Evening star., 1938-05-08
THOMAS ST0F|CHT
RELIEF DIVERSION
Money for W. P. A. Projects
Must Be Separate
Fund, He Says.

Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of Okla
homa, in charge of District appropria-
tions in the Senate, said yesterday he
would oppose proposal to reduce the
city's 5000, 900 relief fund for the COM
ing year by diverting part of it to meet
the local share of w. P. A. projects
and to send transients home.
His announcement came after the
Citizens Committee on Unemployment
Relief had held an emergency meet
ing to protest the diversion of the re-
lief money. The group sent a tele-
gram. signed by George Cleary, chair
man, to Representative Collins, chair
man OF the subcommittee OF the House
District Appropriations Committee,
indorsing his stand that the money for
local w. P. A. projects and for the
return Of transients be supplied by a
new deficiency appropriation.
1t has been estimated that the Dis
trict's contribution for w. P. A. would
be $1s9, 900. and the cost of return
ing transients. $4,000, which would
take 100000 from the 5000, 900 relief
appropriation in the 1889 District
supply bill.
To Favor Deficiency Items.
Senator Thomas said it was his
understanding when the local supply
bill passed that the 5000, 900 would be
for relief. and indicated he would favor
deficiency items for the other two
purposes.
Delegates from the Monday Eve
ming Club. Federation of Churches.
American Legion and other civic and
welfare groups who attended the
emergency meeting pointed out that,
because of insufficient funds, the
Public Assistance Division of the
Board Of Public Welfare is now turn
ing away over 1000 relief applicants
a month. Private welfare agencies
stated that they are helpless to meet
this problem because of limited funds.
Miss Alice Hill, director of the
Public Assistance Division Of the
Board Of Public Welfare, said her
office is now helping $500 families
whose members are not physically
able to take w. P. A. jobs If the
Budget Bureaus recommendation is
carried out the Public Assistance
Division will be able to give aid to
only 75O families and f,750 families
and their dependents must be dropped
on July of this year.
Urge Fund Be Left Intact.
In urging that the present relief
appropriation be left intact, the COM
mittee stressed the fact that more
funds are needed to sponsor w. P. A.
projects. At present over 1000 appli-
cants are awaiting investigation for
certification on w. p. A. Investiga-
tions made to date show that about
so per cent Of the applicants are
eligible for work relief
Since the District funds for w. p. A.
projects must come through congress
sional appropriations, the Citizens
Committee urged that Congress pass
deficiency appropriation to make it
possible for present w. P. A. projects
to be continued after June 80 of this
year.
Although the Citizens Committee is
hopeful that the results of the relief
study now being conducted by Burdett
g. Lewis will present the deplorable
situation now facing the poor Of the
city it does not feel that it will meet
the immediate needs. Under the pres
ent law no more relief funds will be
available regardless Of any emergency
until after Congress reconvenes on
January l, 1899. This situation. how
ever, could be corrected by changing
the law to allow the present relief
appropriations to be used as needed.