Evening star., 1953-02-12
UCS trustees Urqed
To Keep Housing
Group, Save Chest

Group, Save Chest
Trustees Of the United Com
munity Services today were
urged to keep the Washington
Housing Association in the Com
munity Chest. A definite de-
cision is expected to be made
April 90.
Meanwhile. a move was afoot
to cut funds Of the American
Legion welfare Department here
and oust it next year from the
Chest.
A unanimous vote of the 1875
present at a membership meet
ing Of VIVA yesterday at the
YWCA. urged the UCS approval,
The move followed an address
by Maj Gen. U. S. Grant III, a
VIVA director, who warned that
attempts to oust VIVA from the
Chest might well presage the
breakup Of the Chest if success
full.
A. M. DraiSner, a real estate
broker, was author Of the resolu-
tion. The resolution added that
mere differences Of opinion or
threats of non-support to Chest
activities should not be the
measure of membership in the
Chest"
VIVA President Campbell c.
johnson thanked the member
ship for its vote of confidence
In the association"
Gen. Grant sketched the his
tory Of VIVA. He said it's sup
port of the Urban Redevelopment
Act Of 1945 caused much Of it's
opposition. although other groups
supported the legislation.
Gen. Grant contended since
1916 efforts have been made to
squeeze or starve or bully VIVA
out Of the Chest" He said if
this is done it will be the fore
runner Of moves to oust 81
groups in the Chest named as
unit for membership. This,
he contended. would result in
q great many Embarrassing cam
paigns and the breakup of the
Chest program.
The UCS Budget Committee
has recommended that the Le-
gion's budget be cut from the
1852 ALLEGATION of $25, $50 to $23,-
900. But this recommendation
will have to go to the UCS Ex-
ecutive Committee and then to
the Board Of Trustees before
final action is taken.
Saving Would Be Distributed.
Under the recommendation
the Legion budget saving of
$2,500 for the current year would
be distributed among five family
service agencies. They are Cath
olic Charities. Family and Child
Services, Jewish Social Service
Agency, Salvation Army and
Travellers Aid Society.
On the question of whether the
Legion department should be in
the Chest in 1854, the Admis-
sionS Committee of the Family
and Child Welfare Section has
recommended against it. But
that report will have to 60 to
the section for action, then to
the UCS Executive Committee
and then to its Board of Trustees.
Ferdinand v. Grayson execu-
tive director Of UCS, has been
advised the Legion group is not
operated in the most economical
manner, seems to have a high
overhead, serves only a special
type OF need and duplicates
services to veterans available
through Government agencies
and veterans groups.
Conference Planned.
But Michael Leo Looney. for
ner chairman of the Legion's
department and use budget
committee member, filed a mi
norlty report in which he up
holds the veterans organization.
Robert A. Bunch, District de-
partment commander of the
American Legion, and z. D.
Blackstone, jr., chairman of the
Legion's Welfare Advisory Coun-
Gil, will confer with Legion post
commanders and auxiliary unit
presidents on the problem.
Percy Weinberg, executive di-
rector of the Legion's welfare
department, said today:
MY board has not been ad-
vised. But we find there is no
substar1tiation to these charges.
Our board will answer them
when we are officially informed.
I'VE were invited to come into
the Chest. But this may force
us into separate campaign for
funds, the very thing the Chest
was set up to avoid"
At the April meeting. UCS will
determine the future fate not
only Of VIVA, but all other men,
ber bodies receiving funds, Off
cialS said. But Chest officials
said the Executive Committee of
the Board of Trustees will meet
on April 9 at 1101 M street NV,
as an Admissions Committee to
pass on the VIVA case.