Evening star., 1940-04-20
Bondy 10 Act
On Food Stamp
Authority
Commissioners Give
Approval for Request
ToF. S. G.

~ ,. ~. ~.
Authorized by the Commission.
ers to proceed with plans for q new
surplus commodities program for
the District, Welfare Director Rob-
ert E. Bondy today was preparing to
submit formal request to the Fed
eral Surplus Commodities Corp. to
approve q food stamp plan for the
District.
The program, which the Commis.
sioners approved yesterday, also
provides for Inauguration of long.
awaited 5-cents-per-quart relief
milk for the District July /,
or as soon thereafter as plans can
be completed.
Financial questions involved in
the program were left for Mr.. Bondy
and Auditor Daniel j. Donovan. In
submitting the program to the
Commissioners, Mr.. Bondy estimated
the relief milk and food stamp
plans would cost the District $751;
500 annually.
The program will not result in
any increase in the relief appropria-
ton, however, as the Commission.
ers, at Mr.. Bondy's suggestion, de.
cided to recommend that the word.
ing of the public assistance pro.
gram appropriation in the pending
194l supply bill be changed to in
crease the authorization from SIS, 900
to $35 900. Under this recommends
ton, the language of the bill would
be changed to provide that a sum
not exceeding $4,000 may be ex.
pended for the distribution of sur.
plus commodities, including bulk
commodities, the relief milk and
the food stamp program"
To Seek Revolving Fund.
The Commissioners also will seek
authorization to establish revolving
fund not exceeding $150,000 to ham
ole the purchase of stamps from
the F. S. c. c.
MIR. Bondy estimated the cost to
the District of operating the relief
milk plan would be $1,000. This is
lower than the amount originally
estimated, the welfare director said.
explaining that through arrange.
ments with the Agriculture Depart.
ment and the Work Projects Ad-
mlnlstration, it was possible to make
changes that will reduce the cost
to the District.
District w. P. A. Administrator
Paul Edwards has indicated ap-
proval of a work project for handling
the milk at the relief milk stations,
Mr.. Bondy said, adding that this
would save the District approx.
mately $21 800 a year. In addition,
the distributor who enters into con.
tract with the Agriculture Depart.
ment to bottle, process and distri.
butte the milk also will sell the mflh
and handle the cash at the stations,
thereby saving the District the cost
OF additional personnel.
Food Stamp Cost S16,5O0.
The cost of operating the food
stamp program was estimated at
$l6,5OO. In addition to the cost of
the two programs, it is estimated
$5,140 would be needed for ad.
ministration and $4.980 for the con-
tlnuing cost Of the institutional
surplus commodity program. Under
the program, bulk surplus COM
modities would continue to be dis.
trfbuted to institutions and to the
school lunch program.
Under the food stamp plan, the
welfare Department would purchase
a quantity of orange-colored stamps
from the Surplus Commodities
Corp, and receive without charge
a quantity of blue stamps equal to
one-half the value of the orange
stamps.
Eligible persons would be able
10 purchase the orange stamps at
the rate of 81 per week per in.
dividual. At the same time, they
would receive stamps to one-half the
value OF the orange stamps. With
the orange stamps, they could pur-
chase commodities at local retail
stores at regular retail prices, and
with the blue stamps, they could
purchase those commodities listed as
surplus by the F.. S. c. C.
The retailers then would be REIN.
bursed by clearing the orange
stamps they receive through local
banks to the Treasury. -.
Mr. Bondy estimated $4,000 ner.
sons IN Washington would be eli.
gible to receive the benefits of the
plan: This includes II 800 now on
w. P. A. work assignments, ap-
proximately $500 persons and fam
lies receiving public assistance ana
4,O0 w. P. A. eligibles, who are
awaiting work assignments,
The welfare director also esti-
mated that out of a potential total
OF 14,500 eligibles, about 5000 will,
take advantage of the relief milk
program.
He said tentative ARRANGEMENTS
have been completed with the Po-
lice Department, the Board of Edu-
cation, the Self-Held Exchange. the
central kitchen Of the school lunch
program and Offices Of the Public
Assistance Division for 10 relief milk
stations that would be rent-free and
nave heat and light furnished. !
Quantity Limited.
The quantity of milk permitted
under the Agriculture Departments
policy is an average of one pint per
day for every person in the familx
under II years of age and for every
expectant or nursing mother, and
one-half pint per day for all other
ellg1bles, except clients dietary
needs call for additional quantities.
In cities which have food stamn