Evening Star Newspaper, April 21, 1940, Page 34

CIVIC NEWS. CivicProblems, Civic Bodies| D. C. a Challenge to D. A. R.; Problems Revealed' by Fire Probe By Jesse C. Suter. The past week marked changes in the administrative personnel of the District government. Commissioner George E .Allen retired and was succeeded by John Russell Young. Commissioner ‘Young stole the march on the civic leaders who usually attend the inaugu- ration of a District Commissioner by being sworn in privately on Monday. On Tuesday the new Board of Commissioners of the Dis- trict met and organized, as required by law. Commissioner Hazen, still confined by illness in the hospital, was re-elected president. Mr. Hazen'’s condition is reported to be improved. The other change in the government was the transfer of Ma). Patrick H. Tansey to the Army Wa1 College and the detail of Capt. Beverly C. Snow as assistant to the Engineer Commissioner. ‘Tomorrow 1s another District day in the House of Representa- tives and unless there is a sudden change in plans an attempt will be made to obtain consideration of a District revenue bill providing ing for a combined sales and income tax. It is a modification of the Pond plan, which had the approval of the Citizens' Advisory Tax Committee and was the result of the tax study by recognized tax ex- perts which cost the District taxpayers $50,000. It is not known what other District legislation will be called up. It was expected that the proposed revision of the unemployment in- surance bill would be considered, but that may not be ready in time. Pressure is being brought for the passage of amendments to the Child Labor Act. Changes in the bill as it was recommitted to the District Committee by the House have been suggested, but they are not acceptable to the local civic and welfare bodies. o The Reorganization Subcommittee of the House District £dm- mittee held meetings during the week and is understood to be ready to submit a modified bill to the full committee. This bill simply deals with the allocation of the various services to several departments, provides an administrative assistant and makes a few changes in the Commissioners’ powers. It would make no change in the form of the local government. The National Capital Park and Planning Commission held its two-day April meeting last week and passed on a number of its problems. Opposition was voted ‘to the” proposed location of the Abbott Vocation School on the site of the old Tuberculosis Hospital, which has been reserved for Wilson Teachers’ College and a recrea- tion center. One announcement by the commission of special interest was the acquisition of square 511, bounded by O, P, Fourth and Fifth streets N.W., for a midcity playground for colored use. Scott Circle underpass, grade separation at Fourteenth street and Maine avenue, acquisition of land for additions to the George Washington Memorial parkway in Maryland and other matters received the attention of the commission. District Problem No. 1 Challenges the D. A. R. Last Friday marked the 165th and the 157th respective anni- versaries of the beginning and ending of the War of the American Revolution. It was on April 19, 1775, that Paul Revere made his, famous ride and the battle of Lexington was fought. On April 19, ;783. George Washington proclaimed that peace had been re-estab- shed. As usual, this historic date found the Daughters of the American Revolution in the City of Washington assembled in their annual Continental Congress. It was well and appropriate that they were here, for this is their naticnal headquarters, from which radiates their fine patriotic work. There is, however, always a certain incongruity in their meet- ing here in the Nation's Capital, where the people are still denied those basic rights for which their ancestors and ours fought so valiantly. And the greatest incongruity of all is that this fine body of patriotic women appears to be either unaware or unmindful that here vital fundamental American rights are denied to a large, intelligent and patriotic community of their fellow citizens. Lexington and Yorktown always remind Americans of the sacrifices made through a long period of wariare against taxation and legislative control by a Parliament in which the Colonies were not represented. Local students of history and of our American Government believe it inconceivable that the Revolutionary heroes and their supporters had any intention of creating at the heart of the Nation the very condition against which they had rebelled so effectively and at so heavy a cost. A study of these men and the Constitution which they formulated indicates a faith on their part that intelligence and the spirit of fair play would prompt those who came after them to amend the Constitution in an endeavor to do justice to all. Really, with the voteless and unrepresented people of the Dis- trict of Columbia deprived of all participation in the councils of the Nation, the job of the