Evening star., 1939-08-03
Bondy Assumes
ID. {. Relief Job
Next Month
New Director of
Welfare Boord Sees
Work as Significant

0~0so SSSS
Work as Significant
Robert E. Bondy, veteran of MANY
. sudden emergency in national
relief work through his 20 years
service with the American Red
Cross, will tackle the Districts
tangled welfare and relief problems
early next month as the new di-
rector of the Board of Public Wei.
fare.
The order for his appointment is
expected to be issued tomorrow by
the Commissioners, carrying out the
unanimous recommendation SUBJ
mltted earlier in the week by the
welfare board and accepted late
yesterday by Mr. Bondy.
Mr.. Bondy plans to take office
September l, if possible, but at any
rate not later than September IS.
Meanwhile, he is to advise with
the board on the selection of two
new subordinate officials.
One OF these is a superintendent
OF the District Reformatory at Lor-
ton, Va, to succeed COL William
l.. Peak, who was killed recentlv
In an automobile accident, and the
other an assistant director of pub
ilc assistance, to take the place left
oy the resignation, several months
ago, OF Miss May o. Hankins.
Pays $4,000 a Year.
The ca larv for H.,
has been $4,000. Mr.. Bondy asked
II the salary could be increased to
$1,000, but the Commissioners found
FUNDS not available this fiscal year.
lhey agreed to seek the $500 in.
crease in their budget requests for
the next fiscal year.
A resident of Bethesda, Md. Mr..
Bondy was adopted" by the Com
mlssloners as Washington resident.
IN view OF their request to the We'll
1afe Board to propose a District
man, after sending back the NOM
nation Of a Connecticut welfare
official
Mr.. Bondy, who is 43. deferred
discussion of plans for the many
and varied welfare activities until
he has had time to get personal
knowledge of the details of the
present scheme.
Sees Significant" Program.
AS to the general situation, how
ever. he said he regarded the Dis
trlcts program as especially sig
ni1cant," since appropriations for
the Washington program are ap-
proved by Congress. which also pro-
vldes for the national social security
programs
Mr.. Bondy told reporters he re-
garded the Welfare Boards work
as big part" of the activities of
the District government. But he
faced the job with assurance, re-
gardless Of past disturbances over
rehef and the once-embattled Ma
tlonal Training School for Girls.
although he didn't mention these
items.
With assurances of the support
and cooperation by the Commits
sioners and the Board of Public We'll
fare, 1 believe We are going to have
a happy and smooth-running sit.
uation," he said.
The Government has gone into
the business of social welfare and
In my opinion Government is in
social welfare to stay. ANY activity
that so directly touches the lives of
the people is bound to have TIE
interest and support of the whole
people, regardless of what party,
creed or race is affected.
The District welfare program is
particularly challenging, since this
IS the National Capital" he said.
A statement on Mr.. Bondy from
the Red Cross stated he had earned
recognition as an international au-
thorlty on emergency relief and
rehabilitation following disasters.
and is responsible for evacuation
plans and other preventive meas
ures which have saved lives and
minimized property damage"
Joined Red Cross in 1919,
A native of Minnesota and a grad
uate of the University of Chicago.
Mr.. Bondy joined the Red Cross in
1919 after his honorable discharge
from the United States Army, in
which he served as a private in the
closing months of the war He was
appointed national director of war
service for the organization in 1922
and for four years was manager of
the Eastern area, the States east of
the Mississippi River, being made
national director of disaster relief
service in November, 1881.
He directed relief operations dur.
ing the spring floods of 1885, which
affected areas in IL Eastern States.
was associate general director of the
Ohlo-Mississippi flood operation in
1887 and director of relief following
the devastating hurricane which
struck New York and New England
States in 1888 He was in charge
OF reconstruction work following the
1927 Mississippi Valley flood, and
engaged in drought relief work in