Evening star., 1938-11-22
Categorical Relief
system Merits and
Dement'S Argued
Monday Evening Club
Hears Plan Criticized
And Praised

The so-called Categorical system"
Of relief administration received
both praise and. criticism last night
in a symposium conducted by the
Monday Evening Club on the prob
lem of the fairest way to administer
public relief
Terming the system one of the
great weaknesses in the adminiStra-
ton of relief, Mrs. Dorothy William
son Cotton of the child welfare
division of the Public Welfare Board,
declared this "lamentable practice
Of putting funds and people into
pigeonholes has resulted in Unequal
tiles of money and services within
the same area"
Her opponent" in the discussion,
Peter Kasius, associate director of
the Bureau of Public Assistance of
the Social Security Board, took an
other view. however. While agree
ing that the administration of the
categorical system is extremely diff
flcult because it involves many sep
arate agencies and divisions, Mr..
Kasius contended the system makes
for more financial stability and has
tremendously increased the finan-
cial provisions for relief recipients
in each category.
Sees Lack of Uniformity.
Emphasizing that she was not
criticizing any administration agen-
cy, Mrs. Cotton declared there is an
astounding lack of coordination in
the administration of the various
programs" and no uniformity of
principle or practice.
"Sociologically, premium is
placed on certain types of misfor-
tune" she said. Economically, the
practice of categorical relief at the
present time tends to continuance
of the unequal distribution of
wealth."
Mrs. Cotton said there are II diff
ferent forms of public relief in
Washington, and that If one con-
siders also the private sources of
assistance, I'VE find it's possible for
a person to go from the cradle to
the grave without ever entering pri-
vate industry"
She said the lack of uniformity
OF principle or practice probably was
due in part to existing laws and
suggested that the Social Security
Act be amended to correct the gross
inequality in the distribution of
relief. ITO improve the present sys-
tenn of categorical relief, she sug-
geSted the need for co-ordinated
administration of all relief groups.
equalized relief and services, whether
within the same category or on the
general relief program, and better
distribution of the national wealth.
Reaction Seen to Old Plan.
Mr.. Kasius said he believed the
growth of private social services and
all kinds of social aid organizations
was due to the reaction against the
old generalized program of relief.
To maintain high standards of relief,
he declared, it was necessary to de-
velop the categorical system.
One of the great dangers in the
system, he admitted, is the tendency
to overemphasize conditions of ELI
gibillty-conditions which, he added,
often are interpreted Realistically"
rather than realistically.
In the long run, Mr. Kasius
continued, the categorical system
probably will make for more effective
social action because community
interest and support will be kept
alive. If relief or public assistance
were generalized. community interest
would dry up and private welfare
work would stop, he contended.
Mr.. Kasius urged that all relief
services be integrated, but that
the administrators of relief guard
against a too-complicated system of
administration.