Evening star., 1939-01-01
Street Defends
Democratic Type
Of Management

Informed of Burdette G. Lewi0'
charges of fraud and "chiselins
among relief clients, Elwood Stree,
director Of public welfare, said last
night he was not surprised" because
of the acute shortage of employees in
the agencies handling relief cases.
I'VE have repeatedly asked for
more personnel" he declared. Our
staff is twice overloaded"
/ Mr. Street also came to the de-
fense of the management" of the
Public Assistance Division, criticized
in the report for ineficiency.
Miss Alice Hill, director Of the
Public Assistance Division" he said,
was selected as being the best avail
able person in the country for the
work. In my opinion, she has done
a difficult job we'll"
Type of Executive Disputed.
As for Mr.. Lewis statement that
"the director of public welfare is not
a real chief administrative officer
and has been acting more as a CO.
ordlnator and as director of public
relations than as top executive"
Mr.. Street said:
There seems to be fundamental
difference between Mr.. Lewis and
me over the functions of an execu-
tive. 1 am of the democratic type.
I believe in democracy"
Frederick w. McReynolds, chair
man of the Board of Public We'll
fare, issued a prepared statement
prior to the publication of the re-
port, criticizing both Mr.. Lewis and
the Citizens Advisory Committee
which selected him to make the in
vestlgatlon, for not submitting the
document to the board in advance
OF its release to the press for exam
ination and correction or error in
respect to facts which might per-
haps inadvertently have crept into
it, especially as copies were made
available to other District officials"
September Statements Criticized.
The remainder of his statement
follows:
Such opportunity for inspection
and possible correction would have
been especially desirable in view Of
the further fact that on September
q and %, 1888, Mr. Lewis made
public statements which presumably
were part of his report. and which
were proved to be based on errone-
GUS statement of alleged facts.
THE prejudice and intemperance
shown by Mr.. Lewis in his state
ments at that time will not affect
the minded attitude of the
Board of Public Welfare toward the
report as now submitted.
Neither I nor any other member
Of the Board of Public Welfare, or.
SO far as I know, any emplaye of the
board, has seen the report or any
part of it. When it is received the
Board Of Public Welfare will be glad
to study it thoroughly. 1t cost $4,000
of the taxpayers money. 1t ought
TO be helpful. The board will give
careful consideration to all the sug-
gestions and criticisms contained in
the report. 1t will endeavor to apply
constructively any of it which may
be founded on actual fact, which
may be sound and applicable to local
conditions, and which may be pos
sible within the appropriations, the
laws and the governmental regula-
tions under which the Board of Pub
lie Welfare operates.
The Board of Public Welfare is
anxious to improve procedures and
to correct errors which may be
found in the operation of any of
the institutions and agencies for the
administration of which it is re-
sponsible. 1t is continually studying
the subject and is glad to have sug-
gestions at any time from any IN
formed citizen