Evening star., 1934-03-31
GRANT OF S15O,0DO
WASINTENDEDF0R
D. c. MARCH RELIEF
Officials Had Believed Sum
Was to Be Used for April
Program.
$780, 900 REQUESTED
FOR MONTHS NEEDS
Decision Not Yet Reached on
Amount to Be Made Avail
able Here.

The emergency works grant of
sIoo'oOo TO the District, announced
yesterday, was intended for March
raIher tnan to be an initial allot-
ment Tor April expenses, it was stated
To-Day by spokesman for the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration.
A message regarding the sum. re-
celVed by District officials had been
interpreted by them to mean the
sl5O,OOO was first grant for the new
emergency works program, scheduled
TO be started Monday to replace the
civil works program.
The Federal agency spokesman said
no decision has been reached as vet
regarding sums to be provided the Dis
trlct for emergency relief and for the
new work relief program starting next
week.
Conference Planned
Arrangements were made today for
conference Monday between District
and Federal officials on the question
OF April requirements. While there
mas been some intimation that the new
WORK program must be carried on on
a much less costly scale than was the
Z. w. A. program, District officials
now expect all actual relief needs Will
De met. Harry L. Hopkins, Federal
relief head, has stated several times
the end of the c. w A program would
, not mean that any needy person would
go hungry
1t was disclosed that the District
mas asked $1,000 900 for all phases of
relief work estimated to be required
during April. Unofficial reports yes
terday placed the figure a. s793 900. II
was revealed that an item of s625 900
was included in this request for direct
relief and work relief for 25,OOO cases
at the rate of S25 each a month. Of
Gals said s425,000 was asked for the
emergency works program and s375.-
600 for direct relief. these figures in
Guiding necessary administrative and
material costs.
1900 Need Relief.
Leroy A. Halbert, emergency relief
director, said the District now has
approximately 1900 persons subject
| to direct relief. He said the weekly
expenditures for direct relief had been
running between $4,000 and 5000.
The Sl50,000 grant made yesterday
plus $4,000 grant made the day be-
| lore, the latter for direct relief, will
enable the District to transfer the re-
naming 5000 persons on the c. ".
A program to the status of emergency
works employees next Monday for en-
ployment for day or two pending
| decision on the April grant for relief
and work relief programs
400 Laid OFF.
In order to conserve the existiro
available funds, however, the District
yesterday ordered between 400 and 500
| skilled workers to be laid off. because
| they receive higher pay than un-
skilled workers. II the requested
s0OO,OOO appropriation for April is re-
| duced by Federal authorities. it is ex-
| pected the new emergency works
! projects already planned will be cur
tailed so as to call for the employment
primarily OF only unskilled Ia Dor. Such
a change would mean a dropping Of
some Of the projects planned because
they require use of skilled laborers.
, Commissioner George E. Allen, who
has been enjoying a weeks vacation
/ at St. Augustine, Fla. will be back on
the job Monday. He was notified
today by telephone of the uncertainty
4 as to the April grant Allen. however.
said he was not concerned. feeling
/ confident that Federal relief author
tiles would provide sufficient funds to
/ take care of all actual needs during
the month.
, The 5000 remaining C. w. A. en-
ployes today received their last pay
checks. The pay roll totaled s2lO. 600.