The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-05-04
TwO-Year Residence
Relief Measure

quire two-year residence before
able-bodied persons can get relief
was fought in Annapolis at hearing
before Governor O'Conor on April
26. j. Milton Patterson, State Wei
fare head, Thomas J. S. Waxter,
head of relief in Baltimore, CLIO
representative, professional social
workers and others urged the Cover
nor to veto the Bill, which passed
both Houses of the General Assem-
bly, with large majorities.
On the side of those who want the
Governor to sign the Bill and make
it law were j. Edwin Mugford, Presi-
dent of the Baltimore Taxpayers
Association, Orris Byrd, President of
he Mount Royal Improvement Asso-
citation, r. G. Lamb, representing the
League for Lower Taxes in Anne
Arundel county, Charles c. Rappold,
Harry Klinefelter and others.
Mr.. Mugford announced, due to
the fact that there was only two
lays notice of the hearing, many
people were unable to arrange to
leave their work to attend. The Gov
ernor said he had received great
deal" of correspondence in favor of
the Bill from citizens throughout
the State, who were unable to attend.
Those who want the law killed, ar
gued that the trend in other states
is to remove residence requirements
for relief; that the Bill would COM
plicate the administration of the
Welfare Department; that people
from other states came here to help
Maryland in the war effort, and
should, therefore, be given relief re-
gardless of a two-year residence.
None denied that Maryland faces an
unbearable relief cost if large num-
Der of foreign war workers stay here
after the war and go on relief.
Mr.. Mugford told the Governor
that tens of thousands of people who
are now making high wages may be-
come relief candidates unless the Bill
is signed And the cost to tie State
will be such that, with reduced in
comes, unemployment and continued
high Federal taxes, taxpayers will
not be able to stand the burden He
pointed out that, even if the Bill is
made law, an out-of-State worker
can receive months payments from
the Unemployment COMPENSATE n
Board and 80 days emergency re-
lief That, declared Mr. Mugford, is
all the taxpayers feel they can afford
for people who have not lived in the
State two years. He told the Cover
nor that Tie unemployed out-of-State
people should be encouraged to go
home when the war ends, in order to
give returning servicemen chance
to get the limited jobs that are avail
able.
A sharp tilt took place between
Orris Byrd and Thomas ]. S. Wax
ter Mr.. Byrd, talking in favor of the
Bill, said welfare was costing Balti-
more $7,00O,0OO this year, and ac-
cused Mr.. Waxter of combing the
mountains of Virginia and Tennessee
to get more people on relief in order
to make his department bigger and
better Mr.. Waxter retorted that he
was working to increase the income
Of the low income groups, and would
continue to do so. The retorts ended
there but, privately, Mr.. Byrd said
Mr.. Waxter's motives would be laud-
able, if he increased low incomes
through thrift and hard work, in
stead of thriugh public charity.
Mr.. Klinefelter and Mr.. Rappold
both charged that the administration
of relief fortified Incidence, and de-
manded that the idea of teaching
thrift be included in the policies and
practices of relief administration
Governor O'Conor thanked those
attending the hearing for giving him
the benefit of their views, and prom
ised to give the matter of signing the
Bill, or killing it by veto, most care
full study. He gave no indication of
l. s1s L.