Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-25

request 10 QeIer REDUCTIONS IN
checks for two months-from
November / to January I.
While the request was d.
rected to the Senate and House
Appropriations Committees,
Senator Byrd holds the key to
the decision as head Of the
Districts Senate Appropr1a-
tons Subcommittee.
His opposite number on the
House side, Representative
Rabaut, Democrat Of Michigan.
already is on record as not
favoring cutting welfare pay
mentS to dependent children.
withheld Judgment
Both committee leaders had
said they would withhold judy
ment on the request until they
received the Commissioners
letter.
Mr.. Rabaut. reached in De-
troit, said he had contacted
Commissioner Tobriner Mon
day by telephone and asked for
a letter. He also asked that a
copy be sent to Representative
hatcher, Democrat of Ken
lucky, who was acting head Of
the House unit much Of last
year during the absence Of Mr..
Rabaut, who has been Ill.
The problem of where the
District will get the money If
the welfare reductions are not
made appeared to be a relative
ly minor one.
One reason, officials con-
coded, was that an error had
been made in presenting esti-
mates to Senator Byrd's SUBJ
committee. As q result of the
error made by Welfare Depart
ment budget aides, the city's
budget was cut by only $50, 900
to reflect the welfare check re-
auctions.
Four Months Worth
The $4,000 was to cover the
savings to the city for a nine
month period beginning Octo-
Der /. In submitting the $780,
600 figure. however, city off,
Gals enormously had calculated
on the basis of q combination
Of Federal and local money,
whereas actually all Of the
money from the relief check
cuts comes from District funds.
The savings from the cut
back would amount to about
$4,000 a month. II the cuts are
not made. the city will have to
find only the $4,000 taken
from the budget, or four
months worth Of payments.
Time has run out, however,
On processing the November l
relief checks. officials said. This
means that these payments will
be reduced in line with a Com
missioners' order earlier this
month.
Cuts Restored
II the requesct receives
congressional approval, how
ever, the cuts will be restored
by sending additional relief
checks in November. it was ex-
planned. Officials estimated that
the city could get out supple
mental checks in less than a
week.
Yesterdays action was taken
at the request Of Commissioner
John B. Duncan, who had an
nounced that he would make
this move last week.
Mr.. Duncan repeated his ear
Her statement that he was
seeking a poStponement to al
low time for a study of the
impact relief check reductions
would have on the families.
The reductions that had been
ordered by the Commissioners
were for families with four or
more children. The cut was to
be 50 a month for the fourth
child and 81 more for each
additional child. These relief
checks go to children whose
father, is absent, dead or, in
some cases. incapacitated.
As an example, a family with
five children would receive a
monthly check Of $209, rather
than $2l5.
The welfare cutback actually
already is reflected in the city's
current budget. That is the rea-
son why the Commissioners are
asking for congressional APP
proval of their proposed post
ponement on the reductions.
The reductions were proposed
by Gerard Shea, city welfare