Evening star., 1932-08-14
RELIEF STUDIED
BY RHODE ISLAND
Most Careful Campaign in
History of State to Be
Launched.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PROVIDENCE, August 13 (N.A.N.A).
The State of Rhode Island is organiz-
ing the most carefully computed unem-
ployment relief campaign in its history.
Supported by vast amounts of Statis-
tics and estimates on the wants of the
unemployed next Winter, it has been
recommended that State agencies build
through the medium Of localized relief
systems a careful, thorough organiza-
tion designed to spread available money
over as much territory as possible and
to expend it intelligently and efficiently.
A sales tax is being seriously considered
to supply the States share
Gov. Case now has before him for
study an exhaustive fact-fnding report
of his Governors Conference on Un-
employment and Relief. appointed by
alton from all angles. One hundred
leaders in financial. civic, social, indus
trial and business circles enlisted in the
conference to work out systematic ap-
proach to a solution of the unemploy-
ment relief problem. Working in spe-
cialiZed committees. the conference re-
Gently completed the survey. showing
that about $1,000 of Rhode Islands
working population of $1,000 were un-
employed during last April and that
about 23500 heads Of families are to-
tally unemployed.
Cost Set at $6,000,0O0.
A subcommittee Of the conference.
headed by Prof. James P. Adams Of
Brown University and employing the
facilities of the Brown Bureau of Busi-
ness Research estimated that the lowest
possible cost of caring during the COM
ing year for the needy in the State will
be S6,600, ,000 That will allow $40 for
an average family of five persons each
week, which, the committee pointed out
may not prevent hunger but should be
adequate to prvent starvation" How
ever. the committee suggested that the
program may cost as high as $11 600 900.
Workers in metropolitan Providence
are about one-third idle now, it was
reported. In Newport County. resort
section, fifth of the working popula-
tion is unemployed, while Bristol County
and the Blackstone Valley, Industrial
lied districts, are found to be hit
hardest.
Although favorable signs have been
apparent in certain localities, the re-
port held no immediate hope of great
Improvement for the State as a whole.
1t traced industrial tendencies for a
decade before 1929, revealing that tex
tile manufacturers decreased the num-
br of those employed steadily through
the years, despite f1ourishing business
generally. 1t argues that even COM
plete recovery by next year would be
marked by further losses in the num-
bers employed in those industries. based
on trends over period OF time.
Many Secure Employment
Within Providence. a hopeful sign
was seen in a report from Edward P.
Reidy. director of public aid, that his
department will require $4,000 less IN
September than it is spending this
month, largely because 100 men on the
aid list recently have received employ
ment.
However, in other cities, notably
Pawtucket, the strain on municipal
charity has become SO severe 1t has
been found necessary to comb the lists
finely to select beneficiaries on the basis
of greatest need. That Is, men with
one dependent have been passed by to
permit aid for those with more depend
ents. The State, claiming a percgatlve
because it loans the cities money for
Aid has stepped in to investigate cases
receiving aid and to eliminate from re-
lief lists those not considered eligible
through ownership of automobiles, bank
accounts and kindred reasons.
The Governors Conference suggested
that the State aid its cities and towns
by paying half the cost of the relief
this winter. To do this, the State Tax
Commission Is considering sales tax
levied by the State to yield not more
than 100000 a year.
Nine Points Urged.
In carrying out relief next Winter, the
Governors Conference urges nine polntS:
1. An advisory board of nine persons
appointed by the Governor to work with
the State Unemployment Relief Com
mission.
2 Non-partisan boards of three mem
bers to work with local directors OF
public aid and establish councils OF So
cial agencies.
3. State planning board to encourage
public works.
4 Separate registration bureaus for
persons of the white collar class.
4 Separation of State funds from
local funds, leaving definite duties out
side of unemployment relief to locah-
ties. -.
administer relief.
creasing the statutory school age from
IS to Is years and controlling or pro-
hibiting home industry for children,
s. Relief for women heads OF Iamines
on the same basis as men.
9 Establishment of such projects as
canning vegetables, sewing and pre-.
naring clothing for some Of the 24,OO0
unemployed women of the State.
The matter now rests with Gov.
Case. who is studying the detailed re-
port and to whom the State looks 1or
the next development.
(Copyright. 1882. nv North American News
paper Alliance. lncD