Evening star., 1934-04-25
Yesterdays Order Reducing
April Expenditures Is
Lifted.
ALLEN CONSIDERS PLAN
TO CUT HALBERT'S WORK
Commissioner Would Transfer
Business Duty, Leaving Him
to Direct Cases.

assurance from Federal officials that
additional relief funds will be pro-
vlded here If needed today caused the
lifting Of yesterdays order that relief
outlayS for the remainder of April
would be placed on a short ration"
basis.
1t was revealed that the Commits
sionerS had asked the Federal Emer-
gency Relief Administration for
grant of 100000 for the remainder of
this month after careful audit had
showed the grant Of 100000 would
not be sufficient. The request for
additional funds had been closely
guarded. pending some action by the
Federal office, since the Commissioners
did not wish to appear to be making
public campaign for the extra money
The development, however, may re-
suit in relieving Leroy A. Halbert, di-
rector Of emergency relief for the
District of some Of his duties. Halbert
is blamed by some District officials
for not having estimated accurately
the amount of funds needed for all
phases of relief this month. or in
not having stayed within his allot-
ment for direct relief.
Studies Relief for HaIbert.
Commissioner George E. Allen de-
clined to make any public statement
on the matter, but it was made clear
he IS giving serious consideration to
plan to relieve Halbert Of the busi-
ness management phase of relief
work. This would be accomplished
by appointment of a business man
ager for relief, leaving Halbert in
charge of case work and the social
service phase of relief operations,
officials in the confidence of Com
missioner Allen said.
While some officials have been
critical of Halberts work as a busi-
ness manager, though not of his
ability as a social service executive,
complaints are heard also that there
has not been the proper coordination
of the efforts of those directing
emergency works operations and di-
rect relief activities. both of which
now are financed out Of the same
general relief fund.
The immediate problem of funds for
direct relief between now and next
ipated, was solved when Arch Mandel,
field agent of the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration, advised that
certain emergency works funds of the
District be turned over to HaIbert for
current direct relief needs. At the
direction of Commissioner Allen,
sum of s50.000 was so designated.
The District had sufficient funds to
meet the E. w. A. pay roll this Satur-
day and to meet the portion of the
pay roll due week from Saturday for
work performed by E. w. A. workers
tomorrow, Friday and Monday. 1t
was found, however, that with the
second weeks pay roll ''impounded,"
Halbert did not have funds to con-
tinue direct relief work through the
rest of this week on the scale in which
he has been operating.
Go to District Building.
Orders to tighten up" were given
to Halbert yesterday and Immediately
a number of petitioners for relief, not
receiving what they said was neces-
sary, started a trek to the District
Building and to the Office of the Fed
eral Emergency Relief Administration.
Halbert was. told today to draw on
the $4,000 E. w. A. sum and to pro-
ceed as he has in the past. Federal
officials had not announced up to
noon how much additional money
would be granted, but assurance was
given that there would be no deficit.
Meanwhile, District officials are pre-
pairing estimates of needs during May.
1t is expected a request will be made
for close to $l,000,000.
Numerous District officials are
fearful of a showing that the District
may require S12,000,0o0 for all phases
Of unemployment relief during the
next IL months. They point out this
amounts to approximately half of the
total expected receipts from real estate
taxation.