Evening star., 1950-01-09

trical distribution system at the
District Training School for the
Predetermined at Laurel with the
Commissioners authorized to en-
ter into construction contracts
costing up to 81 100000.
District officials explained that
while these plants are needed at
the District Training School now,
they could also serve the proposed
Children's Center to be located
nearby.
2. An item of $4,000 to be
spent on drawing plans for the
new Industrial Home School for
white boys and girls to be located
in the Children's Center. Esti-
mated cost of constructing the
new school Is set at $1,000, 900.
This would replace the antiquated
and long critized school on Wis
consin avenue.
8. A total of $750,000 to begin
construction of an infirmary and
a separate laundry building at the
Home for Aged and Infirm with
total cost of these projects esti-
mated at 100000.
One of Unmet Needs.
One of the unmet needs here
has been a place where the chroni-
cally i'll aged could be given ade-
quate care. Recently DR.. Winfred
Overholser, superintendent of st.
Elizabeth's Hospital said 200 Of
the aged mentally Ill at his insti-
tuition could leave the hospital If
there were some other place where
they could get nursing care. The
proposed inf1rmary could answer
that need, assuming that it could
be adequately stated.
4. A total of $4,000 to build
a new central kitchen for the
Industrial Home School for COL
ored children at Blue Plains.
While more generous to well
fare institutions than they have
been in years. the Commissioners
did not go along with all the
building projects proposed by the
Welfare Department. Rejected
were requests for $250,000 to start
building detention dormitory
at the District Training School
and 5000, 900 to begin construction
of new National Training School
for Girls.
For the first time since the war,
the Commissioners asked for an
increase in the number of en-
ployes in the Welfare Depart
ment's public assistance division.
Welfare officials said the addi-
tional case workers would make
it possible to cut down the watt
ing time for those seeking relief.
At present, 1t was explained.
those in need Of public assistance
must wait five weeks before they
can even be interviewed.
Relief Grants Reduced.
The proposed budget, however,
sharply reduced the Welfare De-
partment's request for relief
grants. Instead Of increasing re-
lief funds by nearly a million dol
lars as the Welfare Department
requested, the budget request car.
ries an increase Of approximately
$110, 0,000-or about per cent more
than the current ALLEGATION Of
District funds for relief.
These exact figures do not show
up in the budget request because
of the inclusion of Federal con-
tributions and expenditures for
personnel. Welfare officials, how
ever, said District money allocated
for relief payments would be in
creased from $2,440,000 in the
current appropriation to $685.
600 for the next fiscal year. Since
District funds are supplemented
by Federal funds on proportion
ate basis. 1t was explained, there
would be some increase in the
amount of Federal money avail
able for relief.
Welfare officials predicted an
increase of approximately 10 per
cent in the number of cases eligi.
BILE for relief during the 1851 fiscal
year.