Evening star., 1932-04-15
'S6QD,0DO D. C. RELIEF
IS LOST IN HOUSE
Public Welfare Funds, Cut by
Committee, Cited as Ade-
uuate for Work.

The 100000 asked by President
Hoover to be appropriated from public
funds to supplement private contribu-
tions for relief of the needy in the
District of Columbia will not be in
cluded in the District appropriation bill
as it passes the House.
After having been left out of the bill
by the Appropriations Committee, the
question was raised in the House today
by Representative La Guardia, Repub-
lican of New York, and by Representa-
tive Mccormack, Democrat of Massa-
chusetts. regarding the need tor such
appropriation and the obligation resting
upon Congress not to adjourn without
adequately providing for relief work
especially as regards food for children
in a period of extraordinary need.
Cannon Gives Assurance.
Chairman Cannon of the subcom-
mttee that drafted the bill assured
both Mr.. La Guardia and Mr.. McCor-
mack that there are adequate" funds
for relief still in the Community Chest
and that two funds set up under the
appropriation act are sufficient" to
care for children who might go hungry.
Representative La Guardia declared
that there was great concern" in the
District over the prospects of insult
ficient funds for relief 1T is danger
Gus to leave the funds there so that
District officials would be poWerless in
the face of economic conditions which
may become worse" said Mr.. La
Guardia.
Representative Cannon. in charge OF
the bill, replied that 85 per cent OF
those who might need relief, according
to statements made to the subcommit-
tee. have not been in the District six
months, but came here. many of them,
because they had heard there was easy
money in Washington. He said another
per cent was made up Of professionals,
leaving a maximum Of 10 per cent who
might possibly merit relief assistance.
Cites Bank Deposits.
Representative Cannon argued that
there was no appreciable number in
Washington being dismissed from en-
ployment and that in public work con-
struction the city stood first in the
country. There is today in the banks
of Washington. we find. subject to
check of those who are asking this re-
lief fund. 50 200, 900.
we asked the IS groups which
would receive out of the fund to supply
us with the breakdown on their over
head and costs of administration. Only
six responded to this request. while
others said it was none Of our business
and refused TO give us the information.
Our private study showed us that a
very large percentage of relief money
was expended in overhead After the
subcommittee had closed its consider
alton of this subject about Is ether
organizations submitted the informa-
ton We had asked 1t seemed TO us
that there was no immediate need to
make such an appropriation for public
funds"
Indictment of Organized Charity.
Representative La Guardia replied
that Mr. Cannon's statement was an
almost unanswerable indictment of or
ganized charity. but what we are con-
cerned with is 626 little children in TIA
families who were destitute on February
90 We ought to have an appropriation
sufficient to care for these children.
am not bothered about the buns and
the loafers / say that the highest
function of Government should take
care of men and women, especially their
children, when they are out of work and
cannot get work. l want to be sure that
after We adjourn if there are destitute
cases in the city of Washington there
are funds somewhere to take care of
them
Chairman Cannon declared: This
point is well taken It would be a re-
proach to this city and to Congress If
a single child went hungry. but 1 say
this bill makes ample provision. We
have funds from which we are paying
as high as Sl33 a month per family"
Representative La Guardia insisted,
Have you taken into consideration the
abnormal conditions at this time?'
and Representative Cannon replied in
the affirmative.
Two Appropriations Cut.
Representative Mccormack inquired
regarding the funds in the Community
Chest and regarding the conditions of
public funds especially for the care of
children and was told that the bill
under consideration carries S225 900 for
board and care of children committed
to the guardianship of the Board of
Public Welfare and that it carries an
other appropriation of Sl53.000 to pro-
vide home care for dependent children
in the District. Both of these items
represent decreases in the fund asked
by the Budget Bureau and in total
amount are less than current appro-
priationS.
Representative Mccormack said he
would hate to have the country feel
that We, members of Congress. in our
legislative capacity for the municipality
Of the District of Columbia failed to
provide for these needy ones. am glad
to. hear from the chairman of the sub
committee an assurance that Congress
is providing sufficiently for such needy