Evening star., 1940-07-25
Welfare Board
To Start Draft
Of Estimates
Closes 2-Doy Session
In Which Public Gives
Views on Needs
BY DON S. WARREN.

VI VIC Dual VI
Welfare are scheduled to meet to-
morrow to begin drafting its esti-
mates for the next fiscal year aft
er hearing demands from a wide
range of organizations for increased
funds for relief and otherwise for
strengthening the boards program
at the two days of public hearings,
concluded yesterday afternoon.
Special emphasis was placed yes
terday by several speakers on the
need for an appropriation of $780,
900 for establishment of food
stamp plan for Washington's needy,
provision of relief funds for the
unemployed employables and for
increased aid for dependent children.
Spokesman for the Workers AL
lance, Monday Evening Club, Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations,
League of Women Voters, the Wash
ington Council of the National Negro
Congress, the Council of Social
Agencies and the Jewish Social
Service Agency urged increased
funds for one or more categories OF
service.
Matching Funds Urged.
Morris Klass, director of the
Jewish Social Service Agency, who
spoke for the Family Welfare Com
mittee of the Council of Social
Agencies, urged that efforts be made
by the board to gain Federal grants
on a matching money basis for
general public assistance. '"The Fed
eral Government and the people
of the Nation" he said. have
recognized the responsibility of as
suring aid to certain types of peo-
pie through the social security pro-
gram. Similarly, appropriations for
general public relief also should
be matched by the Federal Gov
ernment."
AS first step, he declared, addi-
tional funds are required for needy
employable but unemployed per-
sons which the present appropria-
tions make impossible. Washington
Is one of two remaining cities with
. population of more than 100000
In which employables are not con-
sidered for relief, he added.
Mr.. Klass urged an additional ap-
preparation of 81 ,348,0O0 for needy
unemployed employable persons and
for more adequate grants in keep
Ing with minimum standards of de-
cency to those families not on relief.
The sum included an estimated ST.
260 1000 for 5000 families having en-
playable persons in them, figuring
the relief at $35 q month per case
for IL months.
Need Difficult to Determine.
Until there Is an adequate case
work staff, he continued, it will be
impossible to determine exactly
what is the relief need, but judging
from persons who have been found
eligible for aid by the w. P. A., but
who are not now receiving work
relief, there are more than 1900
whose needs have been definitely
established.
He also protested against the ar
bitrary ceilings or maximum pay
ments which Congress has estab-
nshed for various relief categories.
But minor savings were made in
the cases of the blind, aged and
other categories, except for the
group under aid-to-d dependent chill
dren, where the limits caused a
reduction of nearly $6 month. He
declared these families were least
able to meet the reduced grants.
Harry S. Wender, speaking for the
Federation of Citizens Associations
and the Southwest Citizens Asso-
citation, while urging funds for the
food stamp plan, declared he could
not understand the "short-sighted-
ness" of Congress in failing to pro-
vide funds for the program.
Favors Farm for Alcoholics.
Mr.. Wender also urged establish
ment of farm for alcoholics, de-
claring the only reason why this
had not been done apparently was
because persons favoring the plan
lacked the religious fervor" neces-
sary to get 1t done.
The cost Of operating such an in
stitution on District property, he
said, probably would be cheaper in
the long run than the present sys-
TEN. DR.. Henry j. Crosson, men,
ber of the Welfare Board, said he
did not believe the alcoholic could
be cured by physical treatment
alone.
Mrs. Marion Wade Doyle, presi-
dent of the Board of Education, sent
q letter to the board in the interest
Of funds for care of shut-in handi-
capped children not placed under
the welfare Board for education.
Mrs. Doyle said school authorities
had tried to get funds for teachers
for these shut-ins, but that this had
not been granted as part Of the
school program.
Sidney r. Katz of the Washing
ton Industrial Union Council, de-
clAring that the present direct re-
lief appropriation was wholly in
adequate" said 1t was incumbent
On the welfare Board to seek an
immediate supplemental appropria-
tion. Il don't see how this prob
lam can be avoided or denied" he
said. Until we grapple with the
present problem we are unable to
talk intelligently about the next
1iscal year." He also urged funds
Tor the food stamp plan.
Secs Family Disintegration.
~ 1Trs. David Cushman Coyle, speak
lng for tho League of Women Voters,
aid some things her group had
worried about in the past are tax
tns place-the disintegration of
faznilies who cannot be given ade-
nuate relief. ut will cost more to
rehaAdlitate them later-if that can
- d0nethan to give them ade-
mate help now" she said. The
ieaeue, slae said, is ready to support
4 rodnests for increased funds, espe-
I sisilg fcr the needy employable
4 cna1s aaae also urged funds for the
S6od stamp plan.
e sxasaSk nf the Not;.-ny