Evening star., 1935-04-28
ONLY 5()% RELIEF
SEEN IN NEXT YEAR
Welfare Officer Says U. S.
Plan Proves Need of
Continuous Aid.

The $4.8S0, ,00O.0 work relief pro-
nomic security plan can lift only 40
to so per cent of the national relief
burden in the next year, Elwood
Street, District welfare director, de-
clared last night.
The statement was not intended as
a criticism of the Presidents program.
which Street praised, but was designed
rather to prove that Federal aid in
the relief problem must be continued
''for some years to come and that
private charitable organizations could
not meet the need.
In an address prepared for pres
entation last night before the East
ern Sociological Conference at Colum-
bia University, New York, Street said:
THE administrations work pro-
gram, projected to get people off the
dole is now coming to life somewhat
manned by weeks of major and minor
surgical operations performed upon it
by Congress, but still recognizable as
one of the most promising children
of the New Deal. The Presidents
economic security program. which vi
tally affects the nature. extent and
administration of relief, is now being
considered by Congress.
Great Social Advance Seen.
"These two measures, and the act
which two years ago created the
amazingly effective Federal Emergency
Relief Administration, mark the great
est advance in the recognition of ma
tfonal responsibility for human secur-
ity that our Nation ever has known" !"
Yet long task lies ahead of the
Nation. and States and the local COM
munities in the provision of relief on
q large scale. Street declared.
The emergency is almost over, but
the necessity of long time relief for
millions of our fellow citizens re-
mains" he said. 1T is fair to esti-
mate that not more than 40 to so per
cent of the present relief burden will
be lifted in the next year by the work
program or by the proposed economic
security act.
THE Federal Emergency Relief Ad-
ininistration estimates that some
where around 20 per cent of the cases
on relief are of unemployable persons,
who will continue as dependent"
Further Aid Denied.
The work program. admirable as
Il is," Street said. will have to be
supplemented by aid for employable
persons who cannot be fitted imme-
diately into the work program, or those
who become sick or injured, or whose
earnings at the estimated average of
$50 a month are not enough to meet
the cost of large family. He said
he figured the supplemental relief
would total at least 20 per cent of the
present relief expenditure and would
be continued for at least year.
The cost of the unemployables in
Washington, affecting some 4,700 out
of nearly $4,000 cases on relief here,
he estimated would run to some 81
100000 a year. This will come out Of
District finances. Washington prob
ably has been more fortunate in en-
ployment than most American cities,
he added.
To emphasize that private charit-
able organizations cannot handle the
relief problem, Street said approx
mately seven times as much money
will be spent for relief alone here
this year than was raised by the Com
munity Chest for its 64 member or
ganizations covering every phase of
private social work. Public funds,
and public funds only, can carry the
burden of relief" he said.
Some Groups Separate.
An important trend. he continued,
Is that various groups shall be Topped
off the main trunk of general relief"
by setting up special legal categories of
assistance, such as old-age pensions,
blind pensions. mothers pensions. un-
employment compensation and health
insurance, in addition to the work pro-
gram. apparently, relief smells
sweeter by another name" he said.
Old-age pensions, however, he said.
would affect only small proportion of
persons now destitute and receiving
relief; unemployment compensation
would benefit only those now en-
ployed or those who get jobs; and
health insurance does not seem to be
q likelihood" Of the immediate fu-
ture.
Street made clear, however, he is
not opposing these programs.
Wants Funds Increased.
He did declare without qualification
that the measure of relief must be
increased. Public relief over the coun-
try averages about $50 month. in the
principal cities. This does not mean
the average family on relief has been
living on $50 month, for income from
all sources is figured into family budg-
cts in which relief funds make up the
deficit" Street said. These budgets,
however, covered the barest necessi-
ties of existence. The stark skeleton
of subsistence to which people can be
held in the height of a disaster can
not be maintained as the basis of life.
Those who are receiving relief must
have, instead of bare bones, a living
body of reasonably satisfactory exist
ence including food adequate and di-
versified; sanitary shelter; respectable
clothing. not always second hand;
fuel; and little leeway for personal
needs such as car fare, razor blades,
haircuts, etc. Public recreation must
be provided in larger measures, too"