Evening star., 1939-12-12
D. {. Relief Problem
Blamed on System
OF Government
Cumbersome Budget
Methods Are Hit
By Roberts

approval for the District, along with
the lack of either executive or legis-
lative agencies responsible to the
people of this city, were blamed yes
terday by William A. Roberts, former
peoples counsel for the District, for
unsatisfactory welfare and relief
work here, in an address before the
washington League of Women Shop
pers.
The league, which met in the Y.
w. c. A. Building, Seventeenth and
K streets NV, adopted resolution
urging the District Commissioners to
undertake a program to increase
the consumption of milk among
low-income families and to take the
necessary steps as soon as practicable
to put this program in operation"
The resolution, introduced by the
leagues Living Standards Commi-
tee, declared milk consumption in
this city is ''far below the minimum
health requirements and below the
national average" adding, "the price
of this vital food in the District
ranks among the highest in the
country" The resolution further
declared:
"Other cities, notably Boston and
Chicago, have devised plans whereby
1t has been made possible for fami-
lies of low income to increase their
consumption of milk, as well as en-
10 a,1iI III ,rlyot Gov l,n
farmer.
Prepared for Program.
THE dairy section of the division
of marketing and marketing agree
mentS of the A. A. A. of the United
States Department of Agriculture is
prepared to subsidize a relief milk
program and to participate in the
setting up OF such program, pro-
vided that the local government
agrees to operate distributing sta
tions for such relief milk and re-
quests the cooperation of the A. A.
A., therefore," the resolution con-
tinued.
Copies of the resolution were or
dered sent to the District Commits
sioners, Mrs Franklin D. Roosevelt,
the Consumers Milk Committee of
the District, the consumers counsel
of the Agriculture Department and
to the local newspapers.
Indignation was expressed from
the floor by members over a state
ment yesterday by DR.. J. B. Mat
thews, research director of the
House Committee on Un-American
Activities, to the effect that con-
sumer groups are being used by the
Communist party to spread propa-
ganda.
Mrs. Nina P. Collier national leg
islative chairman of the League of
Women Shoppers, charged the
statement had been made without
the committee having heard any
testimony from consumer groups
and that it was unfounded. She was
supported in this argument by Miss
Shoshaner CARRIER, member of the
league. The matter was dropped
by the local league, however, after
Mrs. Collier said a statement pre-
pared by the National League of
Women Shoppers would cover the
matter.
Unusual Relief Problem.
Mr.. Roberts, who spoke on the
subject of welfare and Relief in
the District" charged that, due to
the geographical location and pecul-
lar political situation, Washing
ton has an unusual welfare and re-
lief problem, with many persons
coming here who later need relief.
He advocated department of
public welfare. built along skeleton
lines to permit expansion or con-
traction in the scope of its activities
in accordance with needs.
Throughout the country" Mr..
Roberts declared, there are
agencies trying to find relief clients
for the District" In developing
this thought, he asserted, many
persons who are inefficient are sent
here to jobs, many obtained for
them by congressman. These per-
sons, he indicated, eventually lose
the jobs they have secured and be-
come public charges.
Long an advocate of suffrage for
District residents, Mr.. Roberts de-
plored the ''impotency" of the pres
ent government here. He further
developed the thought that fire.
quently, even when the Commission
ers want to remedy situation here,
they are unable to do so.
OF the budget-approval methods,
he said any one, including IA
natlc," can prune budget estimates.
Mr.. Roberts said Congress some
times tries to legislate for the Dis
trict what would be good for some
other city, but which does not meet
the particular needs of the District
which has its own peculiar prob
lens.
He advocated a system of relief
which not only would take care of
present relief needs, but would work
along lines to make additional re-
lief unnecessary.
Mr.. Roberts predicted an addi-
tional relief problem here for sew
eral years to come, due to probable
decreased appropriations, asserting
that the Federal Government will
have tendency to try to balance
the national budget. This situation.
he predicted, will be hardship on
the District, despite business recov-
cry elsewhere
The meeting was called to order
by Mrs. Lucille F. Ezekiel, president
of the local league. Mr.. Roberts
was introduced by Mrs. David Cush-
man Coyle.