Evening star., 1932-11-30
VILI'SEEk
D. c. AID At ONCE
Emergency Relief Fund to Be
Asked at Short Session
of Congress.

Pointing to the danger Of real suf-
fering' among the poor people of WASH
ington this Winter Chairman Capper
of the Senate District Committee
promised today he would do all in his
power to obtain an emergency relief
appropriation at this session of Con-
gresS,
This assurance came while the Dis
trict Commissioners were studying an
estimate from the Board OF Public
Welfare that unemployment relief in
the city will cost at least s1,500, 900
during 1888.
The fund which was appropriated at
the last session Of Congress to take
care of the homeless and destitute of
Washington is rapidly approaching ex-
haustion." said Senator Capper. The
Board of Public Welfare, which is ad-
ministering the fund. has been forced
to turn down a great many meritorious
appeals for emergency assistance. There
will be real suffering among the poor
OF Washington this Winter if adequate
relief is not provided, and l will GER
tainly do everything in my power to
help obtain an appropriation suitable
to this crisis
Two Appropriations.
The 81 100000 figure, which would
b. made available in two S750,000 ap-
preparations for periods of six months
each, is based on an estimated need OF
providing relief for 5000 families at
$50 each per month. and 500 single men
as $40 each per month.
AS set up by the Board of Public
Welfare. the estimates Tor unemp!oy-
ment relief cal for appropriation OF
half the total sum for use from Janu.
ary 1 to June 30, 1888, and the second
half to provide relief from July ! 10
December 81, 1888.
Thus 1t has been suggested among
District officers, one OF the two S75O,ooo
sums would be sought in the deficiency
approximation to be considered when
Congress convenes in the short session, |
and the second sum would be appro-
priated in the regular appropriation act
fer the coming fiscal year.
Following receipt of the welfare
boards estimates the Commissioners
announced merely that they had taken |
the whole question under advisement |
for study. Whether the sum proposed
in the estimates would be acceptable
and in turn transmitted to the Budget |
Bureau for submission to Congress Is
not vet known, for DR.. Luther Reichel- |
missioners. said he did not know what |
would be done about the Unemployment |
relief question.
s55o,o00 for Six Mcylths.
The 5000 families carried in the esti-
mates for relief needs include the $500 |
families now being afforded relief by |
the Emergency Relief Committee |
through the expenditure OF the con-
gressicnal appropriation OF $3.50. COO.
Allowing $50 month for each of these
months relief would be $3.50 900. An |
other 500 families now known to be
cared for by private relief organizations |
are eligible for relief by the Board OF
Public Welfare and another $4,000 for
six months Is provided In the estimates
for them. Five hundred single men |
now denied assistance would be pro- |
vite5 for at the rate OF SO each per
mor"h These three groups require the |
tote, of s75o000 for six months.
These estimates are based on mini
mum requirements, Accompanying the
estimates to the Commissioners was a |
report of the supervisor OF emergency |
relief. showing that for the week end |
ing November 10 there were under the
care Of that organization exactly 5,469
families and that expenditures tctaled
s25208ls.
1T is assumed. therefore" the state
ment Of the Public Welfare Board
asserted, that, making no allowance
for increase in the number Of families |
nnder care and making no allowance
for increase in expenditures due to the
need of Winter fuel. the monthly rate |
of expenditure must be approximately |
$4,000, or for the sdx-month period
$3.50 ,oo0."
500, 600 Advanced by Chest.
The Commissioners were advised also
that at the rate of expenditure during !
the week OF November l9 the balance
of sl0S313s1 Of the s35o,000 appro-
priation would be sufficient to continue
the emergency relief work for cnly one /
more month, or until December Is
Continuation Of the work beyond |
that point" the Commissioners were |
advised. Us possible only by reason OF
grant of 100000 by the Community |
Chest through one of its member |
organizations. the District OF Columbia
Committee on Employment.
The only comment of the Board OF
Public Welfare made with respect to |
its estimate Of sl,50o,oo0 for unem-
p!oyment relief was the written state
ment presented to the Commissioners
with the estimates 1t follows:
In proposing this large estimate.
the Board of Public Welfare has had
in mind the distress that exists in the
District of Columbia. 1t has, however,
not been unmindful OF the problem OF
providing sufficient funds to meet the
expenses of the District government.
The board feels. however, that ii is
bound to submit this estimate for ST.
100000 for the calendar year 1888 as
its minimum estimate II conditions
shall improve during the coming year
as we may hope they will, every effort
will be made to conserve a portion
of the appropriation"