Evening star., 1934-09-20
INCREASED RELIEF
FUND ADVOCATED
At D. c. HEARING
C. |. StengIe Also Advises
Less Criticism Here
of Congress.
R. S. LUSK RECOMMENDS
HEAVY CUTS IN BUDGET
Secretary of Taxpayers Group
Urges $s,oOo,Ooo Slash in
Item for Needy.

emergency relief and more friendly
attitude by the people of the District
toward members of Congress was
made today by Charles l. Stengle of
the District Public School Association
at the public hearings conducted by
the Commissioners on the 1885 de-
partmental estimates.
Shortly afterward, Rufus S. Lusk,
secretary of the Washington Tax
payers Protective Association, urged
a reduction of S10,0O0,O00 in the esti-
mates, 100000 of which, he said,
should be eliminated from the relief
budget.
When Lusk finished his statement,
Commissioner Allen engaged him in
spirited debate over his recommended
ton for a S3000,000 reduction in re-
lief estimates. Allen told him such
cut would force relief clients to live
on virtually 81 a month.
Maybe you can cut off families
that. should not be on relief" Lusk
said
Asked by Allen, Lusk said he knew
no concerto cases of families that
should be cut off
Allen then pointed out that relief
families were given only S21.30 last
month. and added, Il don't see how
a family could live on that
And would you be surprised" Allen
added, ''if told you that 25 per cent
of those who applied for relief last
month were turned down."
Allen then took up Lusk's recon-
mendations of several weeks ago for
reforms in the Relief Administration.
These included payment of rents of
relief clients directly to landlords and
requiring applicants to take an oath,
with prosecution provided for those
guilty of perjury.
THE oath idea is not my own" said
Lusk. Il got it from New York de-
tective."
1T sounds like it." replied Allen.
Stengle. former member of Con-
gress from New York, strongly de-
Tended activities of the relief admin
istration and based his plea for in
creased funds for the needy on the
result of his knowledge of the relief
situation gained in 10 months as an
employe of the District Emergency
Relief Committee.
Few "Chiselers" Found.
''In that period" he declared, "I in
terviewed 10000 applicants for relief.
In that 10000 were ministers, lawyers,
real estate men and business men who
were in distress. Out of all of them,
less than one-half of one per cent
raised a doubt in my mind as to the
justification of their needs.
ut is true there is a percentage of
chiselerS. That's true in any large
group, but I want to take this oppor-
tunity to set two of my friends, Jesse
Suter and Rufus Lusk. at ease and give
them peace of mind so they won't feel
relief money is being handed out as a
racket"
An increase in the Federal contri-
button to District expenses and the
imposition of local inheritance tax
were suggested by Stengle as possible
ways of helping to balance the 1886
budget.
During his exchange with Allen,
Lusk said there is almost universal
indignation about the amount of
money being spent for relief and that
something had to be done, because
the District could not go on indefi-
nitely supporting 10000 persons.
1T is a serious problem. but what
are we going to do about it?' said
Allen. You can't let people Starve."
Lusk then declared that one out
of every two colored persons had been
on relief and that the ratio of the
white population was one out of IA.
Have you ever thought of that
the character of the relief applicant?'
asked Lusk.
Il try not to think of the color of
an applicant, and I come from Mis-
siSsippi," replied Allen,
In the midst of the debate. Walter
S. Ufford, representing the Monday
Evening Club, inquired of the Com
missioner:
Would the taxpayers of Washing
ton prefer to pay 81 a month each
(Which is what the S5,000000 relief
item in the budget estimates would
amount to- so that hungry families
might be fed or would they prefer to
pay nothing and let these people beg
from door to door dragging their lit
tie children with them for exhibition,
which would be only the first step to
bread riotS?"
He got no answer.
Lusk Recommends Cuts.
In his earlier statement, LuSk de-
clared if savings are to be effected
cuts must be made where the most
money is being spent. Specifically he
recommended cuts totaling S8,793 900,
distributed as follows:
7o1 nm.
parks, S507,0O0; relief, $3,000,000;
street lighting approximately, s125,-
600; police approximately, $430,O00.
I'VE do not feel at this time" said
Busk, that a tax rise or new taxes
are justified or necessary even though
we may be 100000 shy in revenues
compared to expenses.
The District has an unnecessarily
large cash balance in the Treasury at
all times, which could be used to take
up a shortage Of funds"
Play Center Asked.
Delegates from the Conduit Road
Citizens Association urged the Com
miSsioners to include an item in the
estimates for establishing a recrea-
tional center in their territory.
DR.. Charles B. Campbell, president
of the District Medical Society asked
the Commissioners to stop the burning
of trash by private individuals on the
Benning dump. He said this was &
menace to health. He suggested that
the trash be burned in the Districts
incinerators and that a charge be
made to individuals for the service.
In order to balance the Districts bud
get Dr. Campbell suggested a general
sales tax.
Mrs Harvey w. Wiley, president of
the District Federation of Women's
Clubs, supported requests for appro-