Evening star., 1933-04-23
The Lewis Wagner Bill.

Were 1t not Tor ratner curious
parliamentary tangle, resulting from
House jealousy Of its constitutionally-
derived prerogatives in the matter Of
Initiating money legislation" the Fed
eral Government would this day have
been embarked. for better or for worse.
on its first major experiment in reliev-
ing suffering by outright gifts to those
In distress. As it is, the House passed
the Lewis Wagner relief bill yesterday
In almost the same form that 1t was
previously passed by the Senate. But to
keep the record straight and allow the
House to start the ball rolling the
Senate must again pass the bill 1t
already has approved. Because Of the
farm bill and imitation amendment. now
occupying attention in the Senate, final
enactment of the relief bill, one Of the
Hmponent parts of the Presidents pro-
gram, may be further delayed
Two changes were made In the House
bill from the form in which the meas
ure was originally approved by the Presi-
dent. Instead of making $500, 900 900
available for direct grants to the States
and to the District of Columbia-and
the remaining $500, 100000 available for
r. F. C. loans to the States-and the
District of Columbia-the House cut the
total sum into two equal parts, making
$3.50 ,o0o, 900 available for direct grants,
the remainder available for loans. The
other change was perhaps more impor-
tant, and indicative OF some Of the
political complications attendant upon
any measure which hands out Federal
funds The staff of Federal administra-
tors who will direct parcelling out OF
this money was removed by shouting
House from the civil service require
ments. Thus bill providing relief for
the destitute becomes in addition bill
to provide relief for the victors, to whom
belong the spoils.
This is unfortunate. II the relief
bill is to accomplish what its sponsors
hope it will accomplish, it should be
strictly removed from the realm Of pol
itics. The money should be used only
after the need for it has been scien-
tifically determined without regard to
partisanship. The Jobs in connec-
ton with administering the bill should
be given to those whose experience in
social work, rather than political CAM
paign work, has fitted them for the task.
This is especially true Of the relief ad-
ministrator, who is to be chosen by the
President. An able and experienced
man in that job may be able to Offset
In some degree the disadvantages in
herent in a staff chosen on principles
Of political patronage, rather than merit
and experience.
The task facing those who will ad-
minister this fund is greater than the
mere ALLEGATION of money to States and
cities. The force gained by power to
make grants of Federal money should
be utilized in saving what Is left Of the
machinery established through the
years by private charity and welfare
organizations. Some attempt should be
inade-and it Is absolutely essential that
the effort be made here in the District
to draw the line between the work
Of public and private relief, and to as
sign to each Q definite program Every
where the private agencies have been
ewamped down by being forced to as
sumo the burden of direct relief t.
those whose difficulties are directly
traceable to unemployment. Their only
salvation now is that this responsibility
will be taken over by publicly financed
agencies, enabling private charities to
resume functions in character building
and family welfare and public health
for which they were created.
Relief work, in the minds of too large
O part Of the public, has come to mean
handing out bread and meat. There
Is equally important relief necessary
more so in these dark days, than ever
before. If what is known as direct re-
lief is recognized as burden to be
borne by public revenues, greater EN-
prasis may now be placed on the prob
lem Of meeting, through private cor
tributions, the obligations of private
charity.