Evening star., 1941-06-23
Report on Effect
OF ". P. A. Layoffs
Is Due Late Today
Acting Welfare Chief
Awaits Doto on Projects
To Be Abandoned

Acting Welfare Director Conrad
Van Hyning expected to have for
the Commissioners late today a de-
tailed report on the situation where
by approximately 1000 District w.
P. A. workers will be dropped from
local projects in so per cent re-
duction of force to become effective
near the end of this month.
He said w. P. A. officials had
promised him by noon complete data
on the projects to be eliminated or
curtailed in the layoff, after which
he will begin preparation of his
study for the Commissioners on its
anticipated effect on the District
relief budget.
His report, it was thought, may
include a proposal to revamp the
present rule of the Board of Public
Welfare under which unemployed
employables have been unable to
qualify for direct relief. The acting
welfare director explained that the
rule was predicted on the thought
that unemployed employables would
be eligible for w. P A. jobs. If
these jobs are not to be available,
he indicated, revision of the rule
might be necessary.
AS soon as he receives the infor-
nation from w. P. A. headquarters
Mr.. Van Hyning said he would
check with the District Employment
Service to see what employment
prospects were for the categories OF
w. P. A. workers to be dropped
From these figures, he will base his
estimate of the number which will
require assistance under the gen.
eral relief appropriation in the 1942
budget estimate.
May Seek More Workers.
Throwing back of any large num-
ber of persons on the Public Assist
ance Division, according to Mr.. Van
Hyning, is likely to create a tempo
rary emergency there in the facili-
ties for handling the load. Even
though w. P. A. employees already
have been investigated for relief
eligibility prior to their certification
for w. P. A. work by District author
tiles. thus eliminating good dea,
of investigation which would be
needed in brand-new cases, a de-
mand for additional clerical workers
and case investigators appeared
highly probable.
The present case load on genera
relief, Mr.. Van Hyning said, is about
1900. Should half of the 1000 to bt
let out become relief cases, it wa!
pointed out, this would nearly dou.
BILE the case load.
Heaviest Load Seen in July.
The month of July probably viii
see the heaviest load on the relieI
establishment here, the acting well
fare director pointed out. since pri.
vate employment probably will alb
sorb many as time passes. The
temporary personnel emergency IL
the public assistance division prob.
ably could be handled by switching
staff from other welfare projects
But this could be done for a short
Wnlle only, ne dQQeu.
Although it was suggested to the
Senate subcommittee conducting
hearings on the 1912 budget that
appropriations be made to carry or
the abandoned projects under com.
plete District auspices. at w. P. A
rates, this possibility was discounted
at the District Building. Doubt was
expressed as to the legality of hav-
ing employees on the District pay rol
at rates lower than those fixed ir
the Basic Salary Classification Act
While work relief projects might be
established under the general pub
lie assistance fund, it was felt this
probably would be more expensive
than direct relief payments to ELI
gibles.