Evening star., 1939-12-09
Roosevelt Cites
Joint Responsibility
In Welfare Programs
Letter to Association
Sees Stute-FederuI
Action; McNutt Speoks

The necessity for Federal and
State governments sharing of re-
sponsibility in welfare phases of the
social security program was brought
out last night by President Roosevelt
In letter to the American Welfare
Association, and by Paul v. McNutt,
Federal security administrator, who
spoke at the meeting.
Writing to Charles F. Ernst, presi-
dent of the association, President
Roosevelt referred to benefits derived
from recent amendments to the
Social Security Act, and said:
1.-THE Federal Congress has made
more adequate provision for chill
dren and for the aged. The States
share in this responsibility to pro-
vide greater social and economic
security for the people of the coun-
try"
Mr.. McNutt said he had not
changed his views of three years ago
when he said he liked the idea of
Federal-State-county responsibility"
for the success of welfare phases of
our national social security program.
" liked the idea of a three-way
split of the COSTS" he said, because
a governmental unit that knows
something of the cost is more apt to
make more out of services per-
formed"
Harrington Speaks.
Mr.. McNutt spoke before more
than 600 persons at the dinner meet
ing at the Wardman Park Hotel of
the American Welfare Associations
fourth annual round table confer
ence. Speakers included Gov.
Clarence D. Martin of the State of
Washington, Col F.. c. Harrington,
w. P. A. commissioner; Surgeon
General Thomas Parran of the Pub
lie Health Service; Miss Katharine
Lenroot, chief of the United States
Children's Bureau, and Arthur j.
Altmeyer, chairman of the Social
Security Board.
Services of education and public
health and provisions for child well
fare and old-age are safeguards Of
Iberty-America's internal defenses
Mr.. McNutt declared.
These services promote the gen.
eral welfare" he asserted, land give
to us all some assurance of the
fundamental security that is the
beginning of liberty"
"The first duty of government"
Mr.. McNutt said, "is to open new
doors of opportunity and to see to it
that at no time shall any large num-
ber Of Americans be trapped in un-
bearable circumstances with no hope
Of escape.
Designed for Permanence.
Social security programs were not
built for emergency, but are designed
as permanent improvements in our
social structure"
Specific advances in provisions of
health service for the people are one
indication of what can be done under
such program, he said.
But" he added, "the advances
seem meager compared to what can
be done with a more widespread
application of the health knowledge
and skills available today. A mod
ern program for health security calls
for more generous extension Of the
benefits of preventive medicine to all
the people, and Of medical and hos.
pital care for those who need these
services.
I'm order to bring into being an
effective health and medical care
program, the joint approach of the
official agencies must be accom-
panied by the full cooperation of the
professional bodies and official
agencies which must share the re-
sponsibilities for its operation"
Pioneering by State Cited.
Gov. Martin said the first old-age
assistance program was begun in the
State Of Washington, and state off,
cials since have co-operated with the
Federal agencies in carrying out a
wide program.
IF we are to have a program of
assistance, however" he said, "the
home must make its contribution"
Col. Harrington urged the centraI-
xation in communities or areas of
certification machinery for public
assistance. One agency or one or
ganization in an area should be
established, he said, to determine
where a man should go for aid. AS
1t is, he declared, a man now only
knows he needs help. He doesn't
know to which agency he should
turn for assistance, and frequently
he goes from one to another before
he hits the right one.
DR.. Parran said one of the major
tasks faced in a social security pro-
gram is to prove that it is possible
to provide a medical service of real
quality.
Much of the objection against
the intrusion of the Government
into medicine has been because of
the poor quality of medical service
provided in some instances" he
said. "The county doctor to the
poor has been the county poor
doctor"
Would Provide Opportunity.
"Our task" he added, sis to pro-
vide the opportunity for health with
healthful housing, proper nutrition,
health education and recreation"
The text of President Roosevelt's
letter to Mr.. Ernst follows:
Last year I had the opportunity
personally to meet with many of
you at the White House. This year
I desire to send my greetings to you
and your associates meeting in the
Fourth Annual Round Table Con-
ference of the American Public We'll
fare Association.
"One of the problems which will
concern you more than others dur
ing the next year is the establish
ment of personnel standards. Like
you in the local communities and in