Evening star., 1940-02-01
Institutions
Continued From First Page)

appropriations which have not been
approved by the Budget Bureau.
However, both Commissioner
George E. Allen, who has supervised
welfare operations, and Commis-
sioner Melvin c. Hazen, chairman
of the board, said they would ask
the District subcommittee of the
House and Senate Appropriations
Committees to consider the adequacy
Of the 1941 budget. They indicated
this would be done when they are
called to justify the estimates.
Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt.
The letter Representative D'Ales-
andre wrote Mrs. Roosevelt follows:
LAS q member of the District of
Columbia Committee of the House
OF Representatives, I have been
keenly interested in your recent
visits to the institutions of the city.
/ was particularly amazed at the
horrible conditions that you dis
covered at the Home for the Aged
and Infirm at Blue Plains.
"It caused me such concern that
I believed it my duty to introduce
a resolution in the House of Rep
resentatives calling for a congress
sional investigation OF the existing
conditions.
Shortly thereafter I was ap-
pointed chairman of the public
health subcommittee of the District
of Columbia Committee for the in
vestigation. Coincident with my ap-
pointment I learned that you visited
other District institutions and found
that situations existed that should
be rectified.
Asked to Testify.
''In order that I may proceed in
this Investigation in the most order
ly and eficient manner, am asking
that you will do the subcommittee
the great honor of appearing as the
first witness.
II believe that in the interest of
selecting time that might be agree
able to you and not interfere with
your daily tasks, Saturday evening
would be convenient time.
MY interest in having you appear
as the first witness is simply that
since your visits brought the matter
to the attention of Congress, be-
neve that your suggestions for bet
tering conditions at these institu-
tions would be of great value to the
subcommittee and in turn to Con-
gress, in their consideration of any
remedy that might be suggested.
Therefore, in view Of these cir
cumstances, await your pleasure
in calling the subcommittee for
your appearance"
Money for Building Deleted.
Both Commissioners said they had
been in full accord with the recon-
mendations of welfare consultants
and a welfare advisory group that
the receiving home was make
shift and that new building, espe-
cially planned for the service. was
needed. They said the request for
the money had been stricken by
them from the welfare estimates,
over a period of several years, be-
cause Of the Districts financial sit
uation.
Mr.. Allen said:
I'VE are gratified that Mrs. Roose-
welt has turned the spotlight on this
problem. I believe we Commission
ers deserve to be censured for our
failure to take positive action to
provide a new home and otherwise
to modernize the Districts child care
program. We have had two very
excellent survey reports on this sub
ject. We struck out the requests in
an effort to hold down the budget
so as to avoid any further increase
In taxes. Perhaps 1t was not the
best judgment to do so. There is no
question of the need-it Is only
question Of money"
Overton Gratified.
Meanwhile, Chairman Overton Of
the Senate Subcommittee on District
Appropriations expressed gratiflca-
ton over the interest shown by Mrs.
Roosevelt in District institutions.
The Louisiana Senator, who was
placed in charge of District ap-
propriations for the Senate last year,
expressed the hope Mrs. Roosevelt
would find 1t possible later on to