Evening star., 1932-01-08
CLIFFORD WILLING
TO ASK i. S. AID
Believes Local and State
Relief Agencies Can
Handle Situation.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Walter S. Clifford, director of the
Presidents relief organization, said to-
day he would be willing to ask Federal
help If it developed that the States and
communities could not care for their
own needy.
Clifford earlier had expressed belief
before the Senate Manufactures Com
mittee that the states and local COM
munities would be able to handle their
own problems.
Then if they are unable to meet
the problem you are ready to ask Fed
eral aid?" Chairman La Toilette asked
That is correct, but want to be
very sure that the States, counties and
cities cannot handle their problems be-
cause of the disadvantages of Federal
action"
Clifford also told the committee the
Red Cross was going to spend 81 ,000,-
900 in helping miners in several States
This aid previously had been refused.
Clifford was questioned at length by
La Toilette and Senator Costigan
Democrat, of Colorado, both of whom
have introduced Federal relief measures
$500, 900 Figure Cited.
Costigan read from testimony given
by previous witnesses that 100000 900
was needed TO keep 100000 families
alive.
That amount would not be far off,"
said Clifford, "if 100000 families re-
quired help. I question that, but I do
not have full knowledge of facts"
Pressed about lack of information,
Clifford said he had data on the Situa-
ton last year, but we can't stop TO
take census every day or people would
starve while we were doing It,"
But your organization has made no
effort to tabulate facts on relief needs" :"
concluded Costigan. Clifford did not
reply.
Clifford said the Red Gross would use
its funds for miners in West Virginia,
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Penn
sylvania
Several past appeals for help from
those States have been refused by Red
Cross officials.
Must Look After Own.
Earlier in the hearing, Clifford de-
clared in a prepared statement that
each State will care for its own who
must have help this Winter" The relief
director qualified this declaration with
the stipulation that it was subject to
four or five instances"
In presenting his views, Clifford said:
1T would seem that the combined
efforts of communities, counties and
States can take care of the situation
this Winter
Should such community and State
responsibility be lessened by Federal aid
the sincere and wholehearted efforts of
the hundreds of thousands of volun-
teers engaged both in raising and ad-
ministering relief funds would doubtless
be materially lessened.
The net result might well be that
the unemployed who are in need would
be worse instead of better off"
Clifford said the effect of Federal aid
on the credit of the National Govern
ment also should be considered.
IF this were adversely affected, the
real cure for unemployment, which is
obviously the restoration of normal
business, would be retarded" he said.
He explained that while the situation
varies in different localities, local gov
ernments had probably made the
largest money contribution.
Incalculable aid, probably exceeding
the public contributions, Clifford said,
was being given privately by individuals
and religious, fraternal and other Or
CARNATIONS.
Chairman La Toilette asked Clifford
if he thought his report presented ali