Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-11

toft'ttbG QUA u tft StA az ~ iJp5 n
and relief policies tollotc.
Findings and Recommendations.
We have given our reasons for be.
lieving that the adoption of certain
policies and the application of GER.
tain financial and administrative
principles would result in more
nearly adequate, WeIl-rounded, ano
orderly system OF pubhc-aid meas
ureS In summarizing these pro-
posalS, We wish again to emphasize
that precisely because We have at
tempted TO develop a Well-co-ordi-
mated and consistent body Of poll
Cies and principles, no one OF ou1
specific recommendations can be
considered apart from the whole
system OF which it is an integral
part.
In this context. and for the rea-
sons we have given in the preceding
pages. We therefore are making the
following recommendation:
I. The Public Aid Problem.
The American people should base
public-aid policy upon the accept
ance of the following facts;
/. The need for public aid VIII
be both large and persistent ior
some time to come.
2. The need for public aid Is IN
large measure caused by serious
embellishments in the operation OF
our economy and by personal phySi-
cal or PSYCHOLOGICAL defects, many
of which can be remedied.
2. The social problem created by
economic insecurity is many-Slded
and requires for its solution a series
of diversified programs.
ii. Broad Objective of Public Aid.
The overall objective OF pubic
cid should be the assurance OF access
to minimum security for all our
oeople. wherever they may reside,
and the maintenance Of the social
stability and values threatened when
people lack jobs or income.
III. Specific Objectives.
The specific detectives OF public
aid policy should be:
|. Increasing emphasis upon poh-
cies aiming at the prevention OF eco
nomic insecurity through fuller
utilization of our productive re-
sources. including labor, ana by
more comprehensive measures 10
improve the health of our people
:. Government provision OF WORK
for all adults who are willing ana
able to work. if private industry Is
unable to provide employment
3 Appropriate measures TO equip
young persons beyond the com
pulsory school attendance age for
assuming the full responsibilities OF
citizenship.
4. Assurance of basic minimum
security through social insurance, SO
far as possible.
:. Esta blishment of a comprehen-
sive underpinning general public
assistance system providing AID on
the basis of need, to complete the
framework of protection against
economic insecurity.
s, Expansion of social services
which are essential for the health,
welfare and efficiency of the whole
population; this expansion shoulo
be as wide and as rapid as possible.
". Finance and Administration.
The following financial and ad-
ministrative principles should be
consistently applied in all pubhc-a1d
programs: =,
|. The financing Of public aid
should be provided for as a normal
and continuing function of Govern
ment in a revised and reorganized
fiscal system.
2. Public-aid financing, even If
treated on compartmentallzed
basis. should be co-ordinated with
the broader economic and monetary
policies of Government.
3. Reliance on consumption ana
earmarked taxes should in general
be avoided.
4, A distribution Of financial re-
sponsibility for total public-aid costs
between the various units Of Gov
eminent is advisable and should re-
feet differences in need and IN
economic and fiscal capacity.
S. The detectives of the various
special programs should be clearly
stated and distinguishable, and the
benef1ciaries of each should he
those. and only those, for whom
the specific program is appropriate.
s. Although Federal State CO.
operation is preferable as a general
principle. the ALLEGATION Of admin
tstrative responsibility for the varl-
GUS diversified programs between
Federal, State and local govern
ments should be determined by
reference to:
A. The capacity OF the different
governmental units for the exercise
of specific financial, pohcy-forming,
technical and routine administra-
tive functions; and
B. The national Importance at
tached to the attainment OF the
detectives of the given program.
7. In Jointly administered pro-
grams special attentions should be
paid to defining as logically and
clearly as possible the respective
responsibilities Of the participating
governments and 10 developing
technioues for cooperative action.
8. The advantages OF admlnls-
trative decentralization should be
explored to the full especially
through a more constructive GeVel-
opment Of the regional basis OF
organization.
9. The personnel administering
public aid programs should be fully
qualified by training and experience
for the performance OF tasks Walch
call for q high degree Of skill and
professional competence.
10. Citizen participation in policy
formation and program operation
should be encouraged WhereEc" this
is consistent with sound and I'M
partial administrations.
Y. Specific Programs.
The existing programs should he
modified in the light Of these poll
cies and principles IN the following
ways.
/. Federal work programs.
A. To carry out the principle that
work should be provided for all
adults WILLING and able to work a