Evening star., 1937-10-27
STREET ASSA|[S
LACK OF FUNDS
Welfare Report Is Submit
ted-500 See Exhibit of
Relief Agencies.

Lack of sufficient appropriation to
provide the Board of Public Welfare
with more adequate funds with which
to meet the needs of the District was
deplored last night by Elwood Street,
director of public welfare, in his
presentation of the boards llth an
nual report to the Commissioners.
The Commissioners have indicated
their disapproval of the boards re-
quest for 1889 appropriation for pub
lie assistance amounting to s4,079, ,455.
or more than double the sum granted
for this year The Commissioners are
asking the Budget Bureau for no in
crease over this year. The Welfare
Board had requested an additional
new item of 81 ,225, 900 for the relief
of employable persons.
Mr.. Streets report was presented at
the Commerce Department Auditorium
before an audience of more than 500,
who inspected the exhibits of the
agencies under the Jurisdiction OF
the board and heard an address by
Miss Jane M. Hoey, director of the
Bureau of Public Assistance of the
Social Security Board. who discussed
the relation of social security to de-
pendent children.
After describing the work of the
welfare agencies and their accom-
plishments during the fiscal year
ended June 80 last, Mr.. Street stated:
Although much has been accom-
plished this year, much remains to
be done. Our institutions in
general are overcrowded, under
equipped and understaffed."
Inadequate Funds Cited.
He cited the need of modern build
ings, additional equipment and addi-
tional personnel and commented:
Relief funds are inadequate even
for the task Of caring for the un-
employables who are our community
sponsibility.'
"A very serious community situa-
ton also is created by the lack of
any appropriation for the relief of
employable persons, he said.
The director described the devel-
opment of policies for the application
of the Social Security Act and its
accompanying local legislation as the
most arduous single activity of the
board during the year. Here again
he scored the lack of funds when he
said: Federal grants are not sufficient
with their present limits to cover the
cost of living in urban communities. :"
The work of welfare agencies, in
Guiding the penal institutions, relief
agencies and child welfare agencies,
which Mr.. Street discussed, was vivid
ly illustratedy by colorful exhibits
placed throughout the corridors sur
rounding the auditorium. Institu-
tions were represented with needle
craft, woodcraft and cooking exhibits,
as well as fruit anu farm product
displays. Motion pictures, color slides,
photographs and sketches depicted
other activities, particularly in the
division of child welfare.
Aiding of Children Cited.
Miss Hoey in her address pointed
out that all provisions under the
Social Security Act affect the child
either directly or indirectly. She en-
phasized that State legislators must
realize that the purpose of the act Is
not merely to provide aid in time OF
need for the American people, but
provide security at all times.
Lack of security for parents pro-
foundly influences their children" the
speaker stated. She also remarked
that inadequate assistance means ex-
pensive care in the future and stressed
the need of proper spending for pre-
ventive measures.
I'm this connection we must take
adequate steps particularly in regard
to health" she said.
Miss Hoey emphasized the necessity
of adequate public assistance and
declared: 1.-The most unfortunate
thing that can happen is for the
public to think no skill is required in
public welfare work and make of such
an organization political machine" )"
Mr.. Street presented to the audi
ence employees in agencies coming un-
der the boards direction who have
completed their 25th year of service
They included Clarence H. Fouche,
George r. Baker, Harry Carter, H. s.
Claggett, N. S. Lambert, Ernest Petit,
Charles Sawyer, S. H. Selecmans Mar
shall E..Tyers and Irving e. Tyrell.
The chairman ot the meeting, Ed