War of the Revolution has never been completed. This condition could well be accepted as a challenge by this great organization, the members of which take such just pride in their ancestry, to complete the work so long ago begun The people of the District of Columbia are as vitaily interested in all of the functions of the United States, in whatever department occuring, as are the people of the States. They pay national taxes, obey national laws and perform all of the obligations of citizenship as if they were the equals rather than the subjects of other Amer- icans. But they are unjustly denied voting representation in the Senate and House of Representatives, by whom they are governed. They are also denied voting participation in the electoral college for the election of the President, who appoints all of their adminis- trative and judicial officers. This matter of national representation for the District of Columbia, by any fair analysis, is the District's No. 1 civic prob- lem. With the active and consecrated aid of the great society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the patriotic and public-spirited citizens of the District could have the problem solved in short order. Passage by Congress and ratification by the Legisla- tures of three-fourths of the States of the Sumners amendment (H. J. Res. 257) is what is required to lead to the solution. Senate Hearings Start Tomorrow on District Bill. Chairman John H. Overton of the District Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee has announced that the hear- ings on the bill will start tomorrow morning. The Senator, in his usual gracious manner, has extended an invitation to the citizens to send their representatives to present their requests. The Senator is not inclined to be optimistic as to increases or ,modifications the committee can make because of the indicated deficit in revenues. Some heavy cuts were made by the House be- cause of the apparent lack of funds in sight. The natural solution of the immediate problem would appear to be through a substantial increase in the amount of the Federal payment. This avenue of escape seems to be closed for the present through a “gentlemen’s understanding” (not agreement) between Chairman Caldwell of the House Committee and Chairman Overton of tHe Senate committee that the Federal payment be $6,000,000, as in the current act. Under existing law funds may be advanced the District by the United States if the revenue receipts fall short of appropriations, but there is little or no encouragement in this for the citizens and offi- cials, who know of urgent needs which must go unmet unless additional funds are available. Some of the restorations requested by the Commissioners are chargeable to the highway and the water funds and would not con- tribute to the estimated deficit, as these are earmarked funds which may not be used for any other purposes. These amount to $297,370. The restorations requested which are chargeable to the general fund amount to $336,489. If these latter items are all allowed by the Senate the estimated total deficit for 1941 would be up to $1,036,000. Aside from getting some shifts of amounts and items, the citizen groups are hopeful of having modified some of the legislation carried by the bill. It is difficult to see how there can be a start made at this time on Senator Overton’s plan for the replacement of outmoded and inadequate school buildings. There is a wide- spread demand for the carrying out of such a program. Problems Disclosed by Recent Fatal Fire. The investigations into the fatal fire in the O street apart- ment house has disclosed several serious civic problems of far greater breadth and importance than can be estimated. Inadequate and lax inspection as to plans and supervision during construction as well as periodically really summarize the results of the investigation. There was found no criminal negligence, but a staff of inspectors entirely too small to do the protective work it was required by law to do. It is also understood that the personnel within the office of the building inspector is too small to do the thorough job which i§ absolutely required if this department is to perform the important functions for which it was created. It also appears from the in- vestigation that the building code 1s in some respects much in neeqd of revision to meet present conditions. As to the shortage in personnel, there is a suspicion that not oniy are the funds lacking for the employment of a sufficient num- ber of men, but that the saiaries available are too small to obtain engineering and other talent of the high order required by modern construction. Some express a fear that inspectors who were unable to discover some of the faults in the O street structure may not have been competent. Somewhat similar conditions were disclosed at the time of the collapse of the Knickerbocker Theater, but there were no resulting substantial reforms. The solution is