Evening star., 1932-03-13
CHEST WON'T CUT
QUOTASF0R RELIEF
Shelves Idea Of Wiping Out
Deficit Due to Heavy De-
mandS for Aid.

Regardless of the deficit of approx
mately sl85,000 in the recent Commu-
nifty Chest drive, the Budget Committee
will not slash the allottments to relief
agencies, Elwood Street, Chest director
announced yesterday.
Mr.. Street said Chest organizations
not dealing directly with relief needs
would trim their expenses as much as
possible He said demands for aid have
become so heavy the Chest has aban-
doned for the present all idea Of wiping
out last years deficit of $137,50s.47 and
now faces an additional deficit of $780,
600 to $500,000.
Appropriations for relief, depend
ency, employment and health, all made
necessary directly or indirectly by the
depression and fixed by the Budget
Street explained "Of this total $8o2,-
9l1.77 is for relief and dependency on
the basis of expenditures IN 1881. An
other S422,65l.08 is additional appro-
priation for emergency relief made
necessary by the additional pressure Of
the employment situation.
The committee included $137, ,50e.47
to clear off the deficit of 1881, which
was caused entirely by the increase in
need for employment relief beyond the
expectation of the Budget Committee
and beyond the funds which were avail
able Exactly 530,734.33 is for hos
pitals and health agencies, which have
a greatly increased burden because Of
sickness created by unemployment and
because Of the inability of people need
ing nursing, medical and surgical care
to pay as fully for that service as in
the past, with consequent increase in
burdens upon the agencies rendering
free and part-pay service.
Job Program to Continue.
"The District of Columbia Committee
on Employment, which was included In
the campaign goal with budget Of
S25o, 900, will be given every cent of
the original plan only to carry the
work of this committee IN providing
made work on the property Of the
District and the Federal Government
through March, the program is to be
continued on diminished scale
through April.
1T is quite clear that the sum of
more than $l,000,000 contributed by
Government employees 10 cover their
share of increased unemployment re-
lief needs and their fair share Of the
all-around program of the Community
Chests IS member organizations pro-
sided only part OF the buogeted activi--
ties for relief, dependency, health and
increase in subscriptions by the Gov
ernment workers was more than met by
the increased appropriation for emer-
gency ana unemployment relief"
Mr. Street said the greatest problem
is that the funds already raised are not
sufficient for the work In sight.
From the experience OF the Com
nlittee on Employment" he added, 'it
is plain that the full sum of S250,000
budgeted by 1t and certain to be paid
by the Community Chest could have
been doubled with consequent service
to those in need of WORK.
Demands Increased.
more than that the relief agencies
of the Community Chest, including the
Associated Charities, Catholic Charities,
Salvation Army, United Hebrew Relief
Society, the American Legion and the
Disabled American Veterans of the
World War, report tremendously in
creased demands for their services.
The Community Chest had budgeted
for a 40 per cent increase In relief
needs and these agencies averaged 10
per cent increases d00 per cent in the
case Of the Associated Charities) over
last years experiences In January and
February. From 100000 to $3.50 900
more could readily be spent In direct
relief, according to all present indica-
tionS of the need which will come in
1882. The deStitution which Is affect
ing the resourceless white-collar class
is especially apparent.
THE source Of such additional funds
Is not yet in sight. The Community
Chest organizations not only had their
budgets most vigorously supervised by
the Budget Committee, but IN addition
they have all been instructed to make
every possible further cut so that every
cent which may be made available can
be turned into relief activities.
Il do not know how 1t will be pos
sible to get through the year and main
tain anything like that program Of COM
munity service embracing character
building and health preservation as
we'll as relief for which President Hoo
yer himself has SO clearly sounded the
call The Community Chest intends to
do everything 1t can to live up to its
promise that those in need shall receive
care and that necessary service shall be
continued. 1t looks at the present time
as though a deficit Of from $3.50, 900 to
$500 900 might be incurred on the years
operations, a position intolerable and
which will place burden upon the
financing of all future years.
The plain fact Of the matter Is that
the need which has developed has gone
beyond all possible estimation at the
time when the budgets were prepared
The problem now Is to meet newly de-
veloping needs beyond the scope of pres
ent financial resources"