Evening star., 1939-02-22
Lewis Report
Protests Relief
Differentia|s
Injustice Believed
Worked on Munv
Deserving Families
By DON s. WARREN.

ny DOTN w ANNLl\s
Protests over wide differentials
between the amounts of relief given
to the needy in various classifica-
tions are contained in another Sec
ton of the report of Relief Inves-
tigator Burdette G. Lewis, which
was released today.
Miss Margaret C. Miller, one of
Mr.. Lewis staff, who prepared this
section of the report, voiced fears
that the differentials worked an in
justice on many families She found
that persons given general relief
were extended aid only on an
emergency basis, whereas those old
age, blind, dependent children and
home care cases received more.
officials of the Board of Public
Welfare revealed recently that the
board had ordered. last month, that
all classes of cases be given 'ade-
quate diet at minimum COST" This
means more food allowance for
those on general relief who formerly
allowed food budgets described as
restricted diet for emergency
USE
Welfare officials said board Off
cials had started study of this
subject before reference had been
made to it in section of the Lewis
report. recently released.
80 Per Cent of Standard.
"A review Of the relation of the
Amount of relief given in public
assistance in 1897 to the amount re-
quired to maintain a standard of
health and decency of living" Miss
Miller said, showed that relief re-
cipients were living on income pro-
viding 38 per cent of the health and
decency standard.
What will happen if families
must exist many more years in this
manner? The answer is evident,
that the State and Federal govern
ments are to have an evermounting
burden of people who are physically
unfit or have lost all incentive or
possibility of rehabilitation
Miss Miller began her report with
. declaration of belief that most
persons want those who need" re-
lief and deserve it, to get assist
ance. This is true I believe, of
even the most hard-boiled taxpay-
er." However, it is generally con-
ceded, she added, that assistance
never was given on the basis of
''entire needs"
The investigator presented a num-
ber of tables taken from the manual
OF the Public Assistance Division,
showing how needs of various classes
Of cases are budgeted. explaining
that the same applicant may re-
ceive different amounts at different
times, due to classification.
Classifications Explained.
In explanation she said:
AN old-age applicant may apply
for old-age assistance, but because
he is unable to establish his age,
or citizenship. or residence, if he is
Immediately in need of assistance
he will be given general relief until
such time as he can satisfy the
points of eligibility required for old
age assistance.
THE amount that he will receive
under general relief will probably
be approximately $22 80, whereas he
may. when he qualities for old-age
assistance, receive as much as $34
or more. He is the same person and
has the same needs.
Similarly family of four whose
needs are determined today may
receive under general relief only the
two items in cash, for rent and food,
amounting to $40 plus surplus COM
modities and w. P. A. clothing
Cmade by w. P. A. workers.. Where
as tomorrow they may be able to
satisfy the requirements of the
points of eligibility and receive as
sistance under aid to dependent
children or home care and receive
a total of six cash items as shown
in the budget for that category.
However, with the appropriation act
making maximum grant of SIS
to any one family receiving home
care. and maximum of $50 to any
other family, this family would have
to be assisted out of home-care funds
rather than aid-to-dependent chill
dren funds.
Injustice Indicated.
I'm one way this means that for
the period of determining eligibil-
ity, emergency assistance is given
at less adequate level than it is
after eligibility is established and
longtime responsibility is assumed
for these people If all were found
eligible to be placed on budget
providing need when cared for over
long period of time, this plan
might be workable and fair, but
since many remain for long period
OF time under general relief, and
are never able to become eligible for
more adequate long-t time care, 1t
seems to work an injustice.
Some may feel the way out is to
establish other categories: others
plan to provide more adequately for
those under care for more than
Six-mOnth period since the mead for