to be found, in large measure, through adequate appropriations, The money must be found somewhere if this nec- essary protective service is to be ot any value. If the funds are pro- vided for an adequate and qualified staff, then those at the head of the department may be held to a strict account. ‘ a 'SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, CLEARING HOUSE—Left to { right at the public assistance division file of the Social Service Exchange, Eleventh and M On Capitol Hill A Weekly Report on D. C. Legislation District legislation will have the spotlight on both sides of the Cap- itol this week. A subcommittee of the Senate Ap- propriations Committee is scheduled to start hearings tomorrow at 10 am. on the 1941 supply bill H. R. 9109 which the House passed March 29. About the same time, the House District Committee, in regular week- ly session, is expected to take action on three major bills: 1. H. R. 8587, to reorganize the municipal government. - 2. H. R. 8694, to amend the child labor law so children over 14 years of age may take part in professional shows and concerts. 3. H. R. 9218, to liberalize the local Unemployment Compensation Act. Program Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the last so-called “District day” in the House for this month. Another effort is to be made to force consideration of the bill H. R. 8980, providing for a combina- tion retail sales-income tax. In ad- dition, Chairman Randolph of the District Committee plans to call up the following bills: H. R. 7865, to tighten existing law regulating the practice of dentistry. H. R. 8692, to regulate the prac- tice of podiatry. H. R. 9284, to authorize issuance of a license to Dr. A. L. Ridings to practice the healing art. H. R. 9210, to revise the existing indeterminate sentence and parole law. H. R. 8846, to provide for the vol- untary retirement of police and fire- men at half pay after 25 years’ serv- ice. H. R. 9326, to provide for a sab- batical leave of absence for public school teachers with part pay. New Legislation. Bills introduced: Senate—None. House—H. R. 9429, to permit police and firemen to live in Maryland and Virginia within 12 miles of the Dis- | trict line. 23 New Members Signed in April Mrs. Joseph L. Goodman, chair- man of the Membership Committee of the Progressive Citizens’ Associa- tion of Georgetown, has released the names of the followin 23 new members for April: Carlton Skinner, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. B. Hurd, Dr. Steuart Britt, Claire G. Sifton, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hyde, Mrs. Hugh Wise, Grady Lewis, Mrs. James Doran, Mrs. WaltereC. Louchheim, jr; James A. Leahigh, Mrs. W. McCord, Henry V. Seay, Harry Kellams, Raymond Cahill, Mrs William Heard, Rear Admiral H. L. Brinser, U. 8. N.; Lyle Kennedy, Russell Eldridge, Renato Corta, R. Q. Keasby, Herbert Shannon. Miss Mildred Dean, president, an- nounced an extensive membership drive in the association and asked that support of all be given the group in itz efforts to “put Old Georgetown back on its original feet.” Ex-Grid Star Now Uses Pep Selling City Sixzteenth in a series of sketches | of officers and directors of the Board of Trade. By JOHN H. CASSADY, Jr. | In more ways than one, Edgar Morris is Washington's best sales- | man. | | Endowed with an attractive per- | | sonality and the ability to be per-| }sua.sive in an easy-going manner, the former president of the Board of Trade has earned the title of Washington’s premier civic pro- moter. In the field of civic promo- tions, celebrations and drives, he has built up an enviable reputation. Edgar Morris once played football at Clemson College in his native South Carolina, and he still looks |as though he could make it tough |Ior the opposing linemen. But he | uses his energy today in working for | | Washington. | | Mr. Morris often is referred to as | | a “natural salesman.” As chairman | |of the Greater National Capital| | Committee of the Board of Trade, !he has done an outstanding job of | selling Washington as a mecca for | tourists. | | One of the best examples of his | super-salesmanship was the record | he established as chairman of the Red Cross Roll Call in Washington | during the last two years. In both | | years, the Capital led all cities of the Nation in the number of new members. After graduating from Clemson College, Mr. Morris came to Wash- ington to accept a position with the Interstate Commerce Commission, but resigned after six months to be- gin the business career for which he is so well known. The war halted his work tempor- arily, and he was commissioned | lieutenant in the Army. It was | after the war that he organized the Edgar Morris Sales Co., of which he is, president. He has been an active member | | Association, streets N.W., are Frances Portet, Elizabeth Hunter and Lillian Brunner. The last two are receiving calls .over the phone. APRIL 21, 1940—PART TWO. —Star Staff Photo. No. 