Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-15

nlgner To-Day imam In 1910, and
four times as high as in 1850.
Nearly four fifths, or 20,894,
Of all District recipients are
those mothers and their chill
dren. In numbers of people re-
ceiving aid in this category,
the increase is 466 per cent over
the past 20 years, 129 per cent
from 1910 to 1850 and 148 per
cent over the past decade.
Aid to dependent children
went to $3.50 persons in 1910;
to 8.433 in 1850 and over 20
1874 in 1860.
Statistics Studied '
The financial statistics tell
another story. The percentage
increases on aid to dependent
children were 1913 per cent from
1910 to 1850; 306 per cent from
1850 to 1860, and 1868 per cent
over the 20-year span from
1910 to 1860. During that Pc
riod, costs climbed from Sab
$50 in 1910 to $1.8 million in
1850 and. to $7.3 million last
year.
Relating statistics to children
is part of the perplexing prob
lem facing Government Off
Gals, particularly in the Dis
trict.
The re-evaluation under way
is almost certain to reflect
political arguments. Welfare
has emerged as a major issue
in the New York mayorality
contest. Arizona's Senator
Barry Goldwater and New
York's Gov. Nelson Rockefeller
have yet to crystalline a Re-
publican position.
Senator Robert Byrd, Demo-
crat Of West Virginia, has
warned that relief expenditures
in the Nations Capital are ris-
ing SO rapidly that the city is
becoming more and more a
welfare state"
The Kennedy administration
Is seeking to assume leadership.
Speeches Slated
Welfare Secretary Ribicoff
probably viii sketch the broad
outlines of the administration
approach in four speeches. They
are set for October % in Cleve-
land, October 20 in New York
City, December in Chicago.
and December 4, in Lawrence,
KanS.
Secretary Ribieoff has re-
ceiYed suggestions from well
fare directors on State and
local levels throughout the
country. Some 20 social well
fare experts assigned to a
complete REORGANIZATION" Of
relief programs have given him
their findings. So has George
Wyman, executive director of
the immunity Planning
Council of Los Angeles, who
was commissioned to do an in
dependent study.
The expansion recommended
by these advisers is expected
to be cut back drastically by
Mr., Ribiceff.
The Secretary repeatedly ia
vors, however, a whole new APP
to welfare - Ringing
payments increasingly on re-
cipients' willingness to work.
His approach could call for the
creation of jobs for the needy
by public agencies and pri-
vate employers. A modernized
"make-work" program remi-
niscent of New Deal days may
be in the offing.
New Concepts
Also, the administration pro-
gram is expected to extend
temporary aid for children of
employable but jobless par
ents.
Many welfare officials are
hopeful that Mr.. Ribicoff will
ask for Federal grants to the
general public assistance" cat
egory, now financed locally.
They expect him to demand an
attack on social forces that
limit opportunities of the desti-
tute. This would mean Job
training, rehabilitation, hous-
ing, health and juvenile de.
linquency services.
The administrations pro-
posalS are bound to cost money,
Their sponsors will ask if tax
payers can afford not to risk
this spending to attack thu
social decay that accounts for
much of the relief burden.
The answer Congress gives
nay determine the direction
If welfare programs in the Dis
riot and the States for years
% come.
TomoHow-Senotor Byrd's approach,