Evening star., 1932-05-24
BY PROF. MERLIN H. HUNTER,

BY PROF. MERLIN H. HUNTER,
Tax Specialist, University of Illinois
BY the Associated Press
URBANA, ILL.,, May pa great deal
has been said and written concerning
to dole" England is pictured as
country which has been thrown into
virtual bankruptcy because of the dole,
and we have been warned in no uncer
tam terms to avoid any appearance.
While our governmental units have
extended little direct financial aid to
individuals, study Of all State, county
and city budgets shows the expendi-
lures for public welfare work have
reached enormous proportions.
In the budgets Of the States only
education receives larger appropria-
ton. In Vermont, Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island, Connecticut and Illinois,
indeed, such expenditures exceed those
for education
In 1929 s2l6,O0o oOo or 1876 per cent.
Of the total expenditure of the States
was used for public welfare.
Capital Outlay Is Large.
OF the s216,OO0,0OO total s2251 900
was for SupervisionS, So, ,537 900 for care
of the poor, S8,449,O00 for the care of
the blind, deaf and mute, $l7,541 900
for general hospitals, S87 1917 900 for the
insane, S16,404,000 for the feeble
minded and S63, ,585 900 for corrections
The per capita expenditure for public
welfare increased from 81 cents in 1915
to $l.79 in 1929.
In addition to the above the States
IN 1929 had a capital outlay of S45.-
028,000 for public welfare work. This
brought the total valuation of property
devoted to this type of work to S733,-
443,OO0. At S per cent the annual car
rying charge would be S36672 600.
which should properly be considered q
part of the cost.
The expenditure of local govern
mental units must not be overlooked
Who is not familiar with the local
poor farm" or ''alnShOuSe"? In re-
cent years such items as tuberculosis
sanitariums have added to the cost.
For 1927 the National Industrial Con-
ference Board has estimated the cost
OF welfare work to local governmental
units to be S330,70O,0O0.
Nearly Third of Budget.
In 1881 the budget of Wayne County,
Mich, in which is located the City of
Detroit, carried $8669, 900 for welfare
work. This was about one-third of the
total budget. In Champaign County
Ill, comparatively Wellto-do agricul-
tural community, more than one-half
of the total county expenditures are for
welfare work
In addition to the current expendi-
lures, the carrying charge upon the
value OF property is large. The total
value must be estimated, but it is be-
tween sl.500 100000 and $4,000, 900 900.
Even at the lower estimate, the annual
carrying charge at per cent would be
S75,0OO,O00
This, added to the current expendi-
ture, would make the total cost of well
fare work in 1927 to local govern
mental units s9O5, $40 900. This. added
to the expenditures of the States, brings
the total to more than 81 1000, 900.
The expenditure of the Federal Gov
ernment should not be left from the
picture. The principal item here con-
cerned with welfare expenditure has to
do with war veterans and retirement
funds.
disqualification, pensions, insurance
and retirement funds are the most i'm
$946,000,000 for 1882. An increase of
s9,500,000 may be noted in the pension
fund allotted to Civil War and Span
iSh- American War veterans.
The present unemployment emergency
Is doing much to augment expenditures
for public welfare. The State of New
York in special session voted an in
crease OF so per cent in income tax
rates, partly to provide $4,000 900
needed for unemployment relief. The
Department Of Public Welfare of the
City of New York asked for an increase
in its 1882 budget of nearly 100000
for relief
Detroit Total Cited.
The City of Detroit is in the mael-
strom OF the unemployment debacle,
and this is reflected in its ipcrea sed ey-
penditures. In 1880 the sum spent for
health and welfare was S8,O12OOO
while in 1881 1t was S17,771 900, an in
crease Of more than 100 per cent in
single year.
These. figures take no account Of