The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-11-16
FEDERAL AND STATE RELIEF

their local cnar1Cl6S ana oil over Tie
nation community chests and similar
organizations are making their
drives in the 1894 Mobilization for
Human Needs" For those who
have criticized federal and state re-
lief since the beginning of the de-
preston and insisted that relief
should remain on personal volun-
tary basis here is an opportunity be-
cause the opportunity still remains
for personal relief Without any
doubt whatever the federal admins
tration would like to shake off its re-
lief burden. 1t would never have
assumed such a burden had not pri-
vate, community and state relief
been unable to bear the unprecedent-
ed load.
Despite the fact that it has been
it's most expensive problem the fed
eral government has been and is do
ing its share when it comes to relief.
Some state and local governments
can and should contribute more to
official relief But even with the
so-called lavish federal relief, state
relief and community relief, there is
still need for private relief in almost
every community the nation over.
AS a sort of reply to all of the
criticism about federal relief and an
indirect answer to the oft-repeated
questions: who are all these peo-
ole in relief" and Where is all the
money for them coming from?" the
Federal Emergency Relief Admins
ration has made an analysis of the
relief situation. 1t showed that dur
ing last July one out of every eight
people in the United States was on
relief. There are now over 4,000,-
600 families (between 100000
and 20,O0O,000 people } ON direct
relief rolls. And rise in the num-
Der is expected with the onset of
winter.
The analysis further showed that
large families tend to predominant
on relief rolls with disproportion-
ately large number of minor children
living on relief funds. On the other
hand the survey showed that only a
small proportion of families on re-
lief can be classed as chronic cases
because most of them have one or
more members who are able and
willing to work but are on relief be-
cause they cannot find employment
Nine out of every 10 families on re-
lief rolls, the survey indicated, con-
tain one or. more persons who want
work And those who want work
usually have favorable employment
records. Only about 10 to Is per
cent of the families are on relief for
reasons other than unemployment,
such as old age, physical disability,
etc.
When the Emergency Relief Adj
l.
dent Roosevelt told an assembly of
state governors and relief admins
traitors that "the Emergency Relief
Act is an expression of the federal
governments determination to CO.
operate with the states and local
communities with regard to financ-
ing emergency relief work. 1t
means just that. 1t is essential that
the states and local units of govern
ment do their fair share. They
must not expect the federal govern
ment to finance more than a reason
able proportion of it." Thus it has
been the aim of the FERA to sup
plement and not supplant local and
state resources of relief agencies.
During the first part of the de-
preston private contributions made
up approximately 25 per cent of re-
lief expenditures, the FERA re-
search revealed, while such contri-
buttons are now estimated to account
for less than five per cent, During
the first quarter of 1888 local gov
ernments furnished 33 per cent of
relief funds. But by the quarter
ending June, 1884, local units con-
tributed only Is per cent and their
relative share was still declining.
State governments contributions,
however, increased from nine per
cent during the first quarter in 1888
to SS per cent during the Same
quarter in 1894. Despite this steady
gain in the percentage OF state con-
tributions, though. in the Is months
from January, 1898, to July, 1884.
such contributions. for one reason or
another, ranged from Negligible