Evening star., 1934-04-29
Engineer Commissioner to
Ask Investigation of
Cases This Week.
$500, 900 Is EARMARKED
FOR DISTRICT AID IN MAY
Allen Welcomes Study by Federal
0ficials-l1, 900 Eligibles Ask
Work Assignments.

Belief that at least one-third of
the $4,000 families on the District
relief rolls are not eligible for local
relief was voiced last night by Engi-
neer Commissioner John c. Gotwals
as Federal authorities prepared to
scrutinize the mounting costs Of un-
employment relief here
Acting on a conviction that this
number of recipients of District aid
are not bona fide District residents.
Maj. Gotwals this week will ask the
Board of Commissioners to authorize
an investigation of a cross-section of
100 relief cases.
This was disclosed as officials of
the Federal Emergency Relief Ad-
ministration earmarked $500 900 for
relief operations in the District during
May and stated that they intend to
stick to that limit unless local Off
cials can show just cause for any
larger amount. A similar sum Wa
allotted for April, but toward the end
of this month a deficit was threat
ened and 100000 additional was
granted This was done. however,
only after a personal appeal had been
made by Commissioner George E.
Allen. who was taken to task by Harry
L. Hopkins. Federal relief head be-
cause the April estimate had been
exceeded.
Believes Many NOn-residents.
Maj. Gotwals believes the District
should not be responsible for caring
for unemployed here unless they can
show that they are bona fide WASH
ington residents or previously have
been employed here gainfully for the
period of a year. He is convinced
from prior study that many persons
have come TO Washington seeking en-
ployment, gotten on District relief
rolls and stayed. He does not want
to deprive any needy person of aid,
but believes the extra load due to nom
resident persons should not be
charged against the District.
If Maj. Gotwals' plan is approved,
Capt. Howard F. Clarks, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner. will be des-
ignated to make an analysis of 100
relief cases taken from the District
roster. A similar study was made
more than a year ago by Capt. Clark,
who found that 35 per cent of persons
on relief had given as references the
names of persons residing in nearby
States.
If some 5000 families were found
not District residents, and not sub
ject to District relief. the monthly
relief burden here would be consid-
erably reduced
When the District emergency relief
first started, the Commissioners re-
quired that applicants show they had
resided here for at least year
after August, 1880. Later, this was
amended to require only one year
Washington residence. Maj. Gotwals
believes this is not strict enough.
Commissioner Allen. who has direct
supervision over District relief, has
made no statement other than to
comment that he would welcome any
study by Federal officials, and that he
would be glad to know in what respect
relief operations here could be i'm
proved.
The fact that an additional sum of
100000 was sought for April relief
operation is given as one reason why
Federal relief authorities are inquir-
ing into the local situation. Hop
kins, it is said, is not yet convinced
(CoItinued on Page 2, Column 81