Evening star., 1936-12-13
GOV, V,M'NUTT ASKS
CHANGE TO WIDEN
SOCIAL SECURITY
Proposes Federal Grants-in-
Aid for Direct Relief
as Next Step.
INDIANAN SUGGESTS
SWAY PARTNERSHIP
Mrs. Roosevelt and Senator Wag-
ner Hail Work of Welfare
Association.

ASSUCldt1Uus
Federal grants-in-aid to the States
for the purposes of direct relief-now
borne by the local jurisdictions-wa
proposed last night by Gov. Paul v.
McNutt of Indiana as the next for
ward step" of the national social secur-
ity program.
Addressing banquet meeting of the
American Public Welfare Association
at Wardman Park Hotel in the pres
ence of a dozen leading Federal Of
hcials, Gov. McNutt suggested a three
way partnership between the national,
State and county governments in deal
Ing with direct relief problems.
He proposed amendment Of the So
eial security act to add an additional
title which would authorize aid to
States for direct relief on the basis OF
IN approved plan for administration
Of such funds.
Points to Benefits.
Insisting the United States would
have faced chaos and that all States
today would have been bankrupt had
It not been for the Federal emergency
relief program, Gov. McNutt declared:
I'VE have demonstrated the prac-
ticability of the idea by the direct
relief phases of the Federal Emer-
gency Relief Administration. In our
State, even with the w. P. A. and other
Federal works programs. the number
receiving assistance under the three
phases of categorical relief under the
social security act is about 80 per
cent Of the total number receiving
public assistance.
'The remaining 10 per cent is made
up of the unemployable, the crippled,
the mentally incapacitated, who prob
ably never will be returned to private
industry and who the Government,
even under most generous policy,
cannot afford to employ on a work
program"
Indiana, he added, has been able to
finance the cost of assistance of this
larger group since Federal direct relief
grants were stopped last December,
'but do not know how long we will
be able to carry the burden. From my
conversations with administrators
from other States know they are
probably in q worse plight than we
are today"
Upholds Merit System.
The speaker upheld the principle Of
the merit system, in the selection of
personnel to administer the ramifica-
tions of the social security program,
but emphasized the dificulty-of find
ing at the outset of such a broad-scale
national program an adequate number
Of trained workers and suggested a
flexible merit system as practicable
answer.
While declaring IT firmly believe
that the fate of the social security
program and the administration of
public welfare should not be left to
the whims of the political spokesman"
he added there is grave danger, how
ever, that in providing for the estab-
Ishment Of merit system for q new
or newly organized activity that the
necessary slowness of the merit sys-
TEN procedure may do lasting dam
age to the program"
Later he added: "The point I am
trying to make Is that the Inaugural
ton Of the merit plan must not delay
too much the prosecution Of much
needed activity. In the early stages
Of the program there should be enough
6exibility to permit the employment Of
o personnel on the basis Of merit
without resort necessarily to q COM
petitive basis"
The banquet session Of the two-day
conference was conducted by william
Hodson, commissioner of the Depart
ment Of Public Welfare of New York
City; with A. w. Laver, association
president, presiding. A short talk was
made by Victor Ridder, president of
the New York State Board of Social
Welfare.
Mrs. Roosevelt, in a message to the
convention. voiced her appreciation
Of "the useful work" being done by
the social welfare officials.
Message of Wagner.
Senator Robert F. Wagner of New
York sent a message saying I'VE
who enact the laws know full well
that our task is only the first step
and that the success of the laws de-
pends upon their broad-visioned,
careful and humane consideration. I
do not believe there has ever before
been gathered together so competent
and so inspired a group as are now
engaged in the promotion Of the pub
lie welfare. Please extend to your
honored guests my deep appreciation
Of their services and my feeling OF
confidence that in the words Of our
great leader-their fight has only be-
gun"
The association had as special
guests . dozen high Government ON
cials, including those In charge of
phases Of the Federal aid and social
security programs.