Evening star., 1939-01-05
Pine IS Informed
OF Scant Evidence
Of Relief Fraud
Cites Only One Cose
Where Prosecution
Was Brought

United States Attorney David A.
Pine said today he has been in
formed that Police Court authorities
have found scant evidence Of relief
"chiseling" among the cases that
have come to their attention.
A report submitted by Assistant
United States Attorney Karl Kim
dleberger disclosed that in only one
instance was evidence Of criminal
intent strong enough to bring con-
viction, and that in this case the
trial judge placed the defendant on
probation with the understanding
that the money allegedly illegally
taken be repaid, which was done.
Meanwhile, Burdette G.. Lewis, the
relief investigator, was taken to task
by the Maryland and District of
Columbia Industrial Union Council
for failing Ito open the way for
rational and lasting solution of the
Districts relief problem" Sidney
r. Katz, secretary treasurer Of the
council, charged in statement that
the investigator report advances
ingenious suggestions for purging
the relief rolls, but contains little
that can be taken seriously as
practical answer to the Districts
relief needs"
Cases Were Not Pressed.
Mr.. = Kindleberger's report said
that because the courts are disin-
clined to send elderly people and
widows with children to jail, cases in
this category were not pressed, as
the prosecutors were convinced that
there was no real intention of GRIM
inality and that the relief money
was taken more out Of ignorance of
the law than desire to "gyp" the
Government.
Eighteen groups of cases, involv-
ing % persons, were mentioned in
his report, but in only the one case
was prosecution recommended. In
some instances the authorities per-
mitted the parties to make restitu-
ton without prosecution. In some
cases the parties could not have
made restitution and we're con-
fused in mind, Mr.. Kindelberger
reported.
Another Slap at Street.
Special Relief Investigator Lewis
today took another slap at Welfare
Director Elwood Street as the ruckus
over Mr.. Lewis findings in his sur
vey continued.
The new exchange between Mr..
Lewis and Mr.. Street revolves
around statement the investigator
is said to have made regarding
political pull in relation to al
legged cases of "chiseling" by relief
recipients.
The welfare director yesterday
fatty denied he had any reason to
believe any political pressure had
been exerted on the relief staff to
force the granting of assistance
funds but readily agreed that nu-
merous applicants for relief had
been sent to relief officials for inter-
views.
Mr.. Lewis today further modified
his statement as to political pull
or as to the activities of pressure
groups by telling reporters that his
survey did disclose some instances
of political pull" in connection with
alleged irregularities.
In this connection he asserted
however. that such instances were
not as widespread as he had found
in other large cities such as Pitts
burgh, Detroit, st. Louis, Min
neapolis or Louisville.
In reference to Mr.. Streets state
ment that persons in politics had
sent relief applicants to District
officials. Mr.. Lewis said that Mr.
Street must be good authority on
political pull He added to this
that he had not found in the relief
records any mention of Senators or
Representatives.
Mr.. Katz's statement also attacked
the "piecemeal' manner in which
Mr.. Lewis report is being released
asserting that the only advantage
this method serves is to place at
a disadvantage those who are criti-
cizing the report and the proponents
OF an adequate relief system.
IF the report really had anything
to say it would not need all this
stage management" Mr.. Katz said,
'Chiseling' Held Overstressed.
"Mr. Lewis has been very out
spoken in his criticisms of the ad-
ministrative machinery of the public