Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-02-26
BY Herman r. Sehoden
sisf staff Correspondent

CHICAGO. FEB. 2e.---Foes Of
secrecy In relief administration
gradually but firmly are driving
q wedge into the time. hohored
theory that ell welfare meetings
must be closed to the public,
This IL d tangible byspf0duet
Of successful f1ehts In Illinois and
Indiana 10 make relief rolls q
matter Of public record
II wasn't 40 much the actual
barring OF The rolls "a 10 was the
attendant newspaper publicity
that shocked welfare directors
Into a realization that, after oil,
they were dealing with a public
problem involving public funds,
This WAS evident In ElllnelG,
where the Public AID Commission
only last month threw open 10
the press ltA former executive
sessions,
Under Protective Shell,
Like the Public Welfare De-
partment In the District Of CO.
lumbia and many others through.
out the country, the IPAc went
into q shell years ago and never
came out,
The convenient excuse was that
parts OF the meetings were taken
UP with case appeals and other
matters involving relief clients
that might embarrass them.
In Chicago the IPAC held
monthly executive sessions In the
morning and open meetings for
the press IN the afternoon.
I'VE are giving away about sos
million month and ! thought
people were entitled TO know where
II ID going" said Henry X. Tenney,
fpAC chairman,
80 we struck On agreement
with the newspapers whereby they
could print nothing about the
cases up for appeal that would
harm any one, or about any other
business which would unnees
eesafiiy embaffass people"
He credited the vigorous cam
paign OF the Chicago Daily News
and its welfare reporter, Jay Me-
Mullen, for making the commits
sion aware OF too much secrecy.
There's Q similar movement
under way In Indiana, where re-
lief rolls were opened TO the public
q week before those OF Illinois,
State Welfare Board meetings
still are closed 10 the press, but
Administrator Maurice o. Hunt
said he expects to sound out the
board soon on the question Of open
meetings.
He said that, personally, no
leaned toward open meetings. but
he did not say he would recon-
mend them.
In Indiana, the indianapolis
Star has been pounding away at
the secrecy motif In welfare work.
Last week the State Board dis
cussed the topic with county ad-
Ininistrators, who have some
policy-making authority Of their
own. Mr.. Hunt said the counties
were reminded that they could
exercise their own judgment o. 10
whether the press was invited 70
meetings.
A few counties have been letting
newsmen In with the understand.
Ing they will not print intimate
and personal matters, Mr.. Hunt
said.
Both sides In Error.
Welfare men In Illinois and In.
diana say nearly four months Of
exposing relief clients 10 the public
can be summed up thus
II anything, II has proved that
both sides In the seeFeeys0fs moi
controversy were eveFseKeiaimihe
one side said relief rolls weuld be
dFastiealiy reduced II fear OF pub
LEFTY was Injected, The ether
eehtehded many desperate people
would drop out rather than face
public eehsuFer
The general thinking IA that No
relief clients have been hurt, but
neither has there been 0 tighten
Inc OF the welfare load Just be-
eavte Of the public Fells,
HeweveF, mot q single admins,
traitor questioned In either statt
reported any harm done by max.
Ing welfare lists public,
| ExeepnseF q bit more bookk0ep,
Ing, thd epsFational end Of th'