Evening star., 1932-03-13
CHEST FACES PLEA
TO HELP CARRY ON
Job FINDING DRIVE
District Committee Probably
Will Ask for "Compara-
lively Small Sum-"
FUNDS ALREADY SUPPLIED
WILL Be GONE APRIL |.
Statement Prepared by Subcommit-
tee Makes No Reference to
D. c. Appropriation.

The Community Chest will probably
be asked for "a comparatively small
sum" to continue the work of the Dis
trict Committee on Employment for a
short time, according to a statement
made public today by E. c. Graham,
chairman of the committee.
The statement was prepared in a
four hour conference with members of
the subcommittee organized to report to
the full committee on recommended
ton by Paul l.. Benjamin, executive
secretary of the committee, that Dis
trict appropriation be asked for relief
to the unemployed. A meeting of the
tull committee has been called for
IL 80 o'clock next Tuesday.
There is no reference to a District
appropriation in the statement, and this
is taken inferentially as recommenda-
ton against asking for such an appro-
priation. The committee has been
working on funds supplied by the Com
munity Chest, but these funds will be
exhausted April l. The funds have
been used to employ 1900 men
alternate weeks on work such as repairs
to roads and cleaning up park areas.
The men get $3.50 every other week,
an average of $6.75 per week Even
this work will not be available after
April /, and it is to bridge the gap be-
tween April l and the opening of the
working season, with its expected en-
ployment of men on road and other
work in the usual business and Gov
eminent channels that the additional
funds are being sought.
Text Of Statements.
The full text of the statement as
made by Mr.. Graham follows:
"The following facts will be presented
to the District of Columbia Committee
on Employment at its meeting Tuesday,
March Is. as result of the delibera-
tions of its Special Committee, which
was appointed to consider the necessity
for additional funds to carry on the
work of that committee:
THE original appropriation Of $780,
000 which was requested of the Com
munity Chest by the Committee on
for carrying on a program
OF making work and stimulating work,
was budgeted to be expended through
the period up to April l, 1892. The
original idea was that the resumption
of outdoor work this Spring would en-
able the committee by that time to dis
n.
This program of made work Is entirely
from and in addition to serv-
ices Of relief to needy families of un-
persons and others, as carried
on by the charitable and relief organ
izations Of the District of Columbia,
most Of which are financed through
the Community Chest.
1T was never intended that the Com
ch 10
such direct relief to individuals in need,
nor was it thought that the funds avail
able to the committee would enable it
to handle the problem of direct relief,
for the sum used for this work is great
er than the $250,000 appropriated to
the committee, and Is being handled
very satisfactorily through the family
welfare agencies Of the Community
Chest.
Demand Below Expectations
"The activities of the District of
Columbia Committee on Employment
in providing made work on public
for which there is no public
have met the situation
in very satisfactory way up to the
present time. The opening Of Spring
and the resultant demand for addi-
the extent that was anticipated. It
is unquestionably desirable to have
this committee continue its work for
a short period, if it is possible to Sc
cure an additional comparatively small
sum. Such an additional fund would
enable the committee to continue its
made work program until Spring op-
erations do open up.
1T may be necessary to ask the
Chest for additional funds
for this purpose. although the Com
munity Chest will have completely full
filled its obligation ands promise to
supply the sum of $250,000 for the
made work program.
This need for some additional funds
for this committee Is entirely in line
with the experience of the family re-
lief organizations, which are members
of the Community Chest. It is quite
clear that the need for relief in Wash
ington is much greater than it has
ever been before. For example, the
Associated Charities reports that its
increase of direct relief expenditures
over last year amounts to about 100
per cent. While recognizing the large
demand for relief in the community
which must be handled through these
agencies according to present organi-
zation, we should realize that the Com
mittee on Employment was organized
to provide employment, and not re-
through agencies. We take it for
granted that the Community Chest will
take whatever steps are necessary to
meet the situation as handled by the
relief organizations
I'm view of the fact that some thou
sands of men will be put on public
works of various sorts this Spring. and
with the opening of other projects, in
turn employing many men, the En-
ployment Committee is Of the opinion
that it should taper off its activities
rs such employment develops Indica-
tons are that more men will be put
on public works than have been en-
ployed by the committee each week
during this past Winter.
Laborers Benefited Primarily.
"In such tapering off, however, we
should remember that owing to the
type of work that could be created,
made work provided by the commit
Tee has been of primary benefit to
lnskilled laborers, or to the type of
men who could adapt themselves to
his type of work. For that reason
his committee has not been able to
provide very much employment for
what is commonly known as white
collar" class. Their problem and that
If the unemployed woman will remain
Tor handling by this committee and
through regular relief organizations of
he community.
I'm view of the fact that contractors
working on District projects will en-
oloy 1000 men by April 10 and that |
ne District will employ an additional
300 men, and that within the next
lew months 5000 men will be en-
,loyed on contracts let by the District, |
md further. in view of the resumption |
If seasonal employment of the labor
ng class in the District, 1t is quite '
possible that the made work activities