Evening star., 1935-06-28
D. c. FEDERAL AID
HELD IMPERATIVE
Chairman McReynoIds of
Welfare Board Says Emer.
gency Continues.

according to Frederick w. Mercy
nolds, chairman Of the Board Of
Public Welfare.
Speaking last night at a meeting
of the Public Welfare Association at
the American Red Cross auditorium,
where Mr.. McReynolds said this city
was still operating on an emergency
basis" but must now plan for long
time steady program"
I'VE cannot hope to continue the
rate of relief per family at an average
of $50 per month";" he declared. More
adequate support will be necessary for
those unemployables who will be more
or less permanent charges on our
funds"
"Great Change" Forecast.
The future for relief here was pic
tured by McReynolds as due for a
great change" in view of the fact that
Federal emergency funds are to be
tapered off, and 1.-The administration
is turning its back on a relief pro-
gram"
"Old age pensions with five years Of
residence required will be a great
help" he said. Blind pensions will
make a small difference, assistance
for families with a mother at the head
will affect a great many of our
families, and so free funds to extend
to some Of those needy employable
families"
Activities of three private welfare
and relief agencies were discussed by
DR.. H. j. Crosson, president Of Catho-
lie Charities, who presided as presi-
dent Of the Public Welfare Associa-
ton: by DR.. Anson Phelps Stokes
president of the Family Service Asso-
citation. formerly the Associated
Charities, and by Mrs. Harry s. Lewis,
vice president OF the Jewish Social
Service Agency.
Several questions designed TO Clarity
the picture of public and private relief
here were asked by members of the
panel of distinguished citizens and
answered by the speakers Of the eve
ming by a corps Ct executives Of the
ageLcies concerned.
The panel asking questions Included
Mrs. Lloyd M. Biodle, president of the
District of Columbia Federation OF
Women'S Clubs; Clarence Phelps
Dodge president of the Community
Chest; DR.. William A. White, super
inten6ent of st. ElIzabeths Hospital;
Sanford Bates, director of the Bureau
Of Prisons, Department of Justice, and
George Beasley, oclored, president Of
the Federation OF Civic Associations.
Questions Are Answered.
In addition to the speakers of the
evening the executives answering
questions included Miss M. Alice Hill,
director of the Pubic Assistance Divi-
sion; William H. Ssvin, general secre-
tary of the Family Service Associa-
ton; Miss Florence A Murray case
supervisor of the Catholic Charities,
and Morris Klass, executive secretary
of the Jewish Social Service Agency.
Mr.. McReynolds in his acdress
pointed out that the great change due
in the Districts relief problem was
coming because u the new Federal
program. Under the plan, not fully
disclosed in detail as yet, he explained,
1t is to be "one Of work with earnings
based on a mans or Wonlan's ability
to earn rather than on the amount
neeced in the family group"
Social service Will be greatly needed,
in addition to a; tual funds for eco
nomic relief, Mr.. McReynolds eMpha-
sized
CLOSE to 5000 of the families on
relief are classified as unemployables, 3"
he said. Since some of these can fit
into the new Federal work program,
obviously they must he the first obli-
cation on our two million dollars. The
present basis on which we are giving
relief shows the average amount re-
ceived by family is approximately
$50 month. This would mean $780,
900 month needed for unemploy-
ables and leaving an impossibly small
amount Of the fund tor the very i'm
portant item Of administration and
social service to these families"
1890 Relief Families.
On the relief rolls now, he ex-
planned, there are 2,3cG families whose
present relief budget exceeds the earn
;ngs for unskilled workers on the new
program of S45 month.
DR.. CrosSon reported that while
the public relief program has lifted
from the shoulders Of the Catholic
Charities that excessive burden which
at one time threatened to completely
submerge our organization, we find
we still are faced with needs which
tax to the limit our resources, both of
finances and personnel
DR.. Stokes surveyed the history Of
the Family Service Association, for
merry the Associated Charities, telling
how it bore heavy load-the major
burden of mass lelief in the Dis
trict' from 1929 to 1882. He paid
nigh tribute to the Community Chest.
AT the present time, he said, the
Family Service Association is spend
ing about $4,000 a month for relief,
but had overspent $4,000 on the re-
lief budget prior to relaxation of the
Governments regulations in March.
Mrs. Lewis, vice president of the
Jewish Social Service Agency, said
there was hope that, with the sepa-
ration Of employables from the un-
employables on the rolls of the public
agency, that the Public Assistance Di-
vision will be able to maintain higher
relief standards and smaller case
load"
Among the questions asked by the
panel, DR.. White sharply quizzed
speakers on requirements of the public
relief, declaring he thought some Of the
regulations for reduction in housing
before relief was available were "ridic-
ulous." He was told by Miss Hill of
the Public Assistance Division that the
regulations he referred to had been re-
laXed, but that such restrictions work
on the idea that families must reduce
their standard of living 20 that the
reduced income would indicate" be-
fore relief can be given.
The question of rer,orfad 0c1,fcoIi,,o,,,