Evening star., 1947-12-10
Inefficieney Charged
In Study Of Baltimore
PubIicWe|fare System
BY the Assoeiaisd Press

BALTIMORE, Dec. 10.-Balti.
more's public welfare system "is
conducted with apparent dis
regard for practical experience
with life and human behavior,
a report of the Maryland Com
mission on Governmental EfIi.
cheney and Economy said today
The 25,000-word report, made
public last night by Mayor Thomas
d'Alesandro contended that welfare
policies of the city "in actual prac.
tice condone and in effect encourage
dependence upon the government
idleness, pauperism, desertion,- lille.
gitimacy, dishonesty and irrespon.
sibility."
It said one weakness of the system
is that management is entirely in
the hands of social workers, and
added:
"The administration needs q
strong executive in control of bus
lness management to counterbalance
the impractical social approach to
the administrative details"
Nine-Month Study Made.
The commission made a nine
month study Of the city welfare de-
partment and, as a result of a Gen
eral Assembly resolution, now is in
vestigating public welfare work OF
the state.
Mayor d'Alesandro said on releas-
ing the report he had talked with
Gov. Lane and they would issue a
joint statement later.
The report said:
l. The Baltimore welfare pro-
gram is so improperly managed that
it is full of confusion and con-
tradictions," that it is defeating its
own ends and that it needs a new
beginning under new philosophy
2. The municipal agency spends
about $11,000,0O0 annually, second
only to schools in total outlay among
city departments, and it's admin
istration will grow and its cost in
crease as time goes on, no matter
what general business and employ
ment conditions may be-"
3. Political influence and preju-
dice do not enter the welfare pic
ture. The agency is stated with
sincere" but Impractical" person.
mel.
Personnel Dissatisfied.
4. The departments attitude to-
wards overpayment and fraud is
"complacent."
S. Some of the personnel is dis
satisfied and improperly trained.
6. Baltimore city and the State of
Maryland are being used as prov
ing grounds for social work theories
Of the Federal administration" and
for more than 10 years Federal laws
have shielded from public view"
the results of the theories.
The commissions report said that
a test inquiry into 100 cases of gen.
eral public assistance raised i'm
portant questions as to the eligibil-
ity" Of 81 Of the cases.
1t told of men "lounging about
the room" in several cases when
checks were delivered to INDECENT
mothers, and that "in large num-
Der of cases the client was to inert
to get up and open the door and
take her check"
The report added:
1T (the departmenD regards
money and management values as
of relatively little Importance"
1t is full of confusions and contra
dictions. Nothing Is clear-cut and
direct"
TOO much dependence is put on
statements of applicants and clients,
many Of whom are incapable Of
assuming responsibility or telling
the truth"
From close association with the
strong impression is
received that the department Is
more interested in the indoctrina-
ton of its own workers than in
solving the problems Of it's clients
Not. only are the policies lenient
as to the eligibility of clients, but
the department is lax in following
up the continuing eligibility Of
clients once they are in the welfare
roles.
TN fact. the regulations hinder
real investigation"