Evening star., 1940-09-26
Food Stamp Plan
Plea Expected
To Be Renewed
Officials Reported
Impressed With
Baltimore Setup

the Commissioners for an appro-
priation to be used as a revolving
fund to operate the food stamp
plan for Washington's needy ap-
peared likely today as a result
of information the Commissioners
gained yesterday on their research
trip to Baltimore,
On the basis of Baltimores ex-
perience, District Welfare Director
Robert E. Bondy said he believed
the Washington plan could be
operated with a revolving fund OF
about $4,000 instead of the earlier
request for S15OOOO, provided ar
rangements could be made for q
turnover of stamps within seyera,
days.
Mr.. Bondy also said he believed
adoption of the plan here would
set up the prospect of an increase
of more than 81 900 900 in the buSi-
ness of Washington chain and in
dependent grocers Judging from the
experience of other cities, persons
on relief and w. P. A. rolls would be
enabled to buy more and better
selected food products, he added.
Reported Impressed.
Commissioners John Russell
Young and David McCoach, jr, who
made the trip to Baltimore with Mr.
Bondy. to gain first hand informa-
tion as to how the food stamp plan
works, were reported very favor
ably impressed" with statements by
Baltimore officials, although they
withheld announcement of their
final decision.
The District officials went to
Baltimore under the impression that
the plan there was regarded as a
mistake or a failure" However
they were told by Mayor Howard w
jackson the plan was working well
and could be considered a success
The plan was inaugurated in Ralti-
more last May.
The Commissioners were told that
Baltimore has $4,000 persons eligible
for food stamps, that so far only
about so per cent have taken ad-
vantage of the system. Among
cities which have the plan, go per
cent are using it, but it was ex-
planned that Baltimore has many
single individuals on relief who
are "boarders," who would not come
under the plan since the plan is
restricted to clients who have home
cooking facilities.
There are 10000 persons in WASH
1ngton on relief or the w. P. A.
who would be eligible. and since
Federal officials say that an allow
snce of 81 per person should be
made for each one under the stamp
plan, it was figured the needed
revolving fund would be s76,OOO
provided arrangements could be
made with the United States Treas
ury and the Surplus Marketing Ad-
ministration, an agency of the De-
partment of Agriculture, for a
quicker turnover of the stamps
than once every two weeks as had
been previously considered,
100000 in Surplus Foods.
Baltimore's experience showed
that under the old method of bulk"
distribution of surplus commodi-
ties the relief clients each year re-
ceived a total of 100000 in surplus
foods. Under the present setup
this amount will be greatly in
creased, according to Judge Thomas
Waxter director of the Department
Of Public Welfare, who conferred
with the District officials. Judge
WaXter said last month the relief
clients were given $4,000 in the
free blue stamps, which are used
to purchase the surplus foods in
the grocery stores, as they used
their relief grants to buy 100000
In orange stamps, which they may
use to purchase any commodity in
the store.
Under the stamp plan the relief
family is permitted to purchase 81
worth of orange stamps per person
per week. With each 81 purchase
of orange stamps the client is given
free one-half the amount, or so
cents worth. of blue stamps. A
family of five persons on general
relief in Baltimore is allotted S787
for food each week The family
must purchase a minimum of SIS
per week in orange stamps and
then is given free $3.50 worth of
the blue stamps. The Secretary
of Agriculture specifies foods on the
surplus list which the relief client
may purchase with his free blue
stamps each month.
Irwin Quinn, local representative
of the Surplus Marketing Admins
tration, who was also present at
the conference, said 1853 cities have
the plan and about 1000 cities have
submitted applications.
Judge Waxter said the relief client
had benefited in the new program
because he was able to purchase a
variety of surplus foods, which in
clude fresh green vegetables. butter,
eggs and fresh fruits. He said
public health nurses had noted the
improved health conditions of the
relief clients because of the better
dietary Improvements. He said the
chief aim of the food stamp plan
is to guarantee that the client spends
his food relief check for food and
that under the Baltimore system