Evening star., 1946-11-14
Council Hears Three
Social Survey Reports
Al Luncheon Meeting

The Council Of Social Agencies in
the District is facing the most i'm
portant year In its history, DR..
Ernest 8. drifnth. its president. told
the first fall luncheon of the organ
ization yesterday in Barker Hall at
the YWCAs
The feature Of the luncheon was
the reading Of three social survey re-
ports on washington which have
been oficially submitted to the board
Of directors OF the council. DR..
Grifnth said the reports will be
turned over to the proper commit
tees. and II there is no committee
In any particular field covered by
the survey, one viii be organized.
The survey report on religious
relations was given by Col. william
o. Tufts, who was chairman Of the
councils committee which helped
draft the report. Col. Tufts said
the report was i've months in the
making and that in the end it was
unanimous.
Asks That Report Be Read.
He said religion was not a one
way street and, If the leaders of the
different religions could get together
in informal talks, a better under
standing and respect for each others
views would result. He said the
statement had been made that this
country was raising a crop OF reli-
gious illiterates," and he praised the
Catholic schools for teaching reli-
gion. He said schools should incor-
porate in their curriculum the prin-
ciples of all faiths.
Whether you agree or disagree
with the report and its recommen-
dations, advise every one to read
1t and not put In on the shelf and
forget It" he said.
Mrs. Hester g. Stoll, formerly of
the Florida Welfare Board and the
Social Security Board, readeti1e sur
very report on Public welfare for
Families and Adults In Their Own
Homes. u
She said the report set forth the
cdnglomerate laws enacted by Con-
gress to aid the distressed during the
past years. She also told OF the
problems Of appropriations whereby
agencies have to submit their budg-
cts nine months in advance Of the
actual granting Of the money.
People here are not given enough
authority" she said. "And in ad-
dition to the complicated procedure
and statutes, there is no digest of
all the welfare laws. If the recon-
mendations of the survey are car
ried out. care for all will be in
sured and the taxpayers money will
be saved"
Asks More Funds for Food.
The report, she said, asked for an
increased budget for the Board OF
Public Welfare and raise In the
money given for children's food. She
congratulated the board for already
working on some of the problems
outlined In the survey and asked
every one 70 read and study the
report.
Mrs. Henry Gichner, who was vice
chairman Of the committee that
supervised the survey report on care
for the aged, told the meeting
Washington was tagging behind in
the progress made by some other
cities and anticipated q greater need
in tte future for old age assistance.
There should be additional care
for the chronic i'll as well as other
aged persons. she said. aged
couples should be enabled to live to-
gether and should be helped to
maintain at least minimum require
ments and not be separated"
She said the survey report recom-
mended reconstruction of the Home
Tor the Aged and boarding homes
Tor old people who need financial
aScfgtay,ra