Evening star., 1953-06-25
Unified Welfare Law
Backed by Witnesses
AT House Hearing
By Harold B. Rooers

Legislation to improve admin
istration of District public well
fare by consolidating all present
laws into one was Endorsed by
several witnesses today before a
House District subcommittee.
Praise for the bill came at a
public hearing from spokesmen
for city Government leaders and
most representatives of civic and
social agencies.
One witness objected to any
opening of relief rolls to the pub
lie which the bill provides be left
to the discretion of the District
Commissioners.
The measure is almost identi-
cal with one passed by the Sen
ate last year but which did not
become law.
The controversary over publi-
cation of relief rolls had been
resolved. after Senate public
hearings. by giving District Com
missioners the decision.
Holds Hearing Alone.
Subcommittee Chairman Mil
Ter conducted the hearing with
no other members of his unit
present. But he kept a record
which he said would be consid-
cred by the subcommittee later in
executive session.
The approval of the District
Commissioners, who had request
ed the legislation, was voiced by
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Irving Bryan.
The measure, as explained by
Mr.. Bryan and others, is de-
signed to unity and put into one
law the different provisions in
various acts which now make diff
f1cult the administration of diff
ferent categories of public well
fare.
Three members of the Board of
Public Welfare strongly support
ed the measure. They were board
chairman Edgar Morris, Mrs.
Theodore Wedel and the Rev.
l.. Maynard Catchings. They
stressed the bill would make pos
sible better and more efficient
administration.
Public Welfare Director Ger
ard M. Shea explained that one
particular benefit of the new
legislation would be a uniform
procedure for determining eligi-
bility of persons for public as
SiStance.
Explaining that there is a
difference in present laws for
such eligibility, Mr.. Shea said
the proposed bill will result in
a more equitable treatment of
all persons in need as well as
improve the total administra-
tion through providing for sim
gle standard and a single for
mula for evaluating resources of
all applicants"
Speed Emergency Cases.
He also pointed to a provision
which would permit the faster
handling Of emergency cases for
| food and shelter.
Protest against any opening of
relief rolls was voiced by Grace
M. Spiro, executive secretary of
the Washington chapter, Ameri-
cans for Democratic Action.
She said that the word open
ing" was somewhat misleading
since 40 agencies are now au-
thorized to inspect the rolls.
This seems to us to provide a
fairly substantial Safeguar
against Justification" she added.
Among other witnesses at the
hearing were Mrs: Leah Lachen-
bruch of the local chapter,
American Association of Social
Workers: Mrs. Jack J. Gottsegen
of the Washington section of the
National Council of JEWS h
Women; Donald Gray, superin-
tendent of public assistance, and
William PAWS, attorney for pub
lie assistance.
Representative Miller went
into the details of how public
welfare is administered here, de-
veloping for the record many fig
ureS showing its extent and cost.
Witnesses testified that there are
1000 so-called cases including
1880 people as Of May 80 re-
ceiving public welfare Of some
hind here