Evening star., 1941-09-05
D. T.. Welfare Needs
Set al S1o,235,119
In 1943 Estimates
Boord Seeks Rebuilding
Program at Aged Home.
$887, 900 for Relief
BY DON S. WARREN.

An increase of more than $887.-
900 for relief purposes of various
categories was proposed for the next
fiscal year by the Board of Public
Welfare in its 1943 estimates, re-
leased today by the Commissioners,
calling for a total welfare outlay of
S10,235,ll9, or a boost of 25 per cent
over this year.
Among other highlights of the
proposals of me welfare Board,
drafted with the assistance of It's
new welfare director, Conrad Van
Hyning, are:
Proposals for drafting plans for
rebuilding present unsatisfactory
buildings of the Home for Aged and
1nfirm and for substantial expan-
sion and improvements in its service,
food and facilities.
Requests for funds for purchase
of new site outside the District
and for drafting of plans for a new
development for the Industrial
Home School for white children.
Requests for purchase of site
outside the District for new Ma
tional Training School for Girls and
funds for preparation of plans for
such new development.
Personnel Increases Asked.
In addition, increases for per-
sonnel and services, some of them
large, are asked, for the many
agencies and services under the
supervision of the Welfare Board.
Considerable increases were asked
for the Jail, workhouse and re-
formatory.
For general public assistance the
Welfare Board asks an increase
from sl,02500 to s1,69s,1O0 for
home care of dependent children, an
increase from s213,Oo0 to S343,180:
for old age assistance, from $500 900
to S671 200; for relief of the needy
blind. an increase from $4,000 to
S53.150, and for the welfare spon-
sors contribution to the w. P. A.,
an increase from $4,000 to 5000
600. The total of these items would
be. for the next fiscal year, 81, ,965, =
720, or S887,720 over outlays by the
District for this year. This would
not be the total outlay for the next
fiscal year for the several relief
purposes since in some categories
Federal grants in aid are given on a
matching money basis for the
amounts expended by the District
government.
Would Remove Ceilings.
In addition, the Welfare Board
proposes a removal of the ceilings"
placed by Congress on amounts
which may be expended by the Dis
trict for various categories of relief,
including direct relief, old age and
blind aid. This long has been q
sore point with District welfare.
Apparently in argument as to why
relief outlays by the District should
be raised at a time when employ
n1ent and business in Washington
are on the increase, due to the ma
tional defense effort, welfare au-
thorities said, in part:
The amount recommended for
is43 provides funds to permit in
creases in individual and family
budgets in an amount approximately
equivalent to meet the standard of
relief budgets consistent with our
social security programs Home Care
and Old Age and as stipulated in
the appropriation act which pre-
scribes the maximum monthly
grants.
Arbitrary Restrictions Cited.
Included in these estimates are
provisions to take care of 200 aid-to-
dependent children cases at an aver
age cost of s456 per year per case,
s91, 200 of which is a charge against
local funds but approximately $50
900 will be reimbursed by the Social
Security Board.
Relief expenditures during the
past several years were kept within
the appropriation limitations only
by exercising arbitrary restrictions
which have no sound relationship to
economic needs of the families and
individuals assisted.
The normal experience in the
total relief cases carried during the
year usually shows an appreciable
number of cases closed during the
summer months and a gradual
month by month increase during the
fall and winter, reaching its peak
in March. This customary and
anticipated drop did not occur as 1t
has in previous years. Our ex-
perience during the fiscal year just
ended definitely indicates the loss of
employment possibilities on the w
P. A. which necessitated an increase
In our appropriations for the present
fiscal year.
The requested appropriations
for 1943 will provide for an aver
age of $3.50 cases at an average
cost of $395,l3 per case per year
This would provide for an overall
increase of 1850 cases which is
the minimum that is reasonable to
provide for, in view of the uncer-
tainties about the employment sit
uation in the future. Many per-
sons are now employed in private
industry who, under normal condi-
tions. would be considered unem-
playable Likewise, many persons
now employed on the w. P. A. and
not able to secure private employ.
ment should the w. P. A. type Of
program be discontinued.
Seeks to Provide Cushion"
~The immediate future contains
20 many unpredictable possibilities
that 1t is highly desirable to have