Evening star., 1936-03-17
HEARING TO SHOW
DISTRICTS RELIEF
FATE TOMORROW
Buchanan Calls Committee
on Plea for S6O9,oO0
Appropriation.
DRASTIC RESTRICTION
OF AID is IN PROSPECT
Limitation of Payments After
March 81 to Unemployables
Seen by Welfare Board.

Washington's relief administrators
will know tomorrow whether they can
carry on direct relief after March 81
or whether they will have to conflne
payments after the end of the month
to unemployables
Chairman Buchanan. Democrat, Of
Texas. of the House Appropriations
Committee has called a hearing for
10 am tomorrow to determine if there
is any good reason to increase the
approved appropriation of S250.000 to
the S608,000 requested by local relief
officials.
Daniel W. Bell. acting director OF
the budget. has given his approval OF
the S250,000 figure, and the Board OF
Public Welfare has weighed what can
be done with that sum OF money.
Direct relief for employables will have
to be discontinued no new cases can
be considered; and only the halt, lame
and blind can expect any payments
from the District after the end of
this month.
Direct Aid First Stop"
Judge NJ. M. Doyle, acting chairman
OF the Board OF Public Welfare, and
DR.. Henry J. Crosson, accompanied
by administrative officers of the board,
called on Buchanan late yesterday
after an emergency session at the
District Building.
Their only reply after their talk
with Buchanan was:
Direct relief has to stop"
Because of the crisis created by the
lack of money, committee represent
ing the Washington Unemployed
League, called on the board just as
they were gathering for their session.
Judge Doyle carefully explained the
situation and the committee, headed
by william Goldstein, withdrew quietly.
Later Goldstein said an effort to
picket the White House may be made,
since the league holds President Roose-
welt responsible for the reduction
ordered by Budget Director Bell.
King Leans to Increase.
Meanwhile, Senator King. Democrat
of Utah, chairman of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, yesterday made it
known he plans study of District re-
lief problems. He indicated he would
favor an increase above the recon-
mended s250,000 appropriation if it
would relieve suffering. The Budget
Bureau cut the fund to that amount,
appending the suggestion that some
clients may be taken care of under
the old-age pension law or the local
law for the blind.
Before appealing to Buchanan, Judge
Doyle said consideration was given to
q lateral cut that would keep all pres
ent applicants on the rolls, but would
mean reduction to each of about two
thirds.
With the indefinite prospect OF
Spring employment and suggestion
that a two-thirds slash would afford
virtually no support whatever for relief
families, the proposal to drop all but
unemployables finally was approved.
Staff Faces Cut.
Elwood Street, director of public well
fare, also was faced with the task
of reducing his staff If the appropri-
alton is cut to the recommended $780,
900 for the balance of the fiscal year
and the new recommended appropri-
alton for next year is held to 81, 900, 900
as approved by the Blanton subcom-
mittee, then the present staff will have
to be out approximately in half.
Street is somewhat alarmed.
We have been handicapped from
the beginning" he said, with an in
sufficient number of investigators and
case workers. We will have no alter
native. however, but to reduce the
staff we have now"
The District rolls now carry 9,102
cases, representing approximately
10000 individuals. Employable cases
total 4,834; leaving only 4,168 to be
cared for hereafter.
Commissioner George E. Allen,
former relief administrator. attended
the meeting of the Board of Public
Welfare, and afterward went to the
Capitol with relief officials. He was
not optimistic when the two confer
ences ended, but declined to make any
comment.