1D. C. Civic Promoter - Is Edgar Morris 4 EDGAR MORRIS. Greater National Capital Committee for many years. He has served the Trade Board as president and vice president and is now a director. His past presidencies also include the Kiwanis Club, Clemson Alumni the South Carolina State Society and the Southern Gas | Association. Mr. Morris is 2 member of Temple Noyes Lodge, F. A. A. M, and of Almas Temple, the Alfalfa Club, National Press Club, University Club, Thirteen Club and Kiwanis Club. He is also a director of the Columbia National Bank, the Security Finance Corp. and the Boys’ Club of Wash- ington, and a trustee of American University. In the field of public service, he 1s & member of the Board of Public Welfare and serves as chairman of its Penal Committee. Recently, he was reappointed as national coun- cillor for the Board of Trade to the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, and will head the board’s delegation to the chamber's an- nual meeting late this month. | Northeast branch of the Hamilton | federation on a pleasure cruise down Buysiness Groups Five Gatherings Slated for Week The following five businessmen’s assoclations are scheduled to hold meetings this week: Tuesday, April 23, Northeast—Luncheon, Continental Hotel, North Capitol between D and E streets, 12:15 pm. Columbia Heights — Luncheon, | Sholl's Cafe, 3027 Fourteenth street N.w, 12:15 pm. ‘Wednesday, April 24. Cleveland Park—Luncheon, Du Barry's Restaurant, 3309 Connecti- cut avenue N.W., 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25. Northeast — Regular meeting, National Bank, Eighth and H streets NE, 8 pm. Central—Luncheon, Hamilton Ho- | tel, Fourteenth and K streets N.W., | 12:15 p.m. CALENDAR NOTES. The central body is now issuing | “Business Builders,” a bulletin list- | ing all members and their business of the Executive Committee of the | establishments in the central area.| The purpose of the bulletin is to | stimulate and promote more busi- ness among members of the group | and to interest other parties in the association. According to Frederick | Levy, president of the group, the | association’s aim is to sponsor for | good of the city some outstanding | project. A “wish you success” card signed by the officers and members | of the body and & basket of flowers | were sent Commissioner J. Russell | Young after his appointment by President Roosevelt. | ‘The business meeting season will | soon be drawing to a close for the | groups and with this in mind each | association is striving to finish all | “old business” and be ready to begin a new and clean slate next fall. The | summer months will more or less be dormant, as far as business is | concerned, but will find the entire the Potomac on the Wilson Line steamer June 16. Other outings will | be held also by the different groups. | For further notices on summer ac- | tivities watch these notes. | President, D, C. Congress toward the relief in some measure of by the “war children” of Europe and \"Fisher, author and lecturer. Mrs. Fisher became the movin gspirit in this crusade, and by enlisting other public-minded and sympathetic peo- ple, has extended the scope of the 14 Conventions Bringing 5,000 to D. C. This Week Washington's biggest convention week so far this spring gets under way today. Fourteen conventions, expected to bring nearly 5,000 dele- gates to the Capital, are on the pro- gram, according to an announce- ment by the conventien bureau of the Greater National Capital Com- mittee. The list. follows: Daughters of American Colonists, now in session, will end their gen- eral assembly tomorrow at the May- flower Hotel; attendance, 200. National Society of Children of the American Revolution also ends its convention tomorrow in Memo- rial Continental Hall; attendance, 200. National Society of the Daughters of 1812 ends its meeting Wednesday at the Willard Hotel; attendance, 350. National League of American Pen ‘Women opened its convention yes- terday, to continue through Friday; attendance, 300. National Academy of Sciences, to- morrow through Wednesday, at the Academy Building; attendance, 135. Christ Child Society, national con- | 300, ¢ Y i ference, Tuesday and Wednesday, at 608 Massachusetts avenue NE.; at- tendance, 300. American Geophysical Union, Wednesday through Friday, at the National Academy of Sciences; at= tendance, 600. American Meteorological Society, Wednesday and Thursday; attend- ance, 300, i Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of New York, Wednesday through Sunday, at Augustana Church; attendance, 300. American Society of International Law, Thursday through Saturday at the Carlton Hotel; attendance, 350. Tax Conference of National Asso- ciation of Real Estate Boards, Wed- nesday through Saturday, at the Mayflower Hotel; attendance, 1,000. National Folk Festival, Thursday through Saturday, in Constitution Hall; attendance, 1,000. American Mathematical Society, Friday through Saturday, at the Willard