Evening star., 1947-06-26
House Unit Gets
Appeal for New
Welfare Sefup
Commissioners and
Board Members Both
Ask More Power
BY Harold B. Rogers

ring to them most Of the powers of
the Board of Public Welfare but
board members appeared at the
same Congressional hearing to op-
pose the bill and asked for more au-
tonomous authority Of their own.
After hearing the testimony the
House District Welfare Subcommit-
tee decided to delay until tomorrow
morning action on the measure.
Representative Miller, Republican
Of Nebraska, subcommittee chair
man, said the committee also would
take up tomorrow morning the gen.
eral subject of child day care CEN
tiers for children of working moth
ers. A measure to extend the Dis
trict's program for such centers
another year already has gone to the
White House, but the subcommittee
was asked to look into the question
as to future policy.
Witnesses Agree on Change.
The controversial question of d.
vided authority between the Com
nnissioners and the Welfare Board
drew testimony from virtually all
witnesses today to the effect that
the present system should be
changed.
Three members Of the Welfare
Board, Fred s. Kogod, acting chair
man: A. j. Driscoll and Mrs. Rad
ford Moses, recommended that the
board should have more authority.
along the lines of that exercised by
the Board of Education. Under
questioning from committee men,
bers. however, the members said
they would be willing to serve on
the board even If the Commission
ers' bill were enacted.
Chairman Miller commended all
members of the board for their
public spirited and "unselflsh" serv-
ice.
Commissioners J. Russell Young
and Guy Mason, together with Cor
poration Counsel Vernon E. West,
appeared and recommended enact
ment of the legislation. From both
Commissioners came friendly words
for the personal relationships be-
tween the Commissioners and the
Welfare Board members.
Young Praises Members
Commissioner Young praised
them as fine public-spirited citi-
zens who have served without pay
at great personal sacrifice.
Commissioner Mason emphasized
there as no criticism Of this fine
group of men and women" but he
charged that the system of divided
authority had worked to the "detri-
Inent Of the Welfare Department"
Almost every one In Washington
thinks we run the Welfare Depart
naent," Commissioner Young said
when anything goes wrong. when
ever there Is any mistake or error,
we get blamed for 1t, while our only
responsibility is for the money"
He explained that the bill brings
administration of public welfare di-
rectly under the Commissioners,
setting up a Welfare Department,
leaving the Board of Public Welfare
to serve In an advisory relationship.
UnworkabIe Conditions.
Committee members questioned
the Commissioners at length about
details of the bill. Mr.. Miller sug-
gested that some provision should
be rewritten to give the District
government a stronger voice" in
carrying out the welfare program
here especially in the administra-
ton of Federal aid money allocated
to this city by the Social Security
Administration.
Mr.. Kogod said he heartily agreed
that changes we're necessary because
the present divided authority Gre
ates some unavoidable conditions.
He said the board felt the need OF
a central business office.
A. r. Pilkerton, District auditor,
explained the system by which his
office checks expenditures for vel
fare. But he added that he did not
have the authority to go beyond the
reports made by case supervisors on
payment of funds to indigents.
Asked II enactment Of the bill
would increase or decrease the cost
of public welfare in Washington.
Mr.. Pilkerton said he thought it.
would do neither. but would give the
Commissioners needed better con-
troll"