Evening star., 1933-02-15
M~rrher M the Associated Press.
The Federation and Relief.

The Star is indebted to Mr.. James
G. Yaden, president Of the Federation
of Citizens Associations. for his letter
which is printed c.sev mere en- tins
pas2 today-in which he invites fu'-
ther expression of this newspapers
views ON the pending bill granting to
the District of Columbia the right to
borrow in an emergency from the
r. F. c.
At the same time, the community is
indebted to MIR. Yaden for his un-
eouivocal declaration OF Federation
policy. which has for its objective the
ADEQUATE relief of those Washington
ans who are In distress AS Mr.
Yaden says, when there is a common
objective differences Of opinion over
procedure will not prevent Its attain
ment.
1t is desirable that the purpose OF the
proposed bill be clearly understood TO
prevent some of the obvious misunder-
standings which have linked 1t with
such extraneous considerations as the
possibility of unexpended local revenues
held in the Federal Treasury at the end
of the next fiscal year, the possible
reduction of the Federal lump sum or
the effect upon support Of the local
Community Chest OF loan from the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
~F hi iS tn ryanpt
the situation that would be created
should public and private relief funds
be exhausted or prove inadequate to
meet an emergency.
The bill specifically provides that no
advances shall be made to the District
unless appropriation OF public and pt1-
vate funds are inadequate for local
relief needs. In other words, II the
District possessed the money that
could be spent for local relief, or II
Congress were in session and could
make such funds Immediately avail
able, there would be no occasion to
borrow from the r. F. G. Under the
terms OF the bill no borrowing would
be permitted.
The bill cofitemplates an emergency
IN which the District would be unable
to make any money available. That
emergency might arise il Congress were
not in session. 1t arose very recently
when Congress was IN session and the
District Commissioners-wit without war
rant In law-were forced to borrow
e25 900 IN cash to meet pay rolls and
to allow $4,000 in grocery bills to 60
temporarily unpaid. The difficulty in
this case was quickly corrected when
Congress re-enacted the deficiency bill
items effected by the Presidents veto.
But suppose Congress had not been in
session?
It is to be hoped, most assuredly,
that Congress will amend the District
appropriation bill as reported and pro-
vide adequately for local relief emer-
gencies. But the question of what
Congress does in that respect will not
be answered until the District bill is
enacted and signed by the President
Should Congress make the s625 900 now
sought available for local relief, begin
ming with the new fiscal year, that
amount is designed to last until the end
of the present calendar year. 1t may do
So There is good reason to believe it win
not do so. And II public and private
Ax oat s11ia xx9> ha
for them arises, it Is a common-sense
precaution to have the anchor to wind-
ward that would be represented In
ability TO borrow from the r. r. G.
whatever amount was necessary to tide
the District over until Congress can
correct the difficulty. 1t is impossible
to say what that amount would be. 1t
might be $25 ,0e0 or 1t might be $3.50, 600.
Judging from the r. F. C.s own regu-
1ations and its careful scrutiny of every
application for relief loan, there Is
little danger that the District will bs
plunged heavily or unnecessarily into
debt. And should the occasion arise
when borrowing is essential, the merits
of the proposed loan would not only be
under consideration OF the r. r. c.,
but should, of course, be analyzed by
such interested citizens as those repre-
sented in the Federation.
The question Is What will the Dis
trict do If private and public funds
for relief are for the time being ex-
hausted or inadequate to meet the de-
mand for relief? That is the single
issue, unadorned.
II the community is denied the
privilege of borrowing from the r F. c.
under such conditions, where is the
less expensive and more reasonable
alternative?
That alternative, unfortunately, has
not been suggested.