Evening star., 1935-12-14
SOCIAL SECURITY
MEETING STUDIES
NEED BASIS ONLY
Delegates From 20 States
Disregard 0Id-Age In
SuranCe Phase.
100000 DEPENDENTS
HELD CHILDREN, AGED
Altmeyer Says State Federal Con-
troll Will Be Free of Ex-
cessive Checking.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Described by Social Security Board
Member Arthur j. Altmeyer as the
"shock troops" of great national
welfare program, more than 200 State
representatives met here today to dis
cuss administration of the several
welfare provisions of the social Sc
curity act.
Not concerning themselves with the
unemployment and old-age insurance
programs, the delegates concentrated
on those sections of the act which
provide for aid on a basis of need
only. Fundamentally, their problem
consists of extending aid to 100000
aged needy persons, 100000 depend
ent children and 10000 needy blind
persons, Altmeyer said. About one
quarter of this number are receiving
aid in various amounts at the pres
ent time.
BY terms of the social security act
seven distinct programs have their
basis in need and include provisions
for joint financial responsibility by
State and Federal governments. Spe-
cifcally, these programs are old-age
assistance, aid to blind, aid to de-
pendent children, maternal and child
health, aid to crippled children, child
welfare and public health. The first
three are under Federal supervision of
the Social Security Board. the next
three of the Children's Bureau and
the last one of the Public Health
Service.
No Espionage" Planned.
Referring to this provision for State
Federal control, Altmeyer assured the
State representatives that the Social
Security Board plans no system of
espionage" or excessive checking.
They will, however, do more than
merely approve the State plan in
theory, but will see that the plan
conforms to the board requirements
in actual practice.
Miss Katherine Lsnroot, head Of
the United States Children's Bureau,
followed Altmeyer before the meeting.
In her short address she placed prin-
cipal emphasis on the need for in
tegrating the special services of the
child program with those of the entire
social security scheme. Most of the
needs, she pointed out, are in the
rural areas, where such services have
not been adequately developed by
local agencies.
Frank Bane, executive director of
the board, presided over the session
and served as target for a multi
tude of questions. In leading up to
the discussion of administrative re-
sponsibility for the welfare programs,
Bane called upon Elwood Street, local
Public Welfare Department head, for
suggestions as to administration.
Suggests New Division.
Referring to the District decision to
handle these assistance programs
through the Public Welfare Depart
ment, Street advised the delegates to
look thoroughly into the merits of
such plan. Preferably, he said, a
public assistance division should be
created under the Public Welfare De-
partment and supervision of all the
assistance plans given to this division.
Plans for administration in Mary
land and New York were described by
speakers from those States.
Further detailed consideration of
these programs is planned this after
noon. Late today or tomorrow morn
ing the conference expects to hear
Thomas H. Eliot, general counsel for
the board, and Henry P. Seidemann,
statistical co-ordinator.
Meanwhile it was indicated that the
District may ask for grant of ap-
proximately $500, 900 out Of a sug-
gested Federal appropriation of $780,
100000, for care Of Washington's de-
pendent children, aged and blind per-
sons in connection with administration
Of the Federal social security laws.
Rough estimates were prepared to-
day by Miss Alice Hill, relief director,
for Welfare Director Street for use in
connection with the conferences at
the hotel.
Figures Rough Estimates.
Street and Miss Hill emphasized the
figures as yet were but rough estimates,
based on numbers of needy beneficiaries
which now may be calculated.
They figured the District may have
a claim to $278,O0O for dependent
children, for caring under the Public
Assistance Division, the Home Care
Division and the Child Welfare Divi-
sions of the Board of Public Welfare.
For the dependent aged, they may ask
$270,000 and for the needy blind,
$4,000, they said.
The Commissioners have not yet
passed on these proposals. The es-
Inmates were on an annual basis. The
estimates did not include the calcula-
tions of the Districts own costs under
the District old-age and blind pensions
or present care of dependent children.