Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-23
D. G. HEADS WARNED
Of BREAKDOWN IN
RELIEF ACTIVITIES
A. F. of |. Will Ask "Pr0mpt
and Constructive Action"
Declares Green.
COORDINATION PLAN
is CALLED ESSENTIAL
Letter From Commissioners to Ed
win C. Graham Reviews Pleas
to Congress.

The American FeQerallon Ol Ldooi
will urge on the District Commissioners
prompt and constructive action to
avert threatened breakdown in the re-
lief of unemployed and destitute persons
in Washington through shortage OF
funds, according to a letter yesterday
from President William F. Green to
Newbold Moves. head of the latest
Community Chest fund campaign.
Pointing out that the present out
look for Washington is that Of throw
ing Government employees out OF work
and reduction of wages. Mr.. Green
commented on the seeming inconsist-
ency Of making it obligatory on the
Government to collect money to take
care of those the Government has
thrown out of employment. But this
responsibility, as regards the District,
falls on the Commissioners, he con-
cluded, and he said 1t is expected that
the Commissioners will formulate
plan, will announce it, and will call
upon the people Of the District to sup
port it"
Coordination Urged.
Some plan of co-ordlnating private
and public relief agencies under the
generalship of the Commissioners in
vigorous push to end uncertainty as to
the relief funds and to secure the neces-
sary money for saving thousands of
Washingtonians from the tragedies of
hunger and homelesSneSs, has been
urged on the city heads insistently of
1a@1 ho -ivon to RI Will
public welfare problems. notably by the
Associated Charities and the Commu-
nifty Chest. The Commissioners yester-
day made public the text of a letter
on the general subject to Edwin c.
Graham, president Of the Chest. but
beyond a statement of their efforts to
secure the good Offices of the appro-
p-iationS committees of Congress In
urging appropriation of the necessary
funds and CT the prospect of increased
appropriations for District relief direct
ly and through the Wagner-La Fol-
lette Costigan bill. the four-page COM
munication had little to say.
IN my opinion" Mr. Green's letter
said. the need for relief will increase,
and thus an already serious situation
will become more serious. 1t seems
clearly evident that there will be heavy
oiSmiSsalS of Government employees in
many of the Government departments
in Washington. The Government has
announced its intention Of reducing
Government expenses through the con-
solidation of Government departments,
the merging OF many and perhaps the
discrimination of others. In my opin-
ion. Washington is approaching the
period when it will feel the full effect
of the distressing economic situation
tr-hi no N9tIOn
more than three years.
Relief Resources Taxed.
Wage cuts, reduction of buying
power. the dismissal of thousands of
workers. have been going on, and as
result the relief resources OF the
District of Columbia will be taxed to
the limit of their capacity.
The American Federation Of Labor
protested the wage cuts. 1t has pro-
tested wage def1ation i'll every way. In
the District of Columbia it is protest
ing against the dismissal OF Govern
men. employees at this time when such
dismissal really means the aggravation
of a situation which, to say the least,
is very serious.
If does, indeed, seem inconsistent
to create cause for additional relief
by dismissing thousands of Government
workers and by debating labor, and
thus make it obligatory upon the Dis
trict to collect sums of money to be
used for providing relief to those who
have been dismissed from service.
The responsibility for the collection
and distribution of funds in order to
take care Of human suffering ana hu-
man distress rests with the Commls-
sioners. 1t is expected that the Com
missioners of the District will fornu-
late plan. will announce it and VIII
call upon the people of the District
TO SUPPORT it l will gladly urge upon
the commissioners to take prompt and
cons 'Iuctive action
The Washington Monarch Cup also
Yesterday adopted a resolution nololng
that sit is the duty of the Commission
ers Of the District to take the initiative
in meeting the situation and that they
should forthwith set In motion the
proper measures to provide necessary |
funds and to awaken Congress to the !
necessity of cooperation by suitable
Federal appropriation. before the ao-
journment of that body
The question is also under consider |
alton by the Merchants and Manu- !
facturers' Association. being on the |
agenda for the Executive Committee at
its next meeting.
Commissioners letter.
The text of the Commissioners letter |
follows:
my dear Mr.. Graham:
The Commissioners Of the District Of
Columbia have considered your letter OF
April Is. 1888. concerning the question
as to the suficiency of welfare funds
for the relief of the needy of the Dis
Co1, so
statement that relief funds of private
family welfare organizations members
of the Community Chest, will be ex-
hausted by the middle of Summer, and
that this shortage is due to the in
ability of the emergency relief division
of the Board of Public Welfare to take
over families and individuals for whose
care YOU claim that division is reSpon-
sihle. with the result that private funds.
which should have lasted the whole year
on the basis of the legal obligation OF
the Board of Public Welfare. will not
last beyond the end of Summer.
You undoubtedly are aware OF the
fact that the Commissioners have en-
deavored to fully present the emergency
relief conditions existing in the District
of Columbia before the subcommittee OF
the House Committee on Appropriations
in its consideration of the District ap-
preparation bill for the next fiscal year,
and again before the subcommittee OF
the Senate Committee on Approprla.
tons. Both committees were informed
that it was anticipated that the relief
agencies operating through the Com
munity Chest would be unable, through
exhaustion of funds, to carry on their
usual work beyond next July or August.
and that the Commissioners felt that
should this hannen the reSpOnSibillty