Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-05
Unemployment,
Relief Study
Urged Here
Commissioners Asked
To Form Committee
To AnoIyze Problem
By John w. Stepp

AAO OAoUA4CG AOk14k111SSlOI1CTS
today were urged to form a COM
mittee that will analyze and re-
port on unemployment and
public relief conditions which
have been becoming more of a
problem here in recent months.
This was the upshot of q spe-
cial meeting called by Commits
Sioner Renah F. Camalier of
public and private welfare
agency officials. Mr.. Camalier
indicated the study group may
be appointed later in the day.
More than a score of the COM
munity's welfare. labor, civic and
religious leaders attended. The
consensus, as expressed by Ferdi-
nand V. Grayson, executive di-
rector Of United Community
Services. was that while nobody
wants to "cry wolf" a careful
study of available relief and
unemployment figures is needed
to determine what all these sta
tistics add I'D to-"
Suggestions Offered.
Several suggestions were Of
fered to alleviate rising relief
needs.
Jay c. Turner, vice president
of the Washington Central Labor
Union, offered these possibilities:
l. Legislation and necessary
funds to permit the District Pub
lie Welfare Department to make
relief payments to unemployed
employableS Since 1947 public
assistant payments have been
available only to persons unable
to work.
2. Raising District unemploy-
ment compensation payments,
maximum for which is now $40
a week for 20-week period
which Mr.. Turner described as
about the lowest in the coun-
try"
3. Expediting the city's $305
million public works improvement
program not only to build up
the Districts physical plant but
as means of providing more
jobs for the available work force.
Enthusiastic Support.
Mr.. Turner received enthusi-
astlc support for his idea of ex-
tending public assistance COW
erage from Mr.. Grayson. George
Pikser, executive director of the
Jewish Social Service Agency,
and DR.. Albert E. Croft. welfare
director of the Washington Fed
Grafton Of Churches.
Gerard M. Shea, District pub
lie welfare director, warned
that to extend public relief pay
ments would require not only
more funds to meet the sub
stantially increased demand but
money to increase the size of
the welfare staff, which now has
load of 140 cases per staff
worker.
William II. Press, executive
vice president of the Washing
ton Board of Trade, outlined eff
forts of his organization to in
crease job opportunities here.
In the first place, Mr.. Press
said, the board is hopeful that
unemployment has 1eveled off,"
He added the board is intensi-
flying its efforts to attract more
business and trade enterprises
to the District. He said that the
board is aiming particularly at
the light industry and large ma
tional associations that main
tains headquarters at preaent in
other cities.
Part of this goal, Mr.. Press
explained, is to reduce the city's
high dependence" on the Fed
eral Government payroll. He
said that from 1900 to the mid
1930s there were up to four peo-
pie holding non-Federal jobs for
every Federal jobholder. This
ratio has now dropped virtually
to a one-to-one basis.
Others who spoke today gave
statistical details on the recent
increase in unemployment and
public relief cases.
Others appearing and their
comments were:
Capt. Ernest HOIz of the Sal
walton Army-The Army's aid to
the needy reached a thigh point"
last January, with 40 applica-
tons filed as against 223 in
January. 1853. Unemployment
that month was the chief cause,
representing AZ per cent of the
applications filed.
A Sharper Rise.
The Rev. Leo COady, executive
director of Catholic charities
While there has always been a
normal increase in unemploy-
ment during winter months. the
present winter has reflected
a sharper rise than in previous
years. In February, 1853, only
z per cent of the needy applied
because of unemployment in the
family. Last month the figure
rose to 20 per cent.
John Theban, executive direc-
tor Of the UCS family and child
services-Due to new welfare
applications "the money ex-
pended in the first two months
of this year is one-third of the
sum budgeted for the entire
year."
Mrs. Muriel Alexander, WASH
ington Congress of Parent
Teacher Associations-A recent
survey in one school showed that
1853 parents have become unem-
ployed since last October /.
Mrs willard r. Culver, PTA
Congress-"Right now our Stu
dent Aid Committee is being
swamped by the needy. The last
two months have been worst"
D. c. Man Graduated i
Ahro ham Kich<a- - 1Ano