Evening star., 1933-09-26
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
Marulo and Virninia
Ann Other States and Canada.
A Heavy Responsibility.


fnanitarian objectives of the Admins
tration's latest experiement in purchas-
ing upward of S75,O00,000 of farm
products and distributing them to the
hungry and the ill-clad sufferers from
the depression. 1t is a noble under
taking.
But the immersity of the task is al
ready indicated in the intimations, be-
fore the experiment has even been
launched. that the s75,O00,00o at first
mentioned as the probable cost Is only
a rough estimate; that the project will
cost more than that-how much more,
nobody knows.
An examination of few figures
would reveal that such conclusion is
obvious The latest statistics from the
Federal Emergency Relief Administra-
tion place the total number of families
receiving unemployment relief from
local, State or Federal public funds
during July" at approximately $780,
600. There is encouragement in the
fact that from June to July decrease
Of approximately 100000 relief appli-
cants, or seven per cent, was indi-
Gated. But it is question, Of course,
whether the coming Winter will find
the decrease continued. II three and
half million families are on the relief
rolls. it is probable. allowing four to a
family, that 14,120OO0 individuals are
now practically dependent upon the
dole, Federal, State or municipal.
Seventy-flve millions spent for food and
clothing for distribution among 14,000-
900 persons, of course. does not permit
of very large per capita expenditure
say something more than IS. The
distribution of the processed food and
clothing naturally will require the set
ting up Of rather large and compli-
Gated machinery. For the machinery
is necessary, not only to make sure
that those who need this relief will get
it, but to make sure, In addition, that
food and clothing will not be wasted by
distribution to those who can get along
without them
Gradually, by degrees, the Federal
Government has entered the business
of direct relief and, once entering, has
found its task constantly increasing.
It's first departure in this direction
was represented in the authorization
to States to borrow from the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation-repay-
ing the loans out of future allotments
by the Federal Government for public
roads. 1t becomes increasingly ap-
parent that these loans will eventually
be accepted as grants. The second
step was the appropriation of $780,
100000 for direct grants. Part of
this money was to be advanced on the
basis of one Federal dollar for every
two appropriated in the States and
municipalities for relief. The greater
part Of it has gone for unconditional
grants, and the total Is not expected
to last beyond the end Of this year.
There has been, in addition, the
experiment represented in the Civilian
Conservation Corps which, now esti-
mated to cost between two hundred
and two hundred and fifty millions
before the year Is out, is directly sup
porting about $4,000 able-bodied men,
and indirectly supporting their de-
pendents.
Now, in addition to Federal cash
alotments for relief, and In addition to
the distribution by the Red Cross of
flour and the distribution by the Agri-
cultural Adjustment Administration and
the Emergency Relief Administration of
pork, there is to be distribution by
separate agency Of the food and cloth
ing obtained in this latest undertaking.
The question now does not concern
the laudatory motives involved in
attempting "the physical transfer of
the commodities from those who have
them to those who want them," as
Secretary Wallace puts it, but of the
Federal Governments ability to carry
through such an undertaking without
assuming q responsibility beyond its
resources.