Evening star., 1940-02-20
City's Social Welfare
Needs Summarized
By Ray Il. Everett
Hygiene Society officioI
Speuks at Luncheon
Launching Rotory Week

Ray H. Everett, executive secre-
tary Of the Social Hygiene Society,
was principal speaker yesterday at
luncheon in the Willard Hotel,
which launched Rotary observance
week here. Introduced by Albert
w. Atwood, who presided, Mr.. Ever
EFT chose as his subject, Social
Welfare In Washington-First Class
and Steerage."
The speaker blamed what he
called absentee landlordism" for
most Of the social ills of the Cap
ital-supervision by the 500-odd busy
men and women on Capitol Hill.
He called this condition a "debili-
tating social malady," but he exon
Grated the Congressman whose
primary interests are rightfully and
Of necessity either national or In
their constituencies"
Social agencies in Washington,
Mr.. Everett said, seem to be suffer-
ing from malnutrition, and "were it
not that most executives OF our
institutions are devoted, conscien-
tious and efficient administrators,
Washington's needy might fare far
worse than they do"
Welfare Needs Listed.
In a brief summary OF the Dis
trict's social welfare needs Mr..
Everett gave q list which he said
was complied after consultation with
IL experts:
1. Care for employables for whom
no public assistance is now avail
able.
2. The removal or at least the
raising of the so-called ceiling" of
relief now in effect in all public
assistance cases, especially those
classified under aid to dependent
children: and provision for more
case workers. -
3. More adequate funds for the
operation of the Health Department.
4. More adequate care for families
not eligible for public relief.
S. More adequate personnel and
equipment for Gallinger Hospital
and extension of it's social service
department. The same for Freed
mems Hospital.
6. New legislation for the protec-
ton Of unmarried mothers and their
children, including the licensing of
child-placing agencies.
Z. A sufficient Federal appropri-
alton to take care Of all certified
unemployed for whom no funds are
provided, and removal of the 1S
monthse' limitation for continued
employment.
Model Home for Aged.
8. Adequate appropriations to pro-
vide model home for the aged
and a proper receiving home.
8. Legislation authorizing and ap-
propriating money for the protective
service In the public child welfare
program.
10. Adoption of the school board S
five years program and enough
money for its execution.
II. The setting UP in the Board
Of Public Welfare OF q department
of the homeless, adequately manned
and staffed-and the establishment
of a modern. municipal lodging
house. ", %
IL. A continuance of progress in
slum clearance.
l3. Enactment of q small loan law
that would make 1t unnecessary for
citizens in need of such loans to go
outside the District and pay exorbi-
tant interest.
IA. A better understanding by the
Congress and the business. profess
sional and other citizen groups of
the District of Columbia of what is
involved in social welfare program,
and an understanding Of its cost
and the responsibility of the tax
payer and Congress.
AS presiding officer at the lunch
con. Mr.. Atwood called attention
to the fact that the local Rotary
Club is now celebrating its 35th an
niversary.