Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-02
WELFARE
Continued From Page A..

were closed after the investi-
cation.
OF 81 cases actually investi-
gated to date, 20, or 95 per
cent. have been found ineligible.
The investigation is being con-
Quoted by District Welfare De-
partment personnel and investi-
gators from the General Ac-
counting Office in the Federal
Government.
Senator Byrd commented that
he had been criticized a good
bit for his efforts to ferret out
cheating in the relief rolls but
he said the efforts Of Congress
to clean up the case loads and
give the welfare program the
respect it is entitled to should
not be criticized.
II hope when the record is
laid down I will have the sup
port of the community and GER
tainly of Congress and the tax
payer in an effort to right a
situation that needs to be
righted." Senator Byrd said
"All Of our hearts beat with
feeling for those people who
need help" he declared. "I want
to see eligible persons get help.
At the same time the people
of this country are opposed to
taking Of their hard-earned
money by those who do not
meet requirements and who
know they don't meet the re-
quirementS. This is cheating"
Senator Byrd said he believes
his colleagues agree with him.
He added, IF I have to stand
on my feet "a hours on the
Senate floor to defend this
position, I'm ready any day."
Final Report Soon
Welfare Director Gerard M,
Shea told Senator Byrd he ex-
pected to have the final report
on this special investigation
ready by next Friday. Senator
Byrd said the findings to date
have been submitted by the
welfare department in a series
of three letters last month.
The earlier reports on the
Aid to Dependent Children
study were quite clear. the Sen
ator said. But it appears that
the same person did not pre-
pare the general public assist
ance investigation reports.
No analysis was provided, and
he had to do the recapitulation
himself, Senator Byrd said.
81 was up until ! O'Clock
this morning trying to cate
gorize the reasons for the cases
being closed" he said.
After hearing Senator Byrd's
case by case analysis, Senator
Allott, Republican Of Colorado,
said the attitude appeared to
be, anything you can get is
fine and it's a sleigh ride"
Gross Neglect
Senator Allott said relief
chiseling was just as illegal as
forging a check or robbing a
bank.
"It's Just inconceivable.
Somewhere there's gross neg
lect. I don't blame the people
who administer the funds and
welfare workers entirely. I
think the American people are
responsible too"
Senator Byrd gave this run
down of reasons why cases were
closed.
l. A man had been in and out
Of jail so often that investiga-
tors could neither keep up with
him nor get information. They
finally found that he had been
in Jail since May "a and closed
his case June 8.
2. A man had a full time job.
3. A woman was working and
not reporting her income above
her relief check.
4. A man, employed full time,
had a long police record of rob-
berry, disorderly conduct, as
sault and arson charges. He
was arrested July 4 and SEN
fenced to 80 days in Jail for
being drunk and disorderly.
S. A golf caddy was picking
up $40 a day on the course and
drawing welfare on the side.
His record showed eight ar
rests prior to his entry on re-
lief rolls and one arrest for
drunkenness while on welfare.
He paid a $40 fine in the last
case.
6. A woman with nine ar
rests for drunkenness, all be-
fore she applied for assistance,
| was admitted to District Gen