Evening star., 1932-05-19
UNITED D. c. PLEA
FOR RELIEF FUND
~@
City.Wide Agencies Join in
Senate to Urge Local
Appropriation.
Continued From First Page.)

counting those who may be looking for
work without registering there.
Mr. Street. answering arguments that
have been advanced by House members
against the emergency relief item. told
the Senators the Community Chest
raised S2,415,0 900. but that the campaign
goal was S2,601000 He stressed the
fact that the needs are 100 per cent
greater than last year. AnSwerin g
claims regarding the cost of overhead,
he said the estimated expense was less
than 6 per cent Of the amount sub
scribed. He pointed out that there are
in the Chest many institutions, such as
orphanages, hospitals and nursing
, groups, in which the item of personal
. services naturally is an important factor
In caring for the sick and the homeless.
S250,000 for Unemployment.
Mr.. Street recalled that the Chest
, gave $500 to Unemployment work
during the Winter, that the agencies
which comprise the Chest are trying to
, hold down their budgets despite the IN
creased need for assistance, ana that
even with these efforts there is prospect
of a $500, 900 deficit at tie end OF this
year
DR.. Perkins emphasized that the re-
! quest of organized Washin gton for TINS
appropriation of 100000 Of District
funds is not due to the breaking down
of private philanthropy but is due
simply to the fact that Tyrivate agencies
of washington are trying to carry the
burden of both private and public relief
work. Most cities take part Of this
burden from public funds" He pointed
out that the s250,o0o which the Chest
made available for employment work
during the past Winter would go long
way toward meeting the expected $3O0,-
600 Chest deficit Mr.. Street referred 10
Mr.. Ufford told the committee tnaI
OF the Associated Charities allotment,
rs per cent is direct relief, and % per
cent for operating expenses, put ne
pointed out that this organization
strives through trained workers to knit
together family bonds as well as by
giving direct relief.
~ Increase in Relief Work.
TO show the urgent need for public
relief work by giving the Public Wei
fare Board the proposed appropriation
Mr.. Ufford testified that in the first
four months of 1881 the Associated
Charities devoted s73,9l2 to relief work.
For the same period this year its al
lotment was S94 ,243 from the Chest but
IL mas actually DeeIl Cdueu OIl 1OI Itllc1
to the amount of $l51.996.
Mr. Noyes, in summing up the testi-
mony, stressed two essential points.
First that the proposal is not for
Federal appropriation. Second, that it
is not being requested for the private
agencies of Washington
The private agencies in the Com
munity Chest" said Mr.. Noyes, 'for
four months have been carrying pub
lie burden. This money is to be spent
by the Board of Public Welfare, and
thus take the public relief burden of
the shoulders of the private agencies"
Judge Cobb told the committee of the
evidence of need for public relief work
as he sees it in presiding over land
ord-tenant cases in Municipal Court,
and said the unemployment situation
Is particularly acute among the colored
population of the city.
Confidence Expressed.
George S. Wilson, director of public
welfare, told the Senators it would be
difficult to outline at this time a de-
tailed plan of the various methods of
affording relief under the appropriation.
but assured the committee that. II
granted, 1t will be handled with the
utmost care.
Chairman Bingham expressed conf
dence in the ability of the director of
public yelfare to administer the fund
economically. Mr.. Wilson told the
committee the provision in the estimate
fixing 10 per cent as the cost of ad-
ninistration is the least that should
be apportioned for that purpose if the
fund is to be wisely and properly
supervised District Auditor D. J.
Donovan suggested a minor change in
the language recommended to be in
serted in the bill to enable the Com
mtssioners to use the fund for employ
ment as well as direct relief if they
find that advisable.