The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-28
Further Funds
 Are Necessary
Community Chests and Councils Prepare for
 Fall

Recognizing the limitations or private charity in face of mount ing relief needs growing out of the industrial depression, the Ameri- can Association of Public Welfare Officials has appointed 6 special committee to emphasize the need of further emergnecy appropria- tions this fall and winter from municipal and county treasuries.
 This committee, including rep resentative public welfare officials of six states, in addition to the fed eral childrens bureau, will coop crate with the nation Association of Community Chests and Councils in carrying out the nation-W wide welfare and relief mobilization re- gently initiated at the request of the presidents emergency committee for employment.
 Making 1t clear that community chests and other private agencies must do their utmost, both for re- lief and in maintaining necessary public health, er-building and general welfare services, but pointing out that the bulk of di- rect relief will in most places have to be met through tax funds, the position of the American Associa- ton of Public Welfare Officials is stated in g. letter just received by J. Herbert Case, chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve bank of New York, and president of the national Association of Community Chests. The letter, written by Will liam J. Ellis, missioner of the department of institutions and 1R nrnci- dent of the public welfare officials group, discusses public responsibil- ity for meeting the present meer- gency as follows:
 "Our association has designated a. committee to aid in such ways as are possible in developing the plans for carrying through the coopera- ton with the presidents emergency committee for employment.
 "The members of our association recognize a special responsibility in this matter, particularly in view of the fact that, according to the U. s. department of labor. 72 per cent. of all relief funds during 1880 came from local public treasuries. This represented an increase of 12 per cent over the public funds of the previous year.
 Community chests and emer- gency committees have responded effectively thus far in discharglng private responsibility for relief thus far in discharging private respon- sibility for relief and in establish ng welfare work. Our association confidently expects that public authorities will exert the same type of social vision so that there will bo no doubt as to the ability of the American people to solve this great national problem on the basis of local responsibility for local needs.'
 This association recognizes that there is a present opportunity for constructive cooperation with pri- vate agencies in meeting human needs and in developing local in- itiative and local responsibility. You can count upon our cordial coopera- tion."
 Under the chairmanship of MT. Ellis, the cooperating committee of the American Association of Public Welfare Officials Is composed of the following: Fred K. Hoehler, direc- tor of public welfare, Cincinnati: Miss Grace Abbot of the federal children's bureau, represented dur Ing Hcr pTeschI dpsciCc IToH W dbH- ington by Miss Katherine Lenroot; Richard K. Conant. commissioner of the department of public well fare of Massachusetts; Dr. Leroy A. Halbert, director of state institu- tions of Rhode Island; Frank Bane. commissioner of public welfare of Virginia; Charles H. Johnson, com missioner of the department of so- cial welfare of the state of New York; Miss Mary Irene Atkinson, superintendent of charities of Ohio, and pr. Lewis E. Merriom. director of the institute of government re- search, Washington, D. c.