Evening star., 1961-08-18

Enforcement Of the city rule
that employable persons may
not draw relief was questioned
by Senator Byrd, as the result
of a telephone call he received
this morning from a man draw
ing $83 a month In welfare.
"He called to criticize me
because he had the mistaken
impression that I was out to
cut people in need from well
fare roles" Senator Byrd said.
The Senator said the man
had been seeking employment
every week for nearly a year at
an employment office. Rec
ordS there showed he was a
good typist. but could not do
lifting and heavy work. Also,
the man was barred from Gov
ernment employment because
of his unfortunate appearance
and security considerations.
"I had difficulty getting the
facts from the man." Senator
Byrd continued. "But from
what he told me and what his
employment record showed, he
seemed to be an employable
person, trying to find work and
he should not be getting relief" "
Shea Recalls a Case
Mr.. Shea said he thought he
recognized the man and could
describe him physically to the
Senator.
He. is a psychiatric case, an
unusual case and he should be
shifted from welfare to health
services as a permanently dis
abled person." Mr.. Shea said,
offering to tell the Senator
confidentially the name of the
man.
The Senator said he would
tell Mr.. Shea If the identified
ton was correct. But if it were
not, the Senator said he would
not reveal the name himself.
Il am not going to take ad-
vantage of this man, although
he probably was a little unwit-
ting in telling me about his cir
cumStanceS which I do not be-
lieve justify welfare support"
the Senator said. - --s
In another development pos
Sible frauds in District welfare
payments and reforms in ad-
ministration will be investi-
gated, J. E. Bindeman, chair
man Of the Commissioners
Welfare Advisory Council,
promised Senate Subcommit-
tee last night.
The citizen chairman as
sured Senator Byrd, his council
were worried about
the Tremendous rise" in vel
fare costs and believed econ
omieS were imperative"
Agree on Scrutiny
In Mr.. Bindeman, Senator
Byrd appeared to have found
a like thinker about the need
for scrutinizing the price of
public assistance.
Mr.. Bindeman discarded his
prepared testimony after listen
ing to Senator Byrd's skepticism
about the need for heavy well
fare outlayS.
Il want you to know we are
studying the tremendous surge
in every facet of welfare hene-
fits" Mr.. Bindeman, a lawyer,
said. He said in this era of
unprecedented prosperity, the
outlook for future cutbacks
seemed dim.
There may be no answer, he
conceded.
But council members are ask
ing why, for instance, only "a
parents cared enough to visit
some 482 children temporarily |
detained at Junior Village on a
typical. recent Sunday.
And why, Mr.. Bindeman
in June. 1861, was well
fare aid still being given to
the same 200 families with 10
year records on the rolls?
Continuing Checks
he Sald the committee had |
appointed a permanent sub
committee to make continuing
checks on welfare administra-
ton. This group will follow up
on charges at hearings yeSter-
lay from DR.. Llewellyn j. Scott
of irregularities in the Welfare
Department, he added.
DR.. Scott, of the Catholic In
5erracial Council and the
Blessed Martin Hospice, SO Il
street NE, told Senator Byrd
that many persons should be
removed from the welfare rolls.
Questioned closely by the
DR.. Scott, a native
WaShingtonian, said he had
seen people on public assistance
spend what money they had
.or liquor. These are poor
people whose children have no
.ood, no Clothes" he said.
Men Work, Wives Draw Aid
NGa,,a a4;y,aa. Ill., .IyL |