Evening star., 1935-07-02
The Local Relief Problem.

Announcement of a proposed initial
grant of sle5s,O43 for the Districts
work-relef program will presumably be
supplemented later on by an explanation
of details relating to the local relief
problem as q whole. But local welfare
officials are still considerably in the
dark as to what these important details
will be.
great deal was said, before and after
passage of the work-relief act, about
transferring relief recipients from the
dole" to the pay rolls, and the work to
be done was to be substantial and OF
some value to the community. An
nouncements have indicated some de-
termination, to + sarate the employables
from the u~npfoyables. to make the
care of the latter the direct responsible
ity of the local communities and to make
the employment Of men and women
who can work the direct responsibility
of the Federal Government.
The situation now faced by the Dis
trict. as revealed last week in. Signlf1-
cant speech by Frederick w. Mercy
nolds. chairman of the Board Of Public
Welfare may be typical of the problem
in other communities.
There were, in May, 500 cases-most
of these representing families-on the
local relief rolls. The number repre-
sents gratifying. though slight, de-
crease below the yearly average, but with
new applications for relief, or the return
of old cases to the relief rolls, con-
tinuing load of 10000 cases a month is
anticipated About 5000 of these cases
are classified as unemployables. They
will not be included in any scheme Tor
work relief. If their care is made the
responsibility of the local government,
the current appropriation of $2,000,000
for the new fiscal year will be made
uuate, covering little more than the cost
of direct relief and neglecting neces-
sary social service work.
OF the $4,000 remaining caSes-moSt
of them, it is to be remembered. repre-
senting families-about eighty per cent
are classified as unskilled labor, for which
the proposed rate of pay is to be $45
a month. Allowing nothing for ma
terials, the initial allotment of 1885,
O43-exclusive of administrative funds
would supply years work at that rate
for about $500 men and women. But
there are now on the local rolls LII
relief cases which represent families OF
six, seven, eight and nine people, and
the wage earners maximum pay of $45
a month will not cover their support.
There are, in addition, some 1000 cases
where the proceeds of existing outside
employment do not cover the family
expenses, and must be supplemented by
relief grants. Other complications arise
from temporary illness suffered by the
family worker and from the fact that
while some relief cases are classified as
"employable," no suitable employment
for them has yet been devised.
If the Federal Government is to base
relief payments on earning power OF
employables, rather than on needs OF
relief families, the local welfare authori-
ties contemplate added difficulties. If
the Federal Government is considering
both-work relief as well as relief based
on need-the present expenditure OF
more than million a month on District
relief will be greatly increased, as it will
everywhere else.
Another important question which
will await partial solution in Commits
sioner Aliens statement of his plans
relates to the nature of the local work
projects to be undertaken. The work.
relief plans bear close resemblance, so
far, to the discredited c. w. A. Com
missioner Aliens announcement of what
he proposes to do with money allotted
for work-relief may indicate another
line of attack, which will be most
gratifying.