The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-09-29
PUBLIC RELIEF AND PRIVATE
EMPLOYMENT

From the columns OF the Charlotte w"
server the following editorial is quoted;
The local administration in public relief has
come to what The Observer believes to be wise
decision in deciding face squarely and declsvely
the question of who is and who is not entitled to
public assistance before the heavy load of the
winter months is hand.
That is to be accomplished by arbitrary o.
brutality unjust whim caprice. 1t is to be deter
mined by the simple process of eliminating for the
present the varied work relief projects that have
been carried on with the idea in mind of ascer-
tanning by this method to what extent direct re-
lief applications will be affected.
1t is obvicss that without information as to how
much federal appropriations will be for this service
in October and in view of the hard-and-fast ruling
from the relief headquarters in Washington that
relief workers must be paid on basis of 30 cents
an hour, it would be rather foolhardy for county
administrative unit such as this is in Meeklenburg,
to rush blindy into this program and this basis
pay many as might apply for assistance through
work.
1t is believed that the elimination of work prof.
ectS will show at what proportion of the cur
rent relief load automatically drops off when no
work is available for those who seek succor through
this means.
1t is conceivable, of course that the direct relief
load will increase, but at any rate, the relief ad-
ministratiOn will Immediately get a more accurate
line on the number of families needing help than
has been the case when more liberal policy was
provided.
Farmers of the county, at this stressful period
Of the harvesting season, will, also greet the new
ruling with favor and acclaim.
They have been complaining of their inability to
LII
the higher level of pay available from relief
sources. The agricultural level of compensation
has already been rather rudely upset by the gov
ernment's fixing the basis at 80 cents an hour
No farmer pay this and survive and he is find
ing, as consequence that farm labor is difficult
to command because of the relief competition
The foregoing statement as to employ
ment and relief policies in Mecklenburg
may be taken as advance notice that SINH
lar policies must be and will be adopted in
all other North Carolina counties. The or
der has already been issued by the relief
authorities in Mecklenburg that men Of
fered farm work at reasonable wages must
accept it or be dropped from the rolls OF
the relief agency. Men who decline to
accept work for any of the alleged reasons
which are being advanced by those who
prefer to loaf and live off the government,
will find their government support coming
to an end.
The foregoing is the policy which should
be adopted throughout the country and
enforced. The Times-News is not informed
as to the prevailing rules in Henderson
county, but if such regulations have not
already been adopted they should be i'm
mediately put in effect.
This newspaper has learned of num-
Der of cases where farm work has been
declined, for the reason that farmers are
not able to pay 30 cents an hour for same
and, in some cases, those who declined
employment have said that they do not
have to work, that Uncle Sam will feed
and clothe them.
Relief employment on the farm or else.
where is going to be very scarce in this
county and throughout North Carolina this
Fall and Winter, at the prices handed
down from Washington. People who are
unemployed will do we'll to accept en-
ployment as offered, at reasonable prices
The federal government and North Caro-
lima, in dealing with the relief problem, are
going to find it imperative to require pc,