Evening star., 1937-04-02
SOCIAL AGENCIES
URGE MORE CASH
FOR
City Heads Hit for Alleged
Failure to Get Addi-
tionaI Funds.
PLEA TO BUDGET HEAD
OMITTED, is CHARGE
Deficiency Appropriation of $780,
600 Monthly for Rest of
Year Is Sought.

The District Commissioners were
criticized today by the Washington
Council of Social Agencies for alleged
failure last Fall to request the Budget
Bureau for additional funds to care
for the city's 5000 unemployed "em-
ployables."
The charge was contained in q
crisply worded demand from Mrs. Will
liam A. Roberts, executive secretary
of the council, that the Commissioners
correct" the situation by making
such a request now for next year and
the balance of this fiscal year.
She contended the Budget Bureau
had put the blame squarely back on
the Commissioners. Mrs. Roberts
letter was laid before the Commits
sioners at today's board meeting. Nc
comment was offered
The Commissioners later heard the
committee of the District branch OF
the Workers Alliance of America
who demanded expansion of the loca
w. P. A. and increases in relief ex-
penditures.
The text of Mrs. Roberts letter
addressed to Commissioner Hazen
read:
Having learned that no request has
yet been made of the Budget Bureau
for additional relief funds for 1888
for unemployed employables, we again
urge that the Commissioners ask for
s1,00O,OOO additional for this purpose
in 1898 and for a deficiency appro-
priation for the balance of this year
at the rate of 100000 month.
When we approached the Budget
Bureau they put the blame squarely
back on the Commissioners OF the
District of Columbia by saying that
no request had come to them from
the Commissioners, and, therefore,
1t would not be possible for them to
recommend this. We urge that this
situation be corrected"
Controversy Over Funds.
Controversy over the need for ad-
ditional relief funds has waged since
last October when Elwood Street, dl-
rector of public welfare, requested
$s3O,OO0 to take care of employables
who were receiving neither direct nor
indirect assistance.
No action was taken on Streets re-
quest and at meeting of representa-
tives OF local social and welfare
agencies with the Commissioners 1t
was announced last February that
the Budget Bureau had turned down
the request for additional funds.
Charges then were made by welfare
workers that John L. Keddy, assistant
budget director, had declared the sup
port of needy families was mainly a
responsibility of the churches.
Although no specific statement has
been made by the Commissioners, it
was said in responsible quarters that
when approached on the subject OF
needed relief funds the Budget Bureau
told the Commissioners it would be
impossible even to consider any request
for funds.
Subsequently, the welfare workers
were said to have been informed the
Budget Bureau had turned down the
application.
Mrs. Roberts demand was regarded
by some as an effort to smoke out"
either the Commissioners or the
Budget Bureau in fixing directly the
responsibility for the failure to receive
adequate appropriations to care for a
relief situation which is now beyond
the control of local authorities.
If failure to make formal applica-
ton in writing is traced to the Com
missioners they probably will be sub
jected to continuous barrage until
such a request is made again or an
amendment is added to the District
appropriation bill in the House.
The Budget Bureau was regarded
by others as attempting to pass the
buck" to the Commissioners in view
Of the allegation that no application
was made in writing from the District
officials.
Allen to See U. S. officials.
In reply to demand from the
Workers Alliance for increased w. P.
A. wages, Commissioner George E. Al
len agreed at the hearing to check up
at Federal headquarters the question
of having Washington placed III Re-
gion l, where considerable higher
pay scale prevails. The Washington
scale is $40 month.
This was one of the principal de-
mands made by David Dixon, district
organizer for the alliance.
Allen agreed to make the request on
condition, however, that Administrator
Harry L. Hopkins would not cut dowr
the total amount of the w. P. A. allot-
ment to the District.
A higher wage scale would result ir
the employment Of fewer persons he
told Dixon, unless the w. P. A. allots
q larger amount than it now does.
Dixon proposed as an alternative 9
10 per cent increase in the loca
w. P. A. wage.
A program. presented by the al.
lance for relief needs calls for $5,19l,.
$50 for the 1888 fiscal year and $751;
900 for the balance Of this fiscal year