Evening star., 1936-04-12
RELIEF AGENCIES
TURN AWAY 50 TO
5APPEALSADAY
Action of Budget Bureau on
Request for Extra
S258, 600 Awaited.
POST-EASTER PERIOD
MAY PROVE SERIOUS
Efforts Being Made to Meet Dis
tress of Those Eligible Under
Curtailed Program.
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

With their resources already
strained to an absolute limit, officials
of public and private relief agencies
today are awaiting with apprehension
the possibilities of the postmaster
period.
Principal fear centers around the
chance that a wave of evictions may
engulf hundreds of families cut off
public relief rolls April l and now
having no cash resources whatever
for meeting their rent obligations.
Only the rainy weather and appeals
based on the Easter spirit forestalled
an increase in such proceedings dur
ing the last week, relief workers feel.
Definite indications that these fears
may be justified have been furnished
during the last few days, as a steady
flow of appeals have come to member
agencies of the Community Chest,
with virtually every one of them re-
porting themselves threatened with
eviction from their homes. Each day
the past week these agencies have
reported to Chest headquarters that
they have been forced to reject total
of between 80 and 35 cases. At the
same time, as many more are being
given emergency aid or taken on as
requirements for closed cases.
Budget Bureau Awaited.
At the Distict Building, the Com
missioners and officials of the Board of
Public Welfare are awaiting with de-
creasing hopes the possibilities of ia
vorable action by the Budget Bureau
on their request for an extra $685.
900 for relief administration between
now and July l. The Commissioners
appeal for these added funds was
submitted to the bureau nearly two
weeks ago as result of congressional
action in cutting the supplemental re-
/ lief appropriation from a recommend
ed S608, 900 to S350,000. Each day of
delay is accounted as damaging to the
chances of the extra appropriation.
Meanwhile, the public assistance
division of the board is exerting every
possible precaution against withhold
| ing relief from those who might quail
| jfy under the curtailed program now
in effect.
For instance, demonstration Is be-
( ing authorized into many of the cases
cut of April /, particularly where
there is some doubt about the employ
ability status of persons involved In
these border-line cases, physical exam-
nations are being provided at Gal
Iinger Hospital and in instances of
physical unfitness for work the cases
are restored to the relief rolls.
100 Cases a Day.
| Including this type of case, about
! 100 cases per day are being accepted
I by the division for investigation. Many
Of them, however, must be turned
down eventually.
/ At the same time, in compliance with
/ planned economies, more than so en-
ployes Of the division now are working
under notice of their suspension from
the pay rolls by May /, although all
are being given a furlough status in
order to effect their Unemployment if
the appropriation for the next fiscal
year is sufficient TO restore the relief
program to its previous extent.
Another point of pressure in the
present menacing situation is the Dis
trict Employment Center where all Of
the employables are registered for
Jobs. Thus far, slight pickup in
employment of a seasonal nature
such as house cleaning, gardening and
increased hotel trade-has provided
some encouragement. but officials Of
the center report a growing anxiety
and desperation on the part of those
seeking placement.