Evening star., 1938-05-17
CLEVELAND FACES
AID JAM CALMLY
It's Just Another Crisis to
Ohio'S Cities-SoIution
Presents Barriers.

CLEVELAND, May II (NAN.AD.-
Thus far. Cleveland and the other in
dustrial centers of Ohio have taken
their gravest relief emergency more
calmly than the rest Of the Nation.
The reasons for this, in Cleveland
at least, are two-fold. First, to the
average Clevelander this is just an
other in long series of relief crises.
Second, so far there have been no
riots or actual evidence of starvation.
The emergency is largely financial
crisis. It has been met so far by
series of stop-gap measures taken by
Mayor Harold H. Burton and the
City Council.
The Ohio General Assembly con-
venes this week in special relief
session, but it is not expected to agree
on a relief program in less than two
weeks. Cleveland, meanwhile, can pro-
vide further food money only by dis
rupting essential city services
Since Mayor Burton has promised
that there will be no suffering per-
mitted for lack of food in Cleveland"
1t is assumed he is prepared to sacrl-
fee the other city services.
Causes of Situation.
In varying degrees, all the other
industrial cities in the State, with the
exception of Cincinnati. are in similar
circumstances, Toledo, Akron, Youngs-
town and Dayton being especially hard
hit.
Why has this situation come about?
The causes are many. Here are
some of the more important ones:
l. Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, Youngs-
town and Canton especially are de-
pendent on the steel and automobile
industries for a large share of their
industrial employment. The 1888 de-
preston has dropped industrial em-
ployment in these centers to the low
point of 1882 and 1888. Nearly one
third Of Cleveland's municipal popu-
lation. or one-fourth of her metro
pelitan population of 100000, is sup
ported publicly either by direct relief
or w. P. A. Jobs About one-flfth OF
Ohio's 100000 population is on re-
lief or supported by w. P. A.
2. Gov. Martin L. Davey, Demo-
crat, was warned by Mayor Burton. a
Republican, on March II that the
s6,O00.OOO appropriated for relief by
the General Assembly in January
would run out not later than May l,
and Mr.. Davey promised to call spe-
cial session to provide more funds
But the Governor delayed calling the
session until five days after Clevelands S
relief fund was exhausted. and the
General Assembly did not convene un-
til the relief crisis was two weeks old
Davey Seen Fearing Quiz.
The Governors critics assume the
reason for his delay was his fear that
the Ohio Senate, once in session
would renew its investigation Of his
administration. which. during the last
relief session turned up much embar-
raising evidence of legal graft. u
Moreover, members Of the Burton ad-
ministration gave some assistance IN
the graft investigation.
8. Ohio has never had long-range
relief program, the Legislature prefer
ring to take care Of relief by stop-gap
legislation. Seldom has the Legislature
money to last full year.
4. A year ago, the State stepped
completely out OF the relief picture,
leaving the cities to shift for them
selves from May to January IS. Only
q 10 per cent real estate tax collection
made it possible for Cleveland to pay
It's relief bills in 1887. and even then
the city ended the year sl,500,000 in
the red This year, the Cleveland real
estate tax collection is expected to be
nearer 80 per cent, while the city
budget is based on 100 per cent COL
lection.
No Rural Sympathy.
S. In the 1882 depression, Ohio
voters placed 10-mill real estate tax
limitation in the constitution. Then
the real estate interests lobbied through
law reqiring IS per cent favorable
vote for special levy outside this
limitation. This has proved to be an
almost impossible majority to achieve.
The municipalities have virtually no
other taxing powers. They are asking
for other taxing powers from the
General Assembly in this special ses-
sion.
e. While somewhat more than
half the Ohio population is urban,
rural counties elect majority in the
House of Representatives, and the
States farmers. unable to obtain farm
hands. have scant sympathy for city
relief clients.
T. This lack of sympathy is shared
by the utilities and the Ohio Chamber
of Commerce, which have on repeated
occasions demonstrated their effective
control over the Ohio Senate.
Free Of Politics.
8. In Cleveland the administration
Of relief has been entirely free of
politics since its inception. Trained
social workers under the city's control
handle the work Gov. Davey and
many legislators have often expressed
their dislike Of Cleveland's "profes-
6ional social workers.
The Ohio League of Municipalities
has estimated that Ohio needs ST.
00O, 900 for relief the last eight months
Of this year. 1t has asked that the
State provide half this sum and give
thu municipalities local taxing au-
thority with :'hIich % raise the other
bali. But the proposal that the State
pay half tie bill will be opposed by
the rural interests. and the proposal
for local taxing authority will have to
buck the lobbyists for the utilities and
the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
h.
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
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