Evening star., 1937-04-22
FIGHT OVER SUM
FOR RELIEF TO CO
TO SENATE GROUP
Subcommittee Will Get Ar
guments Over Proposed
100000 Boost.
TRADE BOARD HEADS
OPPOSE INCREASE
Believe Time Is at Hand to Make
Every Effort to Reduce
Expenditures.

Conflicting views of major Wash
ington groups on the need of the pro-
posed increase of sl,0O0,OOO in the
Districts relief fund for the next fiscal
year will be laid before the Senate
Subcommittee on District Appropria-
tions, under plans announced today
by Commissioner Hazen
Directors of the Board of Trade
yesterday wrote the Commissioners
they could not approve the boost in
the relief item which the Commits
sioners had planned to seek in hear
ings before the Thomas Subcommittee
Of the Senate.
The trade body statement to the
city heads said:
Directors Of the Board of Trade
view with concern the rise in the cost
of relief in the District and now
believe the time is at hand when every
effort to lessen expenditures for relief
purposes, as employment in the city
increases, should be made; and 1t
therefore cannot approve the request
that an additional s1,0OO00 for 1888
be appropriated
Demand by Committee.
Demand for the additional amount
over the 1,40O 900 item approved for
relief for the next fiscal year by the
House, in its action on the 1893
budget, was made by large committee
representing religious and social work
groups Of Washington.
The group recently held a mass
meeting in demonstration of wide
public support for the request for addi-
| tional funds which had been declared
by the Board of Public Welfare.
Opposition to the boost was regis
tered a week ago Saturday, however,
| by the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tons In special meeting devoted to
District budget and finance matters
| the federation held that Congress
should not appropriate any more for
relief in the next fiscal year than was
recommended by the Budget Bureau,
or some sl,60O,OOO.
After reading the communication
from the Board of Trade, Commits
sioner HaZen said it was his plan to
cite the views Of the trade body, the
civic federation and the religious and
social groups when the relief item Is
discussed in the Senate hearings.
I am glad to have some Of the pres
sure taken of the Commissioners" he
said, referring to the issue between
the civic groups.
Correct Picture Sought.
Explaining the Board of Trade made
a preliminary survey to determine the
correct picture of relief and unern-
ployment conditions said Edgar
Morris, president, said:
Until this time. we have received
no facts and no information which
discredits the general findings of our
preliminary survey. We confidently
expect that the investigation which is
now going on will serve to clarity con-
ditions greatly, but it is possible that
very strong data will be developed to
show the need for continuation Of
relief in great many quarters. We
believe, however, that the general cor
clusions Of our preliminary survey are
unshakable."
The basis of the boards recommen-
dation against additional relief funds
for the next fiscal year is based on the
fact that during the depression years,
1881, 1882 and 1888. all expenditures
for relief and aid to the needy
amounted to less than $4,000 900.
while in 1884, 1885 and 1886, when the
city was rapidly coming out of the de-
preston" these expenditures totaled
approximately S48,00000O, or two and
a half times as much as during the
depression peak. Morris said.
Not Opposed to Aiding Needy.
"Our organization is not opposed to
rendering assistance to those unfor-
tunate citizens who need help" Morris
said we are honestly endeavoring to
arrive at complete. unbiased picture
Of the whole problem. We are nat
urally influenced by the results of our
survey, but I can say that our minds
are not definitely closed to further sug-
gestions. When we have arrived at the
picture we feel completely expresses
the problem as it stands today we will
be anxious to make further recommen-
dations to the Commissioners on the
basis of those findings regardless of
which way it changes our stated posi-
ton of this date"
Meanwhile, District officials report
they have not been advised what de-
cision has been reached by the Budget
Bureau on the request forwarded
about two weeks ago by the Commits
sioners for a deficiency appropriation
Of sl30, 900 for expanded relief during
May and June.
Ewood Street said he understood
the request still reposes" at the
Budget Bureau and he doubted If the
money now could be made available
by May /, even if recommended by
the bureau.