Evening star., 1934-03-04
WELFARE CHIEFS
ARE RELIEVED BY
ROOSEVELT STAND
New York Was Faced With
Caring for 100000
JobIess.
CONTINUED FEDERAL AID
SOLVES BIG PROBLEM
Total of $11o,oo0,ooo Was Ex-
pended on Needy in Gotham
Last Year.
BY THOMAS COMPERE.
'ecial Dispatch to The Star.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. March 3-The an
nouncement by President Roosevelt
on Wednesday regarding his plan to
continue direct Federal aid to the un-
employed for another year brought
profound relief to welfare leaders and
city and State officials, who had been
worrying no end on the problem of
caring for the 100000 to 100000 I'M
employed persons in this State after
the demobilization Of the Civil Works
employees.
The necessity for continued Federal
relief expenditures in this city virtual
ly Is mandatory because of the delay
In the starting of Public Works Ad-
ministration projects, the near bank
rupt condition of the city and the OBJ
vious inability of the State to assume
any additional burden without in
creastng taxes to the breaking point.
Vast Sum Expended.
A total Of 1000, 900 was expended
for relief work in New York City last
year, according to report issued
several days ago by the Research
Bureau of the Welfare Council Of New
York City. OF this sum, $96,OOO,OOO
came from the Federal, State and city
governments, and S14,0O0OOO from
private agencies. This stupendous ex-
penditure does not include the money
spent to aid persons cared for at pub
lie and private institutions. It repre-
sents the total spent in home relief,
work relief and G. w. A. work. The
relief expenditure for 1888 by public
and private agencies combined ex-
ceeded those Of 1882 by 100000
while they were nearly S64,0OO,00O
above the total Of 1881.
The belief among welfare workers
here Is that many Of the defects in
the Q. w. A., which were caused pri-
marily by the speed with which it was
organized, will be eliminated In the
new relief program. In some ways
the o. w. A. work was Intellectual
Thousands Of men worked on some
what useless projects, and there was
very little time for adequate planning
IN this State. The primary virtues of
the c. w. A. in New York were that
1t placed nearly 100000 persons on
pay rolls, gave them regular hours of
work and probably raised the general
morale Of the workers. In addition
to all Of those advantages. the next
Federal unemployment program prob
ably will be better planned and re-
suit In more worthwhile and necessary
work being accomplished.
Further Hope Seen.
Another optimistic factor Is that
gigantic Public Works Administration
projects In this city, now held in
allegiance because of the deadlock in
the Legislature over Mayor La
operation before the new Federal re-
lief program expires next Spring.
Actual construction on the Triborough
Bridge, one Of the major P. w. A.
projects here, will begin soon. This
$42,000,000 work has been held up
because Of charges brought against
two members Of the Bridge Authority
and for a reorganization Of the staff,
which formerly was manned primarily
by Tammany followers. One of the
members of the authority resigned
and the other was removed by Mayor
La Guardia. This week Col. Harold
w. Hudson, formerly assistant State
highway engineer of New Jersey, was
appointed chief engineer Of the au-
thority, and a new staff has been
assembled, so that the work can be
expedited. This project will give
work to at least 10000 persons.
The Roosevelt-Farley faction Of the
Democratic party gained additional
strength here this week when a steer
ing committee of three men was ap-
pointed to direct the affairs of the
Brooklyn Democratic organization, of
which John H. McCooey was leader
until his death Members of the
committee are Francis j. Sinnott,
postmaster of Brooklyn; Frank V.
Kelly, public administrator, and
Thomas F. Wogan, leader of the ninth
district. Mr.. Sinnott is a Roosevelt
Democrat, and Mr. Kelly represents
the old line McCooey faction. Mr..
Wogan has held himself aloof from
the factional fight that has been in
progress since Mr.. Roosevelt was
elected to the presidency.