Evening star., 1947-03-11
Time to Review the System

Chairman Koran of the House
Subcommittee on District Appropri-
ations has pointed out some Incl
dents of waste in public relief which
he attributes to the system" rather
than to inefficiency of individuals.
He wants the leaks plugged. He is
constructive in his criticism, the re-
lief authorities agree with much of
what he says and something may
be done about it.
But the broader question relates to
where we are going with public
assistance program, relatively new
as function of Government, which
has never received legislative author
ization beyond the allotment of
funds in appropriation bills. The
sums spent each year on public
relief are substantial items in the
District budget. 1t is time that the
whole system be subjected to careful
study by the District legislative COM
mittees and that we cease depend
ing on annual Improvisation through
appropriation bills.
Prior to 1882 there was no such
thing in the District as appropria-
tions for public relief" Up to that
time, families in distress were the
wards of private charitable and well
fare organizations. In June of the
depression year of 1882, when there
was widespread local unemployment,
Congress appropriated $350,000 for
Emergency Relief of Residents"
following it up with two deficiency
appropriations which made a total
Of $1,150,000 in the fiscal year 1888.
The money, known as general public
assistance" goes to those considered
unemployable. 1t has become an
annual charge, a fixture in the Dis
trict bill. For the next fiscal year
the estimate is $646.000
In the meantime, two other forms
of public assistance resulted from
National legislation for grants in
aid. One is for old-age assistance,
amounting to abo1t $513, 900 a. year
this sotnersfor aid I'd the blind. $53,-'
900, these sums from local revenue
matching Federal allotments. In
addition .sthe Z Districts share gof
grants tor dependent children has
increased from $225, 600. in 1888, to
$607,000 estimated for next year.
The first category-general public
assistance-is paid entirely from
local revenues, with no help from
Federal funds. It is the largest ex-
penditure and there has never been
specific legislation authorizing it or
setting up administrative methods.
Everything has been done through
appropriation bills. Legislation is
advisable for two reasons.
First, there should be careful con-
sideration whether a system of
monthly payments to unemployable
indigents, designed originally to
alleviate distress in an emergency,
Is to become a regular function of
government in good times as we'll as
bad. The system has already created
a new way of life" for the class of
people who go on relief and depend
for subsistence on monthly checks
from public funds. The worst fea-
ture is the lack of any real program
of rehabilitation designed To rid the
rolls of those who may get on.
In the second place, if unemploy-
able indigents are to become per-
manent public charges, we should
set up fool-proof machinery for
relief administration. Last year
a bill establishing administrative
methods for general public assist
ance was introduced, but failed of
enactment. 1t is up again this year.
Mr.. Horan's criticism of the system
as rotten" should bring it up for
consideration.