Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-08
CHEST HEAD Halls
|CO-ORD|NATED PLAN
Street Welcomes Proposed
Merger for Economy and
Efficiency.

Commenting today on the move by
major welfare groups to have the Dis
trict Commissioners set up a CO.
ordinating committee for public and
private relief agencies. Elwood Street.
director Of the Community Chest, de-
clared the Chest welcomes the pro-
posed consolidation In the interest Of
efficiency and economy.
A tentative plan for the creation Of
such a committee was submitted to the
Commissioners Monday by represent
atives of the larger welfare agencies in
the city. The suggestion will be
studied by the city heads pending sub
mission Of specific plan later by the
various private agencies.
Would Not Involve Funds.
While there now Is cooperation be-
tween public and private relief agen-
cies. the new plan would call for even
cooperation, 1t was explained. The
plan now being studied, however, 1t
was said, would not involve the pooling
of financial resources Of the various
public and private relief groups.
Attending the conference, in ad-
dition to three District Commission
ers, were Frederick w. Perkins, presi-
dent, and Mrs. Louisa 8. Roberts, execu-
tive secretary of the Washington Coun-
Gil Of Social Agencies; George S. VIII
son. director Of the District Board Of
Public Welfare; Walter S. U1ord Of
the Associated Charities; Mr.. Street
Maj. Daniel j. Donovan. District audi
tor, and Daniel E. Garges, secretary
To ha afRCt
The proposal Is based on a desire Of
private relief oncials to prevent, as
far as possible, unnecessary suffering
by the needy families of the District,
and to secure the largest degree Of
efficiency In expenditure of funds avail
able for relief purpoees from both pub
lie and private agencies.
Reciprocal Proposals.
The plan involves proposals for the
fullest reciprocal use Of the facilities Of
public and private agencies in the ad
ministration of unemployment relief.
One Of the tentative suggestions, ad-
vanced by Mr.. Street, would be for the
trict Committee on Employment in the
various offices Of the private relief
agencies, for consideration and report
on applications for aid.
Methods for development OF pro-
grams for self-help among the unem-
ployed, such as have been tried with
success in other cities, also may be
considered by the proposed Co-ordinat-
ing Committee, 1t was indicated. The
suggestion also was advanced that more
work might be planned here for sub
sistence farming programs for the
benefit Of the unemployed.
The increasing burden OF public re-
lief, with its threat OF impaired service
in many welfare fields, Mr.. Street said,
demands that public and private eX-
consistent with effectively caring for
the destitute and unemployed" He
urged as the best means of obtaining
this end. the coordination OF all relief
activities.
Stresses Limitations.
Pointing out that limitations placed
by Congress on administrative services
for the relief funds recently appro-
priatcd or now pending for the District
| mean inadequate service" Mr.. Street
declared that relief money can be most
effectively expended only II sufficient
amount of it is spent for services OF
! skilled workers"
Inc Iccult VI iliihIdtlOil- N1i
Street said, "is that the staff of the
emergency relief division Of the De-
partment Of Public Welfare while doing
an excellent piece Of work within the
limits Of its small size numerically, is
entirely too small in number to do the
kind OF selective and constructive work
necessary in making the funds render
the utmost service"
| Mr.. Street said 1T is clear that pres
ent appropriations for public relief are
| inadequate and should be augmented"