Evening star., 1962-01-31
Relief Cheotinq
Congratulations

Congratulations to your
staff writer, Grace Bassett.
Even though it appears to
be a national disgrace, it
nevertheless is reassuring to
learn the true facts with ref
erence to the deplorable con-
ditions existing in the II
welfare aid cases recently in
Vestigated.
It is evident now that these
are not isolated cases in the
District or in Newburgh, N. Y,
but apparently exist in many
areas and on a large scale.
Certainly the citizens and
taxpayers of our country
have a right to ask some
pertinent questions. Why or
how was this possible over
such a long period of time
without detection?
Let us hear from those high
Government officials who
were so quick to criticize the
local officials of Newburgh
when an attempt was made
to correct these same abuses.
What precautions were TAX
en- by congressional commit
tees who had responsibility
for the appropriations and
administrative functions of
our Capital? Was RESPONSE
bility lacking with reference
to the rules and regulations
issued by the Department of
Health, Education and We'll
fare? Federal funds are in
volved. Are criminal prosecu-
tions planned for obtaining
money under false pretenses
or Is action being taken for
reimbursement of such funds
illegally obtained? Is this in
vestigation being extended to
all cases and all areas? What
corrective action is taken to
stop these abuses i'm
mediately?
Our citizens are entitled to
answers to these questions.
AS for conditions in our
Nations Capital, is any at
tempt made to establish ia
therhood and financial re-
sponsibility at the time an
illegimate child is born? Is
there no such law covering
the District or is it lack of
enforcement that permits
such an immoral situation to
thrive and grow?
There can be no local re-
sponsibility without getting
back some of our local
authority.
Maybe a Nationwide Or
ganization of taxpayers or a
Nationwide organization of
Lets Let Local Loyalty Live"
clubs would be the answer to
help protect our freedom and
our individual rights which
we are losing fast unless some
corrective action is taken.
Frank F. KOrff.
Il 4 \
In a letter January %, one
of your readers suggested that
those persons who have de-
frauded our Government of
thousands of dollars in well
fare funds, by lying to get
on relief rolls, be punished
as are other criminals.
Several people have agreed
with this but have wondered
how best to "get blood out of
a turnip." Certainly they
reason, it would be costly to
try to collect what these
thieves have stolen from the
needy, through garnishment
proceedings, and putting
them in Jail would be no par
ticular punishment to people
of this character.
I submit that a possible
way of making them repay
what they have stolen and
discouraging them from fu-
ture attempts at fraud is to
charge all amounts fraudu-
lently obtained to the social
security account of the guilty
and legalize the withholding
of pension until the debt is
satisfied. Of course, the Of
tenders should be offered the
opportunity of making volun
tary restitution, but it would
be made clear to them
that if they did not do so
voluntarily, they would even
tually be forced. through this
method, to restore what they
had stolen. NJ. SNYDER.