Evening star., 1952-10-11
Report Attacks
Prince Georges
Welfare Heads
Committee Urges
Independent Agency
To Serve County
By J. [. Michoel

A report sharply attacking
State and local welfare officials
and recommending a new and
completely independent agency
for Prince Georges is under study
today by the county commits
Sioners.
The report, submitted yesterday
at Upper Marlboro. also advo-
Gated new legislation. new
Health and Welfare Department
integration of divided
assistance and salaries for well
fare workers comparable with
those in other metropolitan areas.
It, was read by Hervey G.
chairman of a commit
tee named by the commissioners
who long have been at odds with
State Welfare Board Director j.
Milton Patterson and some mem
bers of the County Welfare Board.
The commissioners took the
document under advisement after
accepting it with sincere appre-
citation for a magnificent job. :"
The tribute was directed to Mr..
Machen and his committee COL
leagues, Delegate Harry E. Taylor,
jr.: Mrs. Hazel r. Dyson, Mrs.
Louise D. Yuill and Mrs. Isabel G.
Zantzinger.
Expanded Agency Urged.
"This committee" the report
said, recommends:
Immediate establishment of
an expanded, integrated County
Welfare Services Department COM
pletely independent of the State
Welfare Department.
"The immediate appointment by
the county commissioners of a
director -ordinator of County
Welfare Services.
Immediate organization of a
Welfare Executive Committee.
This group would replace the
present embattled County Welfare
Board.
Ultimate integration of all
public welfare assistance now
administered by the Welfare
Board, County Social Service De-
Board of Health and
Hospital.
Submission of copies of the
report to the States attorney and
county legislators for study and
possible action at the 1853 General
Assembly"
The report suggested that until
such time as the County Welfare
Services Department is organized
and has obtained operating expe-
rience, the present State-aided
and supervised county welfare de-
partment continue 80 that no
person now on relief will suffer
because of any change of plans"
Interim Measure.
AS an interim measure, the COM
mittee urged that earlier recon-
of another committee
headed by Walter F. Mulligan.
president of the county Civic Fed
Grafton, be approved and set in
operation. That report advised
adoption Of stop-gap welfare
program "in keeping with the
needs, desires and human re-
sources of the citizens of Prince
Georges County"
It contemplated a program
worked out within funds appro-
priated for the County Social
Service Department and Aims
house." with additional help from
clubs, churches and civic groups.
AS a long-range objective. the
Machen committee recommended
"a centrally located Welfare De-
partment building that definitely
should house Health and Welfare
and possibly related
Lashing at Mr.. Patterson, the
report said:
This committee feels that the
rigid program now in effect in this
State is a detriment to a we'll
and overall welfare pro-
gram needed to serve Prince
Georges County. The fault, in our
opinion, lies not with the Federal
program but with the State pro-
gram now enforced from q State
level by the DIRECTOR Of the
State Department of Public We'll
fare"
Partially Hinted. ~
A hint that they believe the
State Welfare Director has shown
oartiality was contained in those
words of the committee: Several
years ago the Prince Georges We'll
fare Board asked the State Board
70 grant a greater measure of local
autonomy and requested an ex-
planation of why Montgomery
County is given larger allowances
5han Prince Georges. These points
we're not satisfactorily explained.
the report declared, "in fact. the
conditions still exist"
The State Welfare Department
mas under the law such complete
power. the report said, that its
working manual spells out in
great detail how to administer
public assistance plans"
Current policies regarding
director relationships are
;uch," the committee asserted,
that the position of director is
virtually that in name only. Office
manager would be a more indica-
i've title"
Criticizing members of the local
,oard, the committee observed:
q. we are found with q coun-
y welfare board refusing to be
esponsive to the elected county
yet responsible for spend
ng over 100000 of county
money"
'aving Contract Awarded