Evening star., 1940-04-27
Fund Increase
|For.ReIief Asked
In D. {. Bill
Senators Hear of
Needs; Ickes Faces
Underposs Defeat
by J. A. O'LEARY.

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local relief problem were asked by
witnesses heard late yesterday by
the Senate subcommittee handling
the 1s41 District appropriation bill.
Meanwhile, as today's session be-
gan, there were reliable indications
the subcommittee is not disposed to
grant the request Of Secretary of
the Interior Ickes for an amend
ment under which plans for the
Scott Circle trafiic underpass would
have to be approved by him. Al
though the subcommittee will not
act on changes until next week,
sentiment in the subcommittee ap-
peared to favor leaving the plans
to the Commissioners, in consulta-
ton with the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and the
Fine Arts Commission.
Secretary 1ckeS had submitted the
proposed amendment, on the ground
that the underpass plans AFFECT q
park area and monuments under the
control of the National Park Service.
May Increase Shut-in Fund.
There also were clear indications
today that the Senate group will
transfer the function Of instructing
handicapped, shut-in children from
the Board Of Public Welfare to the
Board Of Education, with an appro-
priation of $22,4O0 instead Of the
$500 allowed by the House.
The campaign to get this project
In the school budget has been going
on for number Of years. School Of
f1cers many times have asked for 1t,
but have been denied. The agitation
by school ofncials and members OF
the community reached its height in
the fall Of 1898 and since w. p. A.
was supplementing and helping in
other school fields, it was suggested
something might be done by them in
the visiting teacher work. Ross
Haworth, then w. P. A. admins
traitor for the District, gave the prof.
ect its fullest support, along with
Mrs. Mary Steele, also OF w. P. A.
The emphasis was heightened on
the need for the project when it de-
veloped that some crippled children
were unable to receive transportation
to the Langdon School because
slashed funds curtailed bus routes.
w. P. A. finally approved the
project, but made it clear that the
matter was one for the school budget
and that w. P. A. was only doing
it because school officials had asked
for funds and failed to get them.
United Opposition.
At the end Of the first year there
were indications that the project
would not be renewed, but the sug-
gestion Of abandonment drew such
united opposition, especially from
the parents of children who had
been receiving the service, that the
President finally approved its ex-
tension through next June.
Need for a larger relief budget
was stressed by a delegation in
cluding Mrs. Olive w. Swinney of
the Washington Council of Social
Agencies; Rev. Lawrence J. She
han, director Of Catholic Charities:
George ]. Cleary of the st. Vim
cent de Paul Society; Dorsey w.
Hyde of the Family Welfare Com
mittee of the Council Of Social
Agencies; Dr. Leifur Magnusson,
Monday Evening Club. and Samuel
j. Sugar, Jewish Social Service
Agency.
Specifically, the subcommittee was
asked to provide additional funds
for unemployed employables to per-
NIT a more adequate percentage OF
the fund to be used for administra-
tion and supervision, and to tighten
the limitation on budgets Of relief
families.
Would Add $1,34s,ooo.
As it came from the House, the
bill carries 5000, 900 for relief the
same as for the current year. Wit
nesses heard yesterday indorsed
this estimate, but advised the sub
committee it would take 81 ,348, 900
additional to provide for unemployed
employables, and certain other re-
lief needs. It was estimated this
would provide for 5000 families at
$35 month.
Better provision for a variety of
public welfare activities also was
advocated by Mrs. David Cushman
Coyle, Mrs. Paul H. Appleby and
Mrs. Francis M. Walters. Mrs.
Appleby outlined child welfare needs.
Mrs. Walters discussed the requested
provision for two vocational guid-
ance officials for the school sys-
tenn, and the transfer of education
Of shut-in children to the school
board.
Ray H. Everett of the Social
Hygiene Society recommended ad-
ditional funds for dealing with the
venereal disease problem, and the
proposed establishment of a mental
hygiene bureau with a $4,000 ap-
preparation.
Library Branch Site Asked.
A. w. Lee of Randle Highlands
urged $4,000 be provided for a site
for an Anacostia branch library. He
also asked for additional police for
the 18th precinct, improved fire
protection and an increase in the
item for the Anacostia High School.
The Rev Harry v. Porter re-
quested additional dental facilities
for the Southwest Health Center, a
site for Northwest health center,
supported the proposed mente'
hygiene. bureau, and Endorsed the
scent milk plan as part Of the
relief program.
Mrs. B. G. McIlwee, chairman of
a committee on identification Of
school and library grounds, recon-
mended creation of q landscape
division for this purpose, together
with an increase in the appropria-
ton for school gardens.
Daylight Saving Clocks
Move Ahead Tomorrow