Evening star., 1932-03-30
D. c. JOBLESS PLEA
PRESSED IN HOUSE.;
.S6lO,O|(D REQUESTED
Welfare Leaders Petition
Subcommittee to Pass
Bill Promptly.
$4,000 OUT OF WORK,
HELD IN URGENT NEED
House Members Reminded That
Measure Is Not Connected With
Federal Relief Plans.

A group Of persons interested in un-
employment relief today petitioned the
District Subcommittee of the House
Appropriations Committee for prompt
action and approval of the measure
which would set aside $6OO0O0 for Dis
trict unemployment relief as part of the
1888 appropriation bill.
Those petitioning for prompt action
were Mrs. Walter S. Ufford, Mrs. Will
liam G. Steuart, Oscar w, Leonard.
Miss Katherine F. Lenroot, Miss Fay
Bentley, Paul Benjamin, Miss Dorothy
F. Williamson, Mrs. Charles A. Gold
smith, A. j. Driscoll, w. L. Darby Miss
Sibyl Baker and Leifur Magnusson.
THE facts of the unemployment stu
alton in the District" their memo
randum stated, "are such as to justify the
immediate application of these funds for
relief of unemployed District residents.
The active live register of the Federal
Employment Agency in the District Of
Columbia indicates that there are over
10000 unemployed persons, of whom,
according to Mrs. Ward, the director of
the Federal Employment Agency over
two-thirds are bona f1de residents of
the District of Columbia.
Present indices of employment show
that there has not been the customary
Spring pickup in activity. The cam
paign of work creation in the District
after six weeks has thus far netted only
162 jobs.
Come From Outside.
Besides, at time such as this there
is an abnormal inflow Of labor into
| Washington, making 1t possibly more
difficult for citizen to obtain employ
ment. Many contracts in the District
are let to outside bidders, who bring in
their own labor force and thus make
| the unemployment situation Of the res
| identS more difficult.
1T is often said that the employ
ment situation in Washington Is better
than in most industrial communities Of
like size. The fact Is that the princt-
pal industry, that of building construc-
ton, happens to be particularly low at
the present time. And the very fact
of the lack of industrial diversity in the
District itself makes it less likely that
! any recovery will take place. Lack Of
| induStrialism, or rather lack OF balance
| in its industrial character, instead OF
making the situation better in Washing
ton, makes it relatively worse in a sit
uation such as the present.
ut has. furthermore, become quite
apparent that private giving cannot
take care of the unemployment relief
situation any longer. Nor does any city
of any considerable size pretend to do
so. Washington is, in fact, the only
| city of its size thus far that has at
| tempted to meet the situation by private
giving alone and without public assist
| ance. What has happened as a conse-
| quence in the city is that the existing
| relief agencies have actually heavy
| deficits with which to contend.
Support Is Widespread.
"The following organizations in the
District have indicated their support of
| this emergency relief appropriation and
would all have done so publicly before
Congress had they been given oppor-
tunity for public hearing:
Federation Of Citizens Associations.
Associated Charities, Catholic Charities,
| Citizens Relief Association, United
Hebrew Relief Society, Salvation Army,
District of Columbia Employment Com
mittee, Council of Social Agencies, Re-
| lief Committee, Mount Pleasant Con-
gregational Church, Washington Chap
ter, American Association of Social
Workers; Monday Evening Club.
May we remind you of the fact that
asking this appropriation of Congress
does not involve the issue of Federal
relief for unemployment For Congress,
when it sits on District affairs, legis-
lates as local state legislature or the
municipal aldermanic body for the City
| Of Washington, and not as the Federal
| Congress. Washington pays taxes like
other municipalities and naturally ex-
poets them to be used for local pur-
| poses"