Evening star., 1962-03-14
Farley Boosts
Social Welfare
Legislation
BY CLARENCE HUNTER
Star Staff Writer

bJbE 6bhll WEltet
More than 300 persons have
wound up three days Of learning
about the country's law-making
process and trying to persuade
their Congressman to support
certain pieces Of social welfare
legislation.
Heading back to their homes
and Jobs in at least a dozen
States last night were an esti-
mated 325 men and women. in-
Guiding some teen-agers, who
attended the Washington Leg
islative Seminar sponsored by
the National Federation of Set
Elements and Neighborhood
Centers. The meetings were in
the Willard Hotel and the De-
partment Of Commerce audi
torium. The seminar began
Sunday and ended yesterday.
Congressman and some ad-
ministration leaders gave the
settlement house representa-
tives a first-hand view Of the
legislature process and the
work being done on social well
fare problems.
Among the speakers who ap-
peared before the group were
Secretary Of Labor Goldberg;
Representative Farbstein, Dem
ocrat Of New York: Represent
ative Boiling. Democrat Of Mis-
souri,; Assistant Secretary of
Health, Education and We'll
fare Cohen; Representative
Frelinguysen, Republican o I
New Jersey, and Leon Keyser-
ling Of the Conference on Eco
nomic Progress.
16 Years I'm Existence
1.-THE seminar was originated
16 years ago because it was
felt that people in the settle
ment house program should be
more familiar with the legisla-
tive process and the numerous
pieces Of legislation which have
vital effects upon the people
we serve" explained William
Kirk, chairman Of the seminar
and head worker at Union
Settlement in New York City.
"As Secretary Goldberg
pointed out, it is necessary for
settlements to understand and
support the legislation which
creates the resources which
will help meet the needs in the
communities where settlement
houses are located" added Mr..
Kirk.
Mr.. Kirk said the seminar
meets in Washington every two
years after January / and that
1t deals only with things of
current interest"
I'VE try to show the dele
gates that democracy is more
than merely electing a person
to office" Mr.. Kirk added.
Through background briefings
from the legislators and ad-
ministration leaders, we try to
show the whole invisible ele-
ment behind the legislative
process"
Background Booklet
The seminar Is a working |
conference" for the delegates.
Each delegate was furnished a
26-page booklet which con-
tanned background material on
legislation already introduced
In the areas Of public welfare,
health benefits for the aged,
youth employment, education,
manpower training and foreign |
policy. This booklet was the |
basis for workshop sessions at |
which experts in the various
fields presented additional in
form tion and up-to-the-
minute reports Of the Congress
sional status Of the various
pieces Of legislation IN which
the delegates had interest.
Armed with this knowledge,
the seminar delegates then at
tended committee hearings on
Capitol Hill and visited their
own Congressman to seek their
support of certain pieces Of
social welfare legislation.
The work done here at the |
seminar continues once the
delegates return to their home
bases. Mr.. Kirk said.
when they get back home,
the delegates report on the
legislation to their neighbor-
hood organizations and once
the legislation becomes law,
they contact their local mu-
1icipal officials and bodies so
their communities can take ad-
vantage Of the new laws" Mr.
Kirk said