Evening star., 1939-12-06
Plight Of All Cities
Declared Reflected
In Cleveland Crisis
Legislatures Failure
To Appreciate Needs
Held Major Factor


CLEVELAND, Dec. 6 CN.AN.Ao.-
Not many American cities have ex-
perienced the terrible welfare relief
conditions under which Cleveland is
now laboring, with approximately
10000 persons dropped from the
welfare rolls and about $4,000 more
previous welfare rations, but Cleve-
lands basic position does not differ
greatly from that of other big
American cities.
The outsider is not competent to
Judge the validity of many of the
charges of waste, incompetency and
callousness to human suffering that
are being hurled back and fourth
now between officials of Ohio cities
and Gov. John W. Bricker in the
State House at Columbus. But any
newcomer with even smattering of
knowledge Of modern American
government would quickly recognize
that the Ohio condition is pretty
typical of conditions the country
over.
The primary cause of the Ohio
trouble seems to be the domination
of the industrial cities of the State
by Legislature controlled by farm
ers and small town dWellers. Those
elements. of course, have their good
points, but among those points
commonly are not understanding of
the problems of government in a big
industrial city, or the difficulties Of
a factory worker dependent for his
entire existence on an uncertain
pay check
Far Below 50-5G Ratio.
Consequently, the Ohio Legisla-
ture in its last session, the same as
many other legislatures the country
over, whacked relief appropriations
far below the estimates supplied by
local and State welfare officials. 1t
voted $50 100000 for the tWo-year
period as against the $4,000 900 re-
quested. This money was to be
matched $3.50 against local money.
But, because of the inadequacy of
the State appropriation, the State
has never been able to match local
funds. The most it has supplied
has been As per cent Of local eX-
penditures, and some months pay
ments have fallen as low as 80 per
cent. The average has been 81 per
cent.
Cleveland officials say, for eX-
ample, that, if the State had paid
half of Cleveland's relief bills the
city would not now be in its grievous
position.
Another factor in the Ohio situa-
ton which is common in many
States is that the Legislature at Co.
lunbus imposed an upper limit on
the amounts local governments may
raise for local purposes virtually re-
strlcted local governments to taxa
ton on real estate, and, at the same
time, insisted that local government
carry an even larger share of gov
ernmental expenses.
Cleveland, Toledo and other Ohio
units must keep their expenditures
within 10-mill limitation It used
to be a 15-mill limitation, but in
1884 the rural elements, combined
with real estate men. persuaded the
Legislature to drop the ceiling one
third. At the same time, sales tax
was adopted. The theory was that
the proceeds from the sales tax
would be distributed to local gov
ernments to make up the loss in real
estate tax revenues. But it hasn't
worked out that way. The Legisla-
ture. under pressure of its own prob
lens. has tended to divert sales tax
money to State purposes,
The Ohio cities, under the 15-mill
limitation. apparently got along
fairly well. But, when their rev.
enues were cut and depression in
creased welfare expenses they began
to go in the hole. And then began
the dreary round of borrowings,
pleadings of delinquent taxes, diver
sion Of funds and other financial
stratagems employed by most Ameri-
can local governments to try to get
along.
The main hope in Cleveland to
enable the city to maintain even
present restricted welfare relief is
that the city can sell an issue of
s1,lO0000 in bonds, pledged against
uncollected delinquent taxes, to the
State teachers retirement fund. The
State seems disposed to make the
purchase, although Cleveland bond
attorneys are not sure the sale would
be legal.
65 Per Cent MajOrities Necessary.
The Ohio Legislature permits local
governments to raise additional
amounts for local uses, if authorized
by the voters. But 65 per cent of
the voters must approve, and tha. is
a big majority to get these days for
q move to raise taxes. Cleveland got
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