Evening star., 1938-05-04
DATA PROMISED
ON RELIEF NEEDS
Conflicting Views on D. C.
Situation to Be Given
Survey Director.

Conflicting data on the relief needs
Of the District will be filed with Bur-
dette G.. Lewis, director of the WASH
ington relief survey, by various civic
and welfare groups which have been
in the battle over the adequacy of next
years 100000 relief appropriation.
Spokesman for numerous public
and private relief agencies, business
and civic organizations, meeting yes
terday in round-table discussion of
the problem with Mr.. Lewis, prom
ised to cooperate in making avail
able any pertinent data they may
have.
Among these were Rufus S. Lusk,
president of the Washington Tax
PAYERS Association, which has been
opposed to any increase in the relief
funds the Board Of Trade, which has
objected to any increase in next years
total appropriations over the sums
provided for the current fiscal year
and number of groups which have
insisted that real suffering will re-
suit unless the District relief fund for
next year is boosted.
Encouraged by Pledges.
Mr.. Lewis. however. was encouraged
by the repeated pledges of co-opera-
ton that came from many widely
different groups. He is directed to
complete his comprehensive appraisal
Of District relief funds and admins
tration by August /.
A high light of the conference was
the repeated statement of belief in the
ability of Mr.. Lewis and his advisory
board to make an impartial and con-
vincing survey. Mr.. Lusk, the first
one called on for a statement, said:
"As you all know, my association has
been opposed to any increase in re-
lief appropriations. However, I be-
leve Mr.. Lewis will make an impair
tial and able investigation and If
he finds he should recommend any
increase in the relief appropriation
for next year you may even find the
Taxpayers Association in favor of
his recommendation.
A dark picture of relief needs of the
District from some of the other or
ganization spokesmen. George j.
Cleary. leader of the Citizens
Committee on Relief, which cam
paigned for a great increase over the
100000 sum approved for next year,
said demands on private agencies for
aid had been doubled and tripled"
since reductions had been made in
District relief funds.
William H. Sabin of the Family
Service Association said private agen-
cies could not now give aid to more
than one-fourth of the applicants
and that "one of the most devastating
phases of the situation is the de-
terioration Of families which have not
yet become chronic dependents on
public relief"
Claims Mistaken Assumption.
Dr. Frederic w. Perkins, a member
OF the Board of Public Welfare, told
Mr.. Lewis the District relief fund for
the next fiscal year had been reduced
by roughly 100000 on the mistaken
assumption that the necessary in
crease in old-age assistance grants was
caused by transfer of cases from the
relief rolls to old-age assistance. The
facts are. he said that not more than
so per cent of the old-age cases had
previously been on the relief list
Mrs. w. A. Roberts of the Council
of Social Agencies urged the-need Of
a larger appropriation for relief ad-
ministration, insisting that some case
workers now are supposed to check
the needs of as many as 270 families.
ANY one versed on welfare admins
tration must know that such a num-
Der is too large for efficiency admin
tstration." she said
A similar sentiment was voiced by
Maj. Campbell johnson, colored mem
Der of several relief associations.
At the outset Mr.. Lewis said he en-
tered upon the survey with no fixed
ideas, except as to the effects of the
social and economic revolution"
which has been going on since 1900.