Evening star., 1944-05-09
Welfare Board
Sees Gag Rule
ByCity Heads
House Group Told
Commissioners Bar
Some Funds Appeals
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
Members of the Board of Public
Welfare today waged a battle to
maintain their powers over the Dis
trict's welfare institutions and
services. in joint session with the
House District Appropriations SUBJ
committee and~the Commissioners.
suggesting pointedly that some of
the difficulties have been caused by
deep cuts in appropriation requests.
Edgar Morris, newly appointed
chairman of the Welfare Board and
a member of the body for seven
years, stressed that the original
welfare es tim a tes have been
trimmed by roughly $l,O00,O00 a
year for the past four years.
When questions were raised in
the round-table conference as to
whether the Commissioners or the
Federal Budget Bureau or Congress
had made the cuts, Mr.. Morris said
an executive order of the Commits
slonerS prevented board members or
subordinate officials from continu-
ing to press for requested appro-
priations.
Order Called Gag Rule"
This had reference to the order.
sometimes labeled gag rule" that
subordinate officers or employees
may not carry requests for funds
to Congress without first having ap-
piled for and obtained the permis-
sion of the Commissioners.
Commissioners Young and Mason
promptly protested the Welfare
Board members need not stop with
mere submission of requests to the
Commissioners.
Representative Coffee, Democrat.
of Washington, chairman of the
subcommittee, interjected that the
ruling was common practice in
the Government" and Mr.. Young
added that it was necessary and in
tended only to prevent an individual
from lobbying for proposals on
Capitol Hill contrary to the Gov
ernment program.
Does that order preclude you
board members from coming before
members of Congress to discuss your
needs?" asked Representative Stef-
an, ranking minority member of the
subcommittee.
Interpretation Is Questioned.
That's my understanding, Mr..
Morris replied. when we have sub
mitted our requests and they are
turned down, then we stop there"
| Commissioner Mason declared
members of the Welfare Board were
called to testify before the Commits
sioners and that it was "up to Con-
gress" to determine from congress
sional hearings whether any cuts
made in welfare requests were
proper or wrong.
After reading theorder, Mr.. Stefan
declared: That is not stopping you
1t merely means you have to apply
to the Commissioners for permis-
SION" He indicated he believed the
commissioners would not have tried
to block their appearance.
Mr.. Morris, who was accompanied
by other members of the Welfare
Board, during lengthy colloauy
with Mr.. Coffee and Mr.. Stefan,
said, Il will admit the Welfare
Board probably has not been on
the job as much as it should have
been" To this he added protest
that the Commissioners had not
given the board reasons for cuts
made in the original welfare fund
requests.
Calls Criticism unjust"
Mr.. Stefan, saying he had known
Mr.. Morris for many years and
had a very high opinion of him.
nevertheless criticized him and other
Welfare Board members for not hav-
ing made frequent visits to welfare
institutions under their control Mr..
Morris replied that such criticism
was unjust" and that board men,
bers had made many visits and
scheduled at least one visit a month
TO some institution. He added that
sometimes the institutions superin-
tendent was not there at the time
and that he had not thought it
necessary to call the officials atten-
ton to the visit
/ If I am wrong, I will apologize, =
said Mr. Stefan.
Mr.. Morris and Mrs. John J.
Hasley voiced vigorous protests
against suggestions that one answer
to the problem might be to put
| Welfare Board members on a salary
basis.
That is the wrong keynote" said
Mrs. Hasley.
Wouldn't Accept Pay.
Mr.. Morris declared If any one
suggests that l should be paid for
what I may be able to do in helping
the unfortunate and poor people.
then I am through Mr.. Mason
promptly will have my resigna lion, -