The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-09-22


Until recently, it's safe to say, a
Comparatively small proportion Of
the American people had ever
heard Of Newburgh. New York, a
city Of $1,000 on the Hudson Riv-
er. Bat Newburgh has been very
much in the news of late, and has
been the subject of lengthy arti-
cles N numbers Of national maya
zines and leading newspapers. For
events in Newburgh have focused
national attention on the welfare
problem and of associated prob
lens and issues that arise as a
welfare state develops and ex-
pands.
Last fall Newburgh hired new
and experienced city manager. One
of his first acts was to look into
the relief expenditure situation. He
found the payments came to al
most d third Of the total nunicipal
budget 1888 900 out of $S,134.00Ol
according to q Time magazine ac-I
count. This was more than was
spent on the police and fire de-
partlnents. Additionally, such heavy
relief spending inperiled certain
needed and wanted municipal inn
provements, and brought with il
The prospect Of higher taxes.
The upshot was that Newburgh's s.
/ .ity council took a long look at the
tangled relief picture and came up
with q new 13-point code. It is this
sode that has excited national no
.ess than state and local contro-
sersy. It provides, in part, that re-
ief payments shall be limited to a
three month period. except for the
aged and the physically handicap
bed: that the mothers of illegiti-
mate children, who have any more
babies out Of wedlock, shall be de-
lied welfare assistance; that, when
possible, relief payment viii be
nade through vouchers instead Of
lash 1.-THE council found that some
FASH payments were going for IL
Iuor and other non-necessities) .
Ind that able-bodied men drawing
relief payments would have to put
n 40-hour week at city work.
It would seem that this tough
policy has met with much more APP
broval than opposition, although, Of
curse, there is plenty of the lat
er. A number Of leading public
lgures have praised it, at least in
principle. On the other hand, Gov
rnor Rockefeller of New York is
dissenter, and so is the State
Board Of Social Welfare which
bays out about third Of munich
lal relief expenses. A legal prob
EN- appears here. Federal law re-
uires that the welfare program be
inform within a state, so the
oard fears that Newburgh's in
ransigence could conceivably lead
8 the loss Of federal payments to-
he whole state. So, in the view Of
payid FRANKIE, writing in National
eview--a view which many hold
the Newburgh case proves that
ederal aid brings federal control.
/ shows that federal aid impingesI
OF only on states rights but on
he rights Of local governments
yithin the states"
The basic problem has been sue
inctly described by Time in these
lords: The welfare state means
ew security for the millions who
not share the nations affuence.
Tut it also means public interview
ion in private lives, job Sinking
elief chiselers who loaf at gov
rnment expense, and tax burdens
nat soar higher every year. This
the problem that Newburgh
seeking to solve. The towns
ouncil and city manager are
ct opposed to welfare per Sc,
hey are simply opposed to what
hey consider to be unjustifable
md expensive abuses.
What the end will be is not yet
lear. Meanwhile, an editorial in
life which approved the New
lrgh action in general, though
BIT all the provisions of the pro-
- IL 4