The Washington times., 1934-09-14
Relief FakerS
They Must Go!

The intolerant manner in which those who are in
charge of various relief agencies receive the slightest
criticism of the administration of relief shows total
lack of comprehension their part OF the responsibility
which they bear to the taxpayer.
THE TAXPAYERS WANT EVERY MAN AND
WOMAN WHO IS IN NEED FED, CLOTHED,
HOUSED, AND GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND
EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT TO RESTORE THEM
SELVES TO A NORMAL ECONOMIC CONDITION.
For that they are willing even anxious, to pay their
share.
No one whether he be struggling along on small
salary or whether he is in afuent circumstances wants
the distress of the depression prolonged for others any
more than he wants it prolonged for himself.
Along with this desire to aid the distressed goes the
determination that the present heavy oupoung of local
and Federal funds shall not be used by the sfess and
the wasrel to transfer to the shoulders of others the
obligation which they owe themselves and to the
munity.
That should certainly be the attitude of those who
spending the peoples money and who being well paid
to spend it. And, professedy it is their attitude
YET, WHENEVER 1T IS DEMONSTRATED THAT
UNWORTHY MEN AND WOMEN HAVE FASTENED
THEMSELVES ON THE RELIEF ROLLS AND ARE
GETTING MONEY AND SUPPLIES WHICH SHOULD
GO TO THE WORTHY NEEDY, REBUKE AND SHEER
FALL FROM THE LIPS OF THE ADMINISTRATORS.
Every attempt to show that many relief who do
not need relief who wfully waste the relief given
the meets with the reply from the administrators that
they know that five ten per cent of those receiving
aid do not deserve but that those five per cent
must not be disturbed for fear that of those who
deserve aid might not be given their full measure
Administrator Harry Hopkins calls those who mention
waste and profligacy in the administration of relief
cocktail critics. infers that they are lacking in the
milk of human kindness and unwilling succor the
needy.
The Districts Director of Public Welfare, Elwood
Street. commenting upon statements that numbers of
those on the local relief rolls riding around in auto
mobiles and are exchanging their relief supplies for
bootleg whisky, takes much the same attitude
He suggests that evidence be brought him and that
he will investigate it.
IT DOES NOT SEEM UNREASONABLE TO EX
PECT MR.. STREET AND THE OTHER ADMINS
TRAITORS TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN INVESTIGA
T1ONs AND PROSECUTE THEM VIGOROUSLY
Most Of the stories of fraud the part of relief takers
In Washington seem to originate with or to find con-
flrmation in the Metropolitan Police Department.
Certainly that department will cooperate with anv in
vesgation MIR. Street may think it desirable to make
Certainly the members of that department. have right
along been willing to give Mr. Street anv information in
their possession Mr. Street had thought to ask for it
WE SHALL LOOK TO MR.. STREET TO MAKE THE
INVESTIGATION WHICH SEEMS TO BE NECEss1-
TATED BY THE RAPIDLY GROWING CRITICISM OF
RELIEF ROLL CHISELING
MORE THAN THAT, WE SHALL. LOOK FOR
REALIZATION UPON THE PART OF ALL SOCIAL.
WORKERS. THAT THOSE WHO FIND ERRORS IN
RELIEF ADMINISTRATION ARE NOT MERELY
CARP1NG CRITICS BUT ARE SINCERELY ~
S1ROUS OF ELIMINATING THE CH1sELER TN 0P
DEB THAT THE DESERVING MAY Be BETTEP
SERVED O 0HA LIN
Schools Can't Make Brains