Evening star., 1939-03-12

lief rolls, but because of the adoption
of costly forms of Work-relief and the
almost complete abandonment of Coop
erative relief in which the total cost was
shared by the Federal, State and local
governments. and despite the fact that
all indexes of business show rise dur
ing most of the deficit period, relief
costs mounted from $330,0O0,O 900 in the
fiscal year 1888 to $500 100000 in the
1887 fiscal year.
In the fiscal years 1884 and 1885, when
relief costs were 1874 and 2,342 millions,
respectively, the league found that the
rise in costs was due to expenses of c.
| w. A., c. c. c. camps, rural relief and
new experiments in work relief, includ-
ing the Inauguration of w. P. A. late
in 1885. Federal relief costs, it was
! found. did not result in reducing the
relief burden of State and local govern
ments and did not decline with in
creased outlays for social security. In
this connection the report said:
There is total lack of uniformity
in standards in the various forms Of
1CliS1. 1Ol Chdl1lp1Cy ~ IoStS 34OO d
month to keep boy in C. c. c..
camp. SOS for man on w. P. A., while
the general average monthly allowance
for home relief, which is borne entirely
by State and local governments, exclu-
slve of administration is only $23. These
figures reveal not only the excessive
costs of c. c. c. camps and w. P. A.,
hut c,n yJyiSn Il o,.SSx L4{~,
payments by the Federal Government
and those by State and local govern
ments. Variations in standards also re-
suit in unfair determinations A fam
lily on general relief gets on the average
S23 month. (This does not cover the
average family budget but only the aver
age family deflcit.) In the same COM
munity another family may have a
member earning $50 month on W. P.
A. and boy in a c. c. C. camp get
ting an allowance of $50 month, while
his clothing, shelter and food cost about
$40 month. These amounts, plus $50
month for administration and other
costs, bring the total to S1OO a month
for each boy"
Recoverable Assets.
The report drew similar picture for
public works, showing that we are now
spending ST $50 900 900 annually for ma
jor public projects compared with an
annual outlay of about 5000, 900 900 in
the nine pre-deficit years.
After citing increased Federal costs
under social security and farm pay
ments, the report then took cognizance
OF recoverable assets and other offsets
against the total debt, but concluded
they are not of sufficient importance to
modify the urgent need for immediate
economy.
The league first outlined its proposed
"balanced budget'-its ultimate goal
but, recognizing the practical impossi-
blllty OF putting the necessary econo-
mics into effect Immediately also recon-
mended "def1cit-reducing budget" for
the fiscal year beginning July /.
Under the balanced budget" which
calls for total expenditures of s6,364,-
0OO,OO0, the country would be returned
to a cooperative form of relief in
which the responsibility for administra-
ton would be left to States and local
authorities, assisted by grants-in-aid
from the Federal Government. This
type OF relief was in effect until inaueu-
ration OF w. p A. in 1885, and is now
IN eHect for certain types of relief, as
slstance to the INDECENT aged, for the
ollnd and for mothers with dependent
chlloren. In urging this step, the report
contends w. P. A. has been continued
1or reasons only remotely related to re-
lief, such as placing a floor under
wages and for mp-priming pur-
poses.
Relief for 3,5OO,OOO Families.
The balanced budget" program con-
templates providing humane and eff
Gent relief for 100000 families, the
Federal share being placed at so per
cent and the State and local share at
40 per cent. The estimates of cost are
based on those prevailing in 1885, when
the average cost for family was $28 a
month. This figure, the report empha-
sized does not cover the total family
budget, but only the average deficit In
the family budget after all available in
come has been applied to family ex-
penses. On this basis the total cost of
caring for 3,5O0,OOO cases would be ST.
172 100000, of which the Federal share
would be s7O3 100000, about one-third
the cost of W. p A. and related programs
in the current year. The report also as
serted actual costs to the States would
not be increased.
1t was stated these estimates of costs
apply only to families on general relief,
other needs being met under social Sc
curity, State unemployment insurance
and through the G. c. c. camps. 1t Is
proposed also that the monthly cash al
lowance for c. c. c. boys be lowered to