The Wilmington morning star., 1946-05-16

IL LII LII
Ed VOW WILL WORK
To Increase Financial Relief
To the Aged and Blind
In working with the Community Chest, Associated
Charities, and other relief agencies in New Hanover
County, it has come to my attention that in providing
relief for the aged persons and blind, the federal govern
ment will match such sums as expended by our Welfare
Departments up to a maximum OF $2O.OO per month per
person, which procedure makes it possible for each such
person to receive $4,000 per month. The law also pro-
vides that the Federal Government will match funds
expended by the State Welfare Boards for aid TO de-
pendent children, allowing a maximum OF $500 per
month for the first child and $1,000 each for each ad-
ditional child.
At the present time those persons In New Han
over County qualified to receive old age pensions are
receiving an average of $3.50 per month, and there
are many eligible persons not now receiving any
thing because there are no funds available TO take
care of more cases Until such time as some persons
now receiving the funds die. Therefore, the full
weight of the support Of these aged people falls on
the tax payers of New Hanover County and the
Community Chest, when half of 1t should be coming
from Federal funds. It is also a fact that the
amount now being paid to some Of these aged per-
sons is inadequate and must be supplemented From
tax and charitable funds raised In cur county.
With reference to aid to Dependent Chs1drsn, W are
now paying the maximum in most cases, but the funds
are depleted and it is not possible to take on new eases,
and there are many children now eligible who are not
receiving anything except through the Ass0e&atsd QhaFi-
ties. a. andaas .aaAG. Gss,
In order to relieve this condition u h DsvsssaTy that
the Legislature appropriate sufficient funds TO match
Federal grants and relieve this suffering. This can be
done to a financial advantage Of cur citizens and tax
payers of New Hanover County. AS has been pointed
out, if the State and Federal funds are not sufficient, our
County and our Charities must provide s1stenance. 1t
will be noted that the Government has ample funds ap-
p%ropriated, but our State has not matched them there
fore, the money is not available TO us although w stand
18th in the Union in revenue paid to the Government,
while our old age assistance grants IN North Carolina
/ are the lowest in the United States, with the exception
of Georgia and Kentucky. naamsa@sa
Our grants to the blind are tie lowest h Vie u. I.
with the exception of Alabama, Georgia, KssssAahg md
/ Virginia. sNsIt
Our aid to Dependent Children h lowest In The y.
S. with the exception Of Kentucky, Texas, md South
Carolina. azsaAss
By reason Of these facts, II will BE aBbarent that
the people of North Carolina and New Hanover Cosn-
ty are contributing to the support Of the aged and
blind and the dependent children, while the State Of
New York and other States are taking advantage Of
the funds provided by our Government. II h up 10
our legislators to protect our tax payers as well as
our aged persons and blind and our dependent shi-
dren and see that our rightful share of these funds,
which we have paid to the Federal Government, be
brought back into our State and County and there
given to those who deserve them, as intended by the
Federal Legislature.
EDGAR I. VOW
Vote May Is til. For
EDGAR l.. VOW
Enn GTATE rEHTev a~yn~r