIM PICTURE OF want IS
PAINTED IN PLEAS FOR U. 5.
AID TO JOBLESS MILLIONS
Charity Leaders Tell Senate
Group That Need Is
Greatest in History.
C0STIGAN LEADS FIGHT
Agencies of Relief Have
Broken Down, Declares
Colorado Senator.
BY LYLE c. WILSON
United Press STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Federal
aid in caring for the unemployed
was demanded at the senate COM
mittee hearing on relief measures
today. Samuel A. Goldsmith,
executive director of the Jewish
Charities of New York, estimated
that between S600,000,O 900 and $780,
100000 was required for relief this
year.
He said that normally $75,000,O00
was raised for charity in the nation.
You can see," he said, how lit
tie private charity can do. We must
have federal help"
Senator Costigan Dem, Colo.)
contended that existing agencies
of relief have broken down" and
that nothing short of federal re-
lief can satisfy the conscience of
America
Give Gloomy Pictures
William HodSon, executive direc-
tor of the social welfare council,
and Goldsmith gave gloomy de-
scriptions of the situations in New
York and Chicago, particularly the
latter.
Goldsmith said that $1,000 fam
lilies in Chicago are being cared for.
They are receiving IS per cent less
than the theoretical minimum re-
quirement of 81 week for an
adult and $3.50 week for child.
Yet, he said, by Feb. Is Chicago
will have exhausted its relief funds.
He estimated that a total of 1,100,-
600 people were out of work in Chi
cago on Oct. /.
Eodson characterized the situa-
ton as the most serious human
problem our country ever faced"
He said that the number out of
work in New York was five times
the normal figure.
Goldsmith estimated that in
100000 families in the United
States the wage-earning members
are unemployed.
Illness, Insanity Increase
sickness and insanity are in
creasing," he said, speaking of Chi
cago, "and the health in the pub
lie schools is threatened with elimi-
nation by the deplorable condition
Of our finances.
THE Cook county board of pub
lie welfare has not paid its milk
bill in two years and it is far be-
hind on its clothing and coal bills"
Costigan said that unreasonable
distress and the need for relief" had
been obvious when he conducted an
investigation in November.
Nothing short of federal relief
can satisfy the conscience of Amer
ica," he continued, land long-estab-
lished agencies of relief have broken
down"
He said existing relief provisions
were 'gravely inadequate"
THE objection to dole should
be squarely met. Americans should
not Starve while we bubble over
words"
Money Is Lacking
Hodson said New York City would
spend $45,0O0,0O0 for emergency re-
lief this winter. CoStigan asked if
OAA0N WOAA0 0C ClAOhSAAs
THE money in sight is not ade-
quate," Hodson said, although he
did mot believe any one would
starve to death in New York CITY,"
AN allowance of $50 month for
a family of five is much less than
the recognized minimum for a fam
lily of that size, and is vastly in
adequate" he said.
Senator La Toilette (Rep., Wis.,
asked about the depression's effect
on public health in New York.
There is some malnutrition and
disease from unemployment, but
the mortality statistics do not reveal
anything startling" Holds Y replied.
He said relief in New York City
was on disaster basis" and aid to
individuals had to be curtailed
because the money available was
not adequate to meet the need"
Fight to Be Bitter
The congressional struggle over
the relief fund issue promises to be
as sharp as any during this long
session. Although the composition
Of the senate subcommittee suggests
it will most certainly vote to report
favorably some form Of federal re-
lief. the advantage in congress as
whole appears to lie with Mr..
Hoover and his power of veto.
The bills were introduced by Sen
ators La Toilette (Rep, Wis., and
Costigan (Dem., Colo.) Costigan's.
for S375 200, 900, would make s125.-
100000 available for relief in the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, and
allot the remainder in the ensuing
twelve months.
Both bills would set UP federal
boards Of unemployment relief.
These boards would allocate relief
funds to the states, on condition
that each state establish relief
boards meeting specified standards.
These state boards, in turn, would
distribute funds through county.
municipal and other regional relief
agencies.