Evening star., 1932-07-17
Member n, the Associated Press.
Unemployment Relief Must Go On,

Appropriations may be curtailed or
eliminated, but work OF the President s
Organization on Unemployment Relief
must go on. This small but exceedingly
important organization Is not just
another commission. 1t is not merely
finding facts or compiling useless sta
tistics or preparing voluminouS reports
to be pigeon -holed in the Governments
archives
Without benefit of spectacular pub
hcity, because its work is not of the
spectacular sort this group of specially
trained and highly efficient experts has
become an indispensable cog in the ma
chinery Of relief for suffering people
In the words Of President Hoover, this
organization, headed by Walter S. Gift
ford, "is the only agency for national
coordination and stimulation for the
multitude Of voluntary efforts and a
clearing house to these thousands OF
organizations with suggestions and
methods for the alienation of unem-
ployment distress" In a recent plea
for funds the President said:
Should this organization be discon-
tinued, not only would its important
functions Of stimulation of private CIV
ing and coordination be destroyed, but
there would be grave danger Of national
State and local volunteer groups con-
cluding that services such as they have
rendered were no longer necessary
Voluntary effort amongst our people
Is Of far more Importance, both morally
and financially, than the direct aid OF
local or other governmental agencies
To demobilize this organization might
easily create widespread confusion and
bring great hardships when the need is
greatest.
Mr.. Gifford's group not only has its
fingers on the pulse Of the Nations un-
employment situation, but has been able
to diagnose specific ills affecting various
localities and TO administer the stimu-
liant necessary to aid in amelioration OF
distress. 1t has devised and encouraged
measures to provide employment, has
promoted organization of State and To-
cal relief resources and frequently has
brought order and efficiency out of cha
otto relations existing between relief
agencies.
The advisory capacities of the or
ganization have been valuable in the
hectic months that have passed, but not
more so than they can be in the i'm
mediate future, particularly In view OF
q prospective demand for counsel from
States and cities taking advantage OF
loan provisions under new legislation for
relief.
This demand has made itself felt in
advance of enactment of such 1egis1a-
ton. Already number Of States and
cities anticipating Federal loans have
sent eniSsarieS To the Clifford organiZa-
ton to seek advice and guidance in ad-
ninistering funds not yet granted. 9th
ers have written for counsel in prepar-
ing program for the new relief ex-
pected from Uncle Sam.
The Reconstruction Finance Corpora
tion has no authority to advise recip-
tents Of such loans how best to admin
lister the funds. Unless the Government
provides some agency like the Clifford
organization to assist the States In ef-
fecting an efficient distribution Of the
relief. authorities unequipped for this
function will be left to shift for them
selves. with consequent dangers OF waste
due 70 inexperience.
Relief funds are too precious in times
such as these to be handed out apatheti-
cally, without at least an offer Of aid in
making the money stretch as far as
possible.
The Presidents Organization on On
employment Relief must carry on.