Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-13
New Welfare Center
Put Off by District
Appropriation Group
Receiving Home for
Children, Food Stomp
PIun Included in Bill

Indefinite postponement Of the
new welfare center proposed by the
Commissioners to house four out
moded institutions was directed by
the House District Appropriations
Subcommittee today.
Retained in the supply bill for
welfare were provisions for funds
to build a new Receiving Home for
Children and to establish a food
stamp plan for the District.
The subcommittee expressed SYM
pathy for the welfare center pro-
posal but commended that the prof.
ect could be deferred until condi-
lions in the construction field have
subsidized"
No provision was made, however,
for the considerable outlay for ad-
ditlonal construction" which former
Welfare Director Robert E. Bondy
had maintained would be necessary
If the institutions were to be con-
Aiiuco AoA SOiiiC tAIilc dI lIlelr pres
ent location.
Increase Of $7,99O,558.
The total welfare appropriation
recommended by the subcommittee
S,990,558, represents an increase of
S45O,Ol8 more than the 1941 appro-
priation but decrease of $86 $40
under the Budget Bureau estimates.
Two additional social workers for
protective services, proposed in the
supplemental welfare estimate, were
disallowed by the subcommittee.
In emitting the $4,000 requested
to obtain a site in either Virginia
or Maryland for the proposed well
fare center, the subcommittee de-
clared:
1T is probable that if this pro-
gram is continued at the present
time it will face many difficulties
in securing supplies and labor which
are being diverted to national de-
Tense and 1t is likewise probable
that such material and labor, If
available, will be secured only at
maximum prices"
The four institutions affected by
the subcommittee decision are the
Home for the Aged and Infirm at
Blue Plains, the National Training
School for Girls, the Industrial
Home School and the Industrial
Home School for Colored Children.
Food Stamp Plan.
During hearings on the budget,
Mr.. Bondy testified that an imme-
date outlay of s173,500 at the Home
for the Aged and Infirm would be
necessary if that institution was to
be used for more than two or three
years. All four institutions, he told
the subcommittee, needed repairs
and were unsuited to the purposes
for which they were being used.
Mr.. Bondy termed the proposed
set-up, which would have ultimately
cost $4,000, 900, "one of the most sig
n1flcant forward steps that could be
taken in relation to public welfare
in the District Of Columbia"
The food stamp plan, through
which relief clients can purchase
surplus commodities, was introduced
in the Senate and approved last
year after the House had passed the
l94l appropriation bill. 1t was lost
in committee.
The 1912 supply bill recommends
a SIS 900 revolving fund drawn from
two sources; first, 5000 from the
funds left unspent in the 1910 relief
appropriation is reappropriated, and,
second, any amount up to $4,000 of
the 1912 relief budget may be used
as revolving fund for the purchase
of food stamps from the Agriculture
The revolving fund is
to be reimbursed from time to time
from stamp sale proceeds.
S950,000 for Direct Relief.
The supply bill includes a direct
relief appropriation of $3.50, 900, rep
resenting $4,000 increase over this
years appropriation. Although the
increase provides for operation of
the food stamp plan, District Of
flcials explained that the appropria-
ton will virtually restore the relief
item to its 1910 status since $49, 800
was drawn from this years relief
appropriation to pay salaries for
workers certifying persons eligible
for w. P. A.
In discussing the relief budget
during the hearings, Mr.. Bondy tes-
titled that relief expenditures dur
ing the year are kept within the ap-
only by exercise of ar
bitrary restrictions, which have no