Evening star., 1938-03-20
HOUSE GIVEN PLEA
TO SPEED SURVEY
OF RELIEF HERE
Semi Starvation Feared in
D. c. if Quiz Is Delayed,
c. !. 0. Leader Says.
APPEALS FOR SUPPORT
OF PLAN FROM SENATE
Supply Bill to Be Held Up Under
Schedule Adopted for
This Week.
By JAMES f. CHINN.

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
An urgent plea was made to House
members yesterday by Sidney r. Katz,
secretary-treasurer of the Maryland
and District Industrial Union Council,
Committee for Industrial Organiza-
ton affiliate, to prevent "semi-starva-
ton" in Washington after July /. by
voting against a provision In the con-
ference report on the 1889 District
appropriation bill that would delay
an investigation Of relief needs until
after adjournment of Congress.
Mrs. Katz appealed for support of
the Senate-approved plan calling for
completion of the inquiry by May J.,
in time for Congress to appropriate a
relief deficiency before adjournment
II the investigation shows it to be
justified
Meanwhile a circular entitled "a
last-minute appeal to members Of the
House to stop mass starvation in the
Nations Capital was distributed by
the District League of Women Voters,
the American Association of University
Women, the Monday Evening Club,
the Council OF Social Agencies, the
St. Vincent de Paul Society, the c.
I. o. Family Service Association and
other groups.
House Adopts Program.
The circular urged House members
to speed up the report on an investiga-
ton of relief needs and to remove the
prohibition in the bill against using
appropriations for general relief as
needed
House leaders yesterday adopted a
program for the week that probably
will delay final legislative action on
the supply bill for three or four days
The schedule indicates the confer
ence report on the measure will not
be called up before Wednesday.
A prophetic picture of the unem-
ployment situation in Washington
after July under the conference re-
port plan to delay the relief investiga-
ton was given to House members by
Mr.. Katz. The report as it now
Il. That several thousand unem-
ployables will be dropped by the pub
lie assistance division July /.
q. Several thousand employables
not absorbed. and some of them not
absorbable by the w. P. A. program
will continue without any form of
relief.
Sees Thousands Demoralized.
g. A great measure of the public
assistance work in Washington will
be utterly destroyed owing to the
8l2 per cent limitation for personal
services.
=. Unemployables with large fami-
lies requiring more than $50 per
month for subsistence will be forced
down to semi-starvation levels"
Mr.. Katz blamed these predicted
conditions on the Appropriation Sub
committee of the House in charge OF
the District bill, and declared its
efforts ARE serving to demoralize
thousands of Washingtonians and
severely shake the relief system which
the present administration has insti-
tuted."
This devil-begotten appropriations
bill" he said. lis a challenge to every
member Of Congress
Urges Finish by June 1.
Mr.. Katz specifically urged that the
proposed investigation of relief needs
and the administration of relief funds
be completed before June l, and that
a provision be eliminated from the
conference report forbidding deflcien-
cies in the relief appropriation.
If the monthly limitation on the
100000 relief appropriation is lifted,
he declared, some of the damage tc
public relief in Washington will be
avoided.
If a fair study of Washington
relief needs is completed before Con-
gress adjourns, am convinced much
of the damage to the lives OF thou
sands of Washingtonians will be
avoided
A bitter fight is anticipated on the
House floor over the relief item as
well as the Senate plan authorizing
the installation of parking meters ir
the business section. There are Is
other items in dispute. all of which
require a separate vote, but Chairman
Collins of the House subcommittee on
appropriations expects them to be ap-
proved in rapid succession.
Some discussion is anticinated how.
ever, over provision in the conference
report to add 10 members to the
Metropolitan police force. The Senate
voted for so additional policemen, but
the House definitely blocked move
when it had the bill under considera-
ton to provide funds for 81 additional
officers.