Evening star., 1933-02-07
COMMITTEE VOTES
d. C..AUTHOR|TY FOR
LOAN FROM R. F. C..
Citizens Federation Protests
Making So, 500, 900 Avail
able for Relief.
"DOLE" DANGER CITED
AT SENATE HEARING
City and Welfare Officials Want
Funds Within Reach Should
Necessity Develop.

Inc senate DlStrlct COmmlttee yes
terday voted to report favorably the
bill to authorize the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation to lend to the
District up to s2,5oO,ooO for relief of
persons unemployed or otherwise in
distress.
The action followed testimony urg-
ing favorable action from District and
Community Chest officials, who asked
that the money be placed within
reach of the District should relief
needs be SO great as to exhaust the
fumes already provided by Congress
and the Chest.
The only opposition was expressed
by George E. Sullivan, representing the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
who protested against making the
money available for borrowing on the
ground that it would be inviting citi-
zens to rely on dole" He said the
federation disapproves of the loan
from from the r. F. G. on the same
ground that 1t has always disapproved
of bond issue for the District This
would be worse, and the Federation
would suggest rather the use of the
excess gasoline tax or the application
of the money saved through reduc-
tions in the pay of personnel in the
District government"
George S. Wilson, director of public
welfare, told the committee that the
District Committee on Unemployment
S25,000 week and very inadequately"
meeting the relief needs of these in
the District who are dependent upon
public and private relief funds.
$4,000 Now Getting Relief.
He said that today there are ap-
proximately $4,000 persons getting re-
lief from public funds, and the av-
erage of relief amounts to about $4
per family. He said the need for pub
lie funds to augment the private re-
lief funds is far greater than it was
a year ago, and since the failure of
the Community Chest campaign to
reach its goal, the need for public re-
lief work has been driven home upon
those engaged in welfare work even
more forcibly.
There is every indication" he de-
clared, that the need of public relief
funds is increasing, and If there is not
more relief forthcoming there will be
acute. suffering and probably trouble
here in the District"
Mr.. Wilson estimated that there are
between $4,000 and $4,000 unemployed
in the District at the present time,
and predicted that this number would
increase in the next few months.
Newbold Noyes, chairman of the last
Community Chest campaign for funds,
declared:
Unless we can find some way to
meet an increase in relief needs, we'll
see very bad conditions in Washington
in the next II months. There is no
chance Of raising any more private
funds this year without forcing the
Community Chest to forego asking for
funds for 1884. We are not asking for
any specific sum. This authorization
would only be an assurance that when,
and If, the need arises there will be
some money we can apply for"
Some Groups Handicapped.
Mr.. Noyes stressed the fact that the
burden of relief. work of the Com
munity Chest at present Is handicap
ping vital work of organizations within
the Chest which are not actually en-
gagged in aiding those in distress, but
performing vital welfare and health
work along other lines.
Frederick w. Perkins, president of
the Council of Social Agencies, a Com
munity Chest organization, told the
committee the council Is working out
a plan for unifying all relief agencies
in the city, bringing together both
public and private relief work for
greater efficiency and safeguards
against duplication of effort.
HTt jS If fhara no baoy,
imposed upon the chronic relief prob
lem burden such as would result from
major disaster, a flood or great con-
f1agration," he declared,
Edwin johnson and P. j. Horne, rep
reSenting "The Forgotten Men," an
organization of unemployed single men
who have not been receiving work re-
lief under the present set-up of the
unemployment relief work because
there were funds only to meet partially
the needs Of. men with families de-
pendent upon them, appealed for some
sort of relief for members of the Or
ganization. Mr.. Wilson assured the
committee that If the R. F. C. loan is
authorized by Congress he would see
that some measure of relief is extended
to single as well as married men.
Copeland Urges Loan.
Senator Copeland, Democrat, of New
York, in urging the committee to ap-
prove the proposal, said:
Il feel it would be crime for this
Congress to adjourn and leave no pro-
vision for an emergency. This bill
provides way out for Washingtonians
If there are any Washingtonians who
believe they're going to escape taxation
to take care of their burden of unem-
ployment relief they're mistaken"
Recalled, Mr.. Wilson told the COM
mittee he believed that loan of not
less than S500,000 would be needed to
carry on relief work through the month
of June
The protest of the Federation of
Citizens Associations against the bill
was presented today to Chairman Nor
ton of the House District Committee
A copy of a report adopted by the
federation indorsing a bill providing
for quarterly payment of taxes also
was filed with the District committee
The committee postponed until
Thursday, at 2:30 o'clock, hearing on
a bill to allow taxpayers in the District
to split their annual tax payments in
four equal quarterly installments.
Favorable reports were voted on a
bill to appropriate $25,000 for the
maintenance of public order during the
inaugural a bill to establish Wilson
and Miner Teachers College on basis
comparable with recognized standards
for accredited schools of like character
and to raise the trade and vocation
schools of the District to the level of
junior high schools; to authorize the
District Commissioners to sell at pub
lie or private sale the old Potomac