Evening star., 1941-01-08
D. {. Welfare Budget
Increased 10 Above
SS,O5O,32S
Program Submitted Would
Provide $4,000 for
Food Stamp Operation

FullQS u Dullu d IlcW NAlAIuA NAL .
receiving home, to secure a site for
a welfare center for four outmoded
District institutions and to estab-
lish a food stamp plan were asked
in the S8,050,328 budget estimate
for the Board Of Public Welfare sub
mitted to Congress today.
Welfare Director Robert E. Bondy
had sought a S1,50O,827 increase over
the 1941 welfare appropriation.
The estimate for his department
represents a $516,768 increase.
A $4,000 revolving fund would be
set up for the purchase of food
stamps from the Department Of
Agriculture for relief clients, the
fund being drawn from two sources.
First, SIS 900 from the funds left
unspent in the 1910 relief appro-
priation would be reappropriated.
Second. any amount up to S5000O
Of the 1912 relief budget would be
used in the revolving fund. The
budget recommends a S950000 relief
appropriation. representing an in
crease of $4,000 for direct relief
over this years appropriation.
Would Consolidate Homes.
ACQUISITION of a site for the new
welfare center in either Virginia or
Maryland is recommended in an
estimate of $4,000. The center
would consolidate on a single tract
of land homes for inmates of the
Home for the Aged and 1nflrm, the
Industrial Home School, the Indus
trial Home School for Colored Chill
dren and the National Training
School for Girls.
Subjects Of a congressional in
vestigation and criticism from Mrs.
Roosevelt, these institutions would
when built be kept separate but
would make use Of central utilities
and similar services.
In making his budget request TO
the Commissioners, Mr.. BOndy asked
for more than Sl65,O00 in new
buildings and repairs for the Blue
Plains home for the aged. The
budget provides for an increase Of
only S2880 II was explained that
his estimate was submitted before
the welfare center plan emerged,
replacing the face lifting" Of the
Blue Plains institution which would
otherwise have been recommended.
100000 for Receiving Home.
The new Receiving Home for
Children would replace the make
shift" rented apartment building
on Potomac avenue Sc. For this
the budget recommends 100000 and
an additional $500 to restore the
old receiving home to the condition
it was in when the District leased It.
In the 1941 budget Congress paved
the way for provision Of the new
home by aLoting s3,6T5 for pcepara-
ton Of plans for the building, s2ecl-
flying that it be located within the
area bounded b. Georgia and She--
man avenues, Girard and Fairmont
streets NV.
Mr.. Bondy asked the Commls-
sioners for S175,O0O for the recelv-
ing home. The home provided for
in the Commissioners request would
house 33 children with the pos
I SlDllllN
the population should increase.
The $4,000 increase in the es-
Inmates for relief would virtually
restore the relief item TO its 1910
appropriation status. From the 1891
relief appropriation Of 100000.
S49 $50 was drawn to pay salaries
for workers certifying persons
/ eligible for w. P. A.
Explain $4,000 Addition.
District officials explained that
the S50,000 addition to the rehet
budget. all Of which could be used
as a part OF the $4,000 maximum
food stamp revolving fund, actually
might be considered an integral
part of the relief grant, TO be in
cluded in the monthly month
division of relief funds.
The $4,000 to help operate the
food stamp revolving fund is part
of the $4,000 net District officials
discovered" had been unspent be-
cause of failure to utilize available
funds in the 1910 welfare budget.
The food stamp plan, through
which relief clients could purchase
surplus commodities, was introduced
in the Senate and approved after
the House had passed the l94l
District appropriation bill. 1t was
lost in committee.
Mr.. Bondy requested Sl50,000 for
establishment of the food stamp
plan on the advice of Federal food
stamp officials. 1t was said. however,
that the plan could be operated with
$4,000 by more rapid turnover
Of the stamps,
Construction Projects.
Among the construction projects
requested by the Welfare Depart
ment and passed on to Congress
we're.
A $4,000 workhouse inflrmary at
Occoouan, Va, to replace the pres
ent infirmary built in 1912; new
guard towers at Lorton to replace
old wooden towers; construction of
a road paralleling the institutional
railway between the workhouse and
reformatory; remodeling Of steam
tunnels and the comnissary at the
workhouse and construction of a
metor-vehicle shed.
The Welfare Department request
ed S45,000 to continue construction
of a permanent building for women
at Occoquan. This was cut to s20,-
900.
To care for some of the 450 per-
sons on the waiting list for the Dis
trict Training School, Mr.. Bondy
asked for S150,000 for new dormi-
tories. This was cut to $4,000.
A $4,000 walled inclosure to per-
nit prisoners outdoor exercise at
the District Jail was cut to $4,000.
The Welfgare Department had
asked for funds to assist an addi-
tional 276 old-age cases, estimating
approximately $4,000 for this use
on the basis of District funds
matched by social security funds.
This item was cut to S40,530, includ-
ing the Federal shares.
National Arboretum