Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-13
Lessons From Relief
Experience Indicates Other Functions Might Be
Returned to States, Writer Says

there were SO many unemployed
employables in their districts that Mr..
Roosevelt must set up public works
to care for them.
The principal question between the
Federal Government and the local
ones was the ALLEGATION Of cost OF pub
lie works. Mr.. Roosevelt said the
Federal Government should pay the
cost so far as local governments could
not. Local governments, quite natu-
rally, proceeded to prove they could
not pay anything, or very little.
Proving this to Mr.. Roosevelt and his
aides became an important part OF
Congressman's work. The alloca-
ton differed with each case. In some
cases, Mr.. Roosevelt and his aides
required the States or cities to put up
so per cent; in other cases much less,
in some cases nothing. The average
contribution required from States and
cities is now about Is per cent.
Attempt to Cut Outlay.
When Mr. Roosevelt tried to cut the
Federal outlay for public works, Gov
errors and Mayors came to Washing
ton to emit loud groans into Mr..
Roosevelt's ear. Persons employed in
public works did the same, acting
through organization OF which for
midable one is the Workers Alliance
Upon Congressman came pressure
from their States and districts, urging
them to increase the Federal appro-
priations for public works, and bring
their share OF it home as bacon.
What is now happening is several
realizat tons Of fact which realizations
have far-reaching implications 1t is
realized that Federal appropriations
for public works cannot readily be
reduced, so long as States and cities
demand more. The problem is, there
fore, one Of reducing the local pres
sures. Various devices have been sug-
gested. Mr. Roosevelt was urged to
require every Governor or Mayor ask
ing for more money to take kind of
municipal pauper's oath. The most
practicable suggestions 60 on the
shrewd principle that States and
cities will ask fewer public works in
proportion as they are required to pay
larger percentage Of the cost. One
suggestion would require the local
governments TO pay so per cent This
weeks proposal Of the Republicans in
Congress says Is per cent.
Out OF this is emerging a wide
spread conviction. 1t illustrates
President Coolidge's remark that laws.
whether statutory or natural, are not
invented-they are discovered and
discovered often only by experience.
Seen Undesirable U. S. Function.
That relief had best be cared for
and paid for and administered by local
Units OF governments. that the smaller
the unit the better, that those who
best know a persons need OF relief
and how best to give it are the ones
nearest to him-all this is only the
beginning. From it flows, as an
axiom, the conviction that relief is an
undesirable Federal function.
Why has relief been dumped on the
Federal Government? Because it has
more money. Why has the Federal
Government more money? Because
it collects more in taxes.
But why allow the Federal Govern
ment to collect more in a local COM
munity than the community collects
for itself? Why should a State, such
as New York, or city within a State,
such as Rochester, send a great deal
of money down to Washington in
taxes-and then 60 to Washington hat
in hand asking some OF that money
back for relief?
Realization that relief is an unde-
sirable function for the Federal Gov
eminent leads to questioning whether
some other functions had not better
be taken back by the States. There is
in Washington today 4 rebirth Of
belief In State rights and State respon-
sibilities.
(Copyright 1877