Evening star., 1931-12-08
ADAMS SAYS CHEST
FUNDS EXCESSIVE
One-Fifth OF $3.50, 900 Budget
Is Ample, He Declares in
Explaining Resignation.

George ]. Adams, jr., today said one
reason for his resignation ss secretary
of the District Committee on Unem-
ployment was his belief that the Com
munity Chest proposes, through the
committee, to spend at least five times
as much money as necessary for un-
employment relief during the next four
months. Unemployment has been over
estimated, he believes, because Of an
inaccurate card index system of listing
the unemployed.
1t has been proposed that the En-
ployment Committee use $25o,0OO OIL
Chest funds in employing IobleSS men
on District government projects. This
figure is based upon an estimate OF
10000 unemployed persons, which, ac-
cording to Adams, lis greatly exagger-
He said the figure of 10000 unen-
ployed was arrived at by totaling the
cards at the Public Employment Serv-
ice. This calculation, he said, resulted
In false statistics
Thinks s5o,000 Ample.
II an accurate survey of unemploy-
nent could be made, he said, 1t would
be found that 0,000 would be ample
to meet all needs of the committee.
He described a test he mad made OF
the accuracy of the latest batch OF
CARDS at the employment service, 1900
of which were recently submitted to the
service by the Associated Charities, the
Jewish Charities and the Catholic Char
tiles. THESE cards were supposed 10
represent welfare cases where the rea-
son for dependency on charity was lack
Of employment
on Friday, he said, he selected 100 Of
these cards at random and mailed post
cards to the various persons, notifying
them that If they wanted work they
should report to the st. James Hotel on
Saturday. He said that IL men report
ed on Saturday and six more on Mon
day. making a total Of lS, and that the
committees foreman at the st. James
was unable to fill his quota Of 100 jobs
for the day. BY taking everybody who
came in during the two days looking
for work a group Of so was made up to
I'LL the 100 jobs available.
Mr.. Adams said he felt that using
10000 as the figure for the number of
unemployed for the Community Chest
was false appeal, and that the pro-
posed expenditure Of $250,0 on one
employment project would be waste
of large part of the money. He said
he could not conscientiously remain a
member of committee engaged on such
a project.
E. c. Graham, chairman Of the Dis
trict Committee on Employment said
Mr.. Adams assertions were not a
statement of fact at all" He said the
files of the committee on unemploy-
ment were kept up to date at all times
and every case listed Is investigated by
a fact-finding committee before aid is
given.
Resented New Assistant.
He said the $25o,00O figure repre-
sented the extent to which the commit
tee was prepared TO go In unemploy-
ment relief, If necessary, by placement
of men on created jobs. He said Adams
resented the action of the committee in
seeking the loan of an experienced as
sistant by the Community Chest TO set
up the organization necessary to carry
through this program in order to get
the most fors the money" Adams de-
mand that he either have full charge
of the administration Of the commits
tees affairs or he would resign was inn
mediately accepted by Graham as his
resignation, the latter said.
Graham said Herbert ]. Willet, ir.,
assistant director of the Community
Chest, was being provided by the Com
munity Chest for the time being to or
ganize the committees affairs, since MIR.
Adams left without giving days no
tice. 1t is planned, Graham admitted
to employ an expert director later on,
since only in this manner can the COM
mittee hope to carry out an adequate
program Of unemployment relief at tie
least possible cost.