Evening star., 1936-04-09
Case Workers, Clerks and
Others Are Included in
RetrenChment.
OPPORTUNITY MADE
FOR RE-EMPL0Y
Turlough Enables Return to Jobs
if 1887 Appropriations Make
It Possible.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.


given notice of their suspension from
the administrative or service pay rolls
Of the District Relief Administration as
part of the retrenchment program
made necessary by lack of funds from
now to July /. Those to be dismissed,
temporarily at least, include case
workers, clerks and others of various
occupations in the relief organization.
Up until April l, when the relief load
was curtailed through arbitrary cut
ting off of 1000 cases in which an
employable person was listed, the staff
of the relief section of the District
Board of Public Welfare totaled about
400 persons.
With the volume of work thus de-
creased, one of the economies decided
upon by the board was curtailment OF
administrative and service personnel.
The board decided, however, ito give
all employees who are to be dropped
80 days notice, including whatever an
nual leave they are entitled to, but to
furlough them rather than discharge
them so as to give them an opportun-
ity for unemployment in case the 1887
appropriation makes possible the
handling of a larger load of needy
persons than the number now con-
tenplated by the proposed appropria-
tion of sl,506,o00."
New Tax Not Pressed.
Entering into the financial picture
was an announcement this morning
by Commissioner Hazen that he will
not press for immediate approval of
his plan for new taxation in the Dis
trict to provide for Sl,500,000. His
decision, he said, results from the as
surances given yesterday by Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma, that
the District will receive better finan-
cial treatment at the hands of the
Senate than was indicated by earlier
action of the House.
Meanwhile, in an effort to guard
against injustices in classifying per-
sons as "employable," and therefore
ineligible for further relief, local re-
lief officials are sending border line
cases to Gallinger Hospital for exam
nations as to their physical fitness for
work. Arrangements have been eff
fected with the Gallinger staff for eX-
animation of persons bearing creden-
tials from the relief Office.
There are many marginal cases
where a man or woman may think
they are or are not emp,oyable and
where the case worker is unable to
make a determination" Miss M Alice
Hill. relief director, explained. "Our
case workers are not trained physi-
clans or nurses and the responsibility
of arbitrarily depriving families Of
relief is too great to be assumed unless
there is reasonable certainty. We are
sending to Gallinger only those per-
sons where real doubt exists as to
their ability to work.
Restoration to Rolls.
The practice has resulted in a num-
Der Of cases in restoring persons to the
relief rolls, Miss Hill said. although
such number is very small in COMPARE
son with that affected by the cut.
The employability classification is
made when persons make application
for relief. many of these dating back
to November, when the practice be-
came required. Since then the status
Of some Of the applicants has been
changed through sickness or disability
Of some nature and it is mostly these
cases that are in need of examination.
While the public relief organization
Is thus attempting to meet the stu
alton arising out of lack of funds. the
private relief agencies report a con-
tnuance of steady pressure for
more widespread assistance Member
agencies of the Community Chest, for
instance, report about 35 appeals per
day beyond the number of clients
previously budgeted or actually COM
ing within the proper scope of their
activities.
In most of these cases the Chest
agencies have no resources for ex-
tending aid. although a policy has
been adopted by most of the agencies
Of discussing the case with the ap-
plicant and attempting to suggest some
remedy for the situation.
On another front. relief officials are
watching closely for any wholesale
increase in evictions. Thus far since
April / United States Marshal John
3. Colpoys reports no noticeable in
crease, circumstance which he at
tributes to cooperation on the part of
real estate owners and officials of
public and private relief agencies.
In virtually all cases of eviction pro-
ceedings, he explained, relief officials
and real estate owners are contacted
and usually brought together before
action is taken. Such procedure fire.
quently results in stay Of the pro-
ceedings, he said.
Doubling Up" Cases.
Relief officials, however, do report
numerous cases Of doubling up, with
one family moving in with another.
Frequently, both families are on relief
and the quarters are completely in
adequate, it was said.
One unfortunate eviction was re-
ported yesterday by the Community
Chest in the case of woman, her
three children and her aged mother.
Living in the Northeast section, the
woman has been earning $12 per week,
with supplementary aid coming from
the public relief agency. In spite
of this, however, the burden of sup
porting five persons has been too
heavy to allow keeping up with S25