Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-11
Van Hyning Hits
Relief Ceiling
As Disgrace
Appeal to Congress
For Immediate
Removal Urged

An appeal to Congress for i'm
mediate removal Of the ceilings
limiting the amount of relief which
may be granted to each person or
family on the Districts public as
sistance rosters was proposed today
by Conrad Van Hyning, who re-
signed Saturday as welfare director
to take Federal Social Security
post.
Mr.. Van Hyning said he con-
sidered the mandatory limits on re-
lief payments "a disgrace" While
the Commissioners have recon-
mended that these be eliminated
from the budget for the next fiscal
year, the welfare director declared
an appeal should be made at once
as q means Of preventing hardship
for relief families during the win
ter and the remainder of this fiscal
year.
He said such a proposal would
be made to the Board of Public
Welfare within few days
Resignation Effective February 6.
The resignation of Mr.. Van Hyn.
ing was accepted today by the COM
missioners. 1t is effective February
6. In submitting his resignation Mr..
Van Hyning said
May I express to the Commits
sioners my appreciation of the CO.
operation and support they have ex-
tended to me during my period Of
ONCE. My resignation Is based only
on my desire to become actively
connected with the war effort"
Were 1t not for the war l should
be very happy to continue In this
position and to work out with the
Commissioners the many plans
which have been approved or are
under consideration by the Com
mlssloners for the improvement of
the public welfare program in the
District"
Mr.. Van Hyning has been named
territorial director for the Federal
Security Agency for a Caribbean
area.
Gould Do Still More"
Reviewing the District welfare
situation. Mr.. Van Hyning called the
commissioners "the most progressive
ooard the District has had in recent
years, but he said, Il believe the
commissioners could do still more"
Mr.. Van Hyning emphasized that
ne was making no attack on the
cltys heads. He recalled that the
Welfare Board and the Commits
sloners had worked up plans for a
new home for INDECENT infirm and
for new Receiving Home for Chill
dren, but that these, and other i'm
provement programs, were shelyed
because of war priorities.
Mr.. Van Hyning said he felt the
welfare establishment had done
a pretty good job" under all the
prevailing circumstances including
the war and limitation of funds.
However, despite the war he be.
lleves some things can be done, such
as provision of more teachers for
some welfare institutions. He said
more vocational and academic
| teachlng was needed.
He has been disappointed also, he
indicated, in the little progress made
under the Welfare Board proposals
Tor strengthening the welfare adj
ministration. 1t was proposed to
employ one or more physiciatrists
TO work with wards in the children's
institutions and Mr.. Van Hyning
has asked for business manager"
Tor his staff to give the board a bet.
ter view of the whole administra.
ton.
AS to the relief ceilings, imposed
some years ago by Congress, Mr..
Van Hyning argues they cause
hardship, particularly on the large
families. The only sensible way to
measure the size of relief grants.
ne believes, is to figure the indi-.
vidual needs of the individual fam
NY in keeping with a prescribed
budget system based on actual
minimum needs. The old ceilings
are especially out of line, he said.
because Of the increased costs of
living.