Evening star., 1932-09-01
GOAL OF CHEST PUT
ABOUT 10 PER CENT
UNDER 1881 FIGURE
Reduction, However, Is De-
pendent Upon Further Aid
From Congress.
PROMPT PAYMENT URGED
OF PLEDGES NOW DUE
Relief Being Given From $3.50, 900
Fund Cut to Make 1t Last
Until New Session.
While both the Community Chest and

While both the Community Chest and
the District Committee on Unemplov-
ment Relief are struggling to make
their funds last through the rest of the
calendar year, Elwood Street, director
OF the Community Chest said todav
indications are that the chests CAM
paign fund goal this Winter will be an
proximately 10 per cent less than last
year.
This contemplated reduction. how
ever. Mr.. Street said, would be attain
able only If Congress follows the prec-
edent it set last year" and approuriatea
further funds for Unemployment relief.
Meanwhile. e. C. Graham, president
OF the Community Chest, issued an ap-
peal for the immediate payment Of
pledges mace by contributors during the
last campaign. Confronted with a
deficit OF more than $500 900, MI.
Graham said the only way 20 keep the
CHESTS deficit within control is to turn
as many pledges as possible into cash
at this time. The Chest, he said. al
ready has had to borrow $i00, 900 for
this years operations and, he added,
we cannot keep this up"
Cut IN Reilef Program.
Concurrent with Mr.. Grahams ap-
peal. 40 per cent reduction was ORDER
ed in the relief being given Washing
tons unemployed by the administration
of the $350,000 fund appropriated by
Congress at its last session. The cut
was ordered by the Relief Committee Of
the Board of Public Welfare following
a study Of reports made by Leroy Hal
bert, director of the fund, from head
quarters In the old Metropolitan Metho-
dist Church at John Marshall place and
street
This cut was ordered, it was explained,
in o desperate effort to make the $780,
600 last at least until Congress con-
venes. at which time it would be pos
sible to appeal for additional funds.
We are facing serious situation,
bordering on q crisis Mr. Graham said
IN his appeal. so great have been the
needs created by unemployment, which
he Community Chest organizations have
had to meet. in addition to regular
needs, that all cash available has been
exhausted. The Community Chest has
had to borrow. in August, 500. 900, on
the strength of pledges, in order to
make necessary payments to the member
organizations. We cannot keep this
up!
Strict Economy Practiced.
Every possible economy has been ap-
piled to make the money available 90
as far as possible The Community
Chests central Office has reduced its
proportionate expenses by 40 per cent,
through careful planning and through
cutting Of salaries OF all staff members
Budgets OF all member organizations
have been reduced by 10 per cent Of al
salaries of over $1,000. The work Of
every organization has been gone over
by Special Committee on Economy
and Efficiency. The activities which
are left represent only the bare neces-
stiles Of human service in our COM
munity.
The congressional appropriation to
the District of Columbia for outdoor
relief to the unemployed is a valuable
supplement to the work of Chest or
ganizations. 1t does not help, though.
the needy families in which there is
no ablebodied wage Garner. or serve
IN any way the orphans, the old folks,
the sick and injured people, the blind,
or the young folks and older folks with
idle time on their hands. They now
are much more than ever in need of
wholesome leisure time activities to
counteract those things which the devil
finds for idle hands to do.
Urges Pledge Payments
II want to appeal to every person
who has pledged a contribution TO the
Chest TO pay that pledge in full now,
or as much of it as is possible. in order
that our deficit may be held to the
lowest possible figure. The situation is
desperate one and our only means
OF meeting 1t Is for each contributor to
pay his pledge now"
Discussing the outlook for relief work
in the District next Winter, Mr.. Street
said he expected an increase of nearly
100 per cent in relief demands on all
agencies. Much of this increase he
explained, would be caused directly by
unemployment and by the exhaustion
OF remaining resources of unemployed
persons. Some persons who have been
unemployed for many months have
been able to avoid appealing to the
Chest agencies for aid he said, by liv-
ing on their savings and on the pro-
cseds of assets which they may have
been able to dispose of.
Despite that increase" Mr.. Street
said Il believe weM be able to re-
duce the amount of money we'll ask
Washington to contribute to the Chest
in our forthcoming campaign by 10
per cent. believe Congress will fol-
low the precedent it set last year and
appropriate funds for relief OF needy
unemployed. The 10 per cent cut
which I anticipate We can make will
be dependent upon what Congress does
in this direction"
Division Of Relief Work.
Thus, with needs caused by unemploy-
ment taken care of by the public fund.
Mr.. Street said, the Chest and its agencies
will be able to concentrate their efforts
and resources on relief caused by ILL
ness, underemployment, broken families
and such other forms of suffering a.
are not attributable solely to unemploy-
ment. An additional congressional ap-
preparation for unemployment relief.
Continued on Page 4. Column ~
TROOPS LAUNCH DRIVE
IN RFREI 6 I'M RRA7It