Hotel; attendance, 300. American Physical Society, Sat- Children’s Crusade Week Begins Here Tomorrow Parent-Teacher Units Requested To Make Contributions for Relief of War Refugees By Mrs. C. D. Lowe, of Parents and Teachers. Beginning tomorrow and continuing all week, all over the United | States, school children will participate in a humanitarian gesture, looking | S-0u.d D€ sent to the D. C. Congress the suffering now being experienced Asia, Th week of April 22-30 has been designated as “Children’s Crusade for Children Week,” and is the outgrowth of the knowledge of suffering obtained by Mrs. Dorothy Canfield™ gx_‘;fiect to include the whole coun- The Parent-Teacher Association has been asked to sponsor the cru- sade in Washington, and because of our belief in its necessity, we con- sented to do so. The original plan, as suggested by Mrs. Fisher was that each school child be asked to con- tribute as many pennies as he or she was years old; this money to be col- lected through the schools and the parent-teacher units were to assume responsibility for its collection and transmission to national headquar- ters of the committee. Ways to Participate Suggested. Because of a regulation prohibit- ing the collection .of money in schools in Washington, this plan could not be followed and other means of participation needed to be devised. It was expected the play “Liberty and Union,” by Mrs. Fisher and Sarah Cleghorn, would be pro- duced by the English department of the public schools, to which chil- dren were to be invited, and to contribute a free will offering. This, too, was not found to be feasible, and still another plan was needed. ‘The following suggestions are now made to local parent-teacher units, whereby the Washington school can participate in this crusade and still not break any regulations: 1. Those associations' having meet- ings during the week might take a free will offering and present it in urday through Monday, at the Wardman Park Hotel; attendance, |8 the name of the children of the school. { charge a small fee. | |8 contribution from the treasury. : be greatly appreciated, and undoubt- .edly the Board of Education will projects might give a percentage of the profit. 3. Elementary schools might have some kind of entertainment for the | children (after school hours) and | 4. Associations may prefer to make Children’s Aid Requested. Anything that is done is sure to| be grateful for being relieved of the possibility of breaking a rule that might set a precedent. All contributions to this fund of Parents and Teachers, room 501, 1201 Sixteenth street N.W. and they will then be forwarded to the crusade headquarters-in New York City. The crusade is in reality an edu- cational campaign, whereby Ameri- can children may be informed of the plight of the thousands of children orphaned and made home- less by the several wars now in (See P.-T. A, Page C-9.) How They Stand Standing of proposals affect- ing the District and voted on by citizens’ associations since the start of the civic year. Gasoline Tax Increase in [ - District by 1 Cent. Favor Opposed - Local Residents for District’s Official Positions. Legalized Horse Racing in the District. Favor Investigation of Small Practices in District. Favor 7 Opposed - Congressional Appropriation for District Crippled School Children, Favor Election of Two District Com- missioners Favor 2. Those having ways and means ' § | are working. CIVIC NEWS. \"Model’ Relief Index Plan Compared With That Here West Virginia System Lists All Cases in State; D. C. Setup Covers Private Agencies < By JOHN W. THOMPSON, Jr. Does the District need a setup similar to the experiment being tried in West Virginia—known as the West Virginia index system—to prevent duplication éf relief benefits to applicants? The question was raised in effect at the recent hearings on the District 1941 budget before the House Subcommittee on Appropriations when Representative O'Neal of Kentucky suggested to the Board of Trade that it send a man to study the West Virginia setup to see whether it might not be the answer for the District’s relief problem. Constructive Suggestions Asked. Representative Rabaut of Michigan added that he thought it was the duty of the people paying relief bills—the Washington taxpayer—not simply to complain about what Congress did but to suggest something constructive. Taking the suggestion of Mr. O'Neal that the West Virginia setup might be worth looking into, The Star looked not only at that but at the District facilities and through consultation with authorities learned that the District is not so far be-&— hind as some other States. ‘The West Virginia index was set up a year ago by the State Depart- ment of Public Assistance under auspices of the Federal Office of Government Reports, in Washing- ton. The State was selected for the experiment because it was nearby, had a fairly representative popula- tlon of farmers and industrial work- ers, and did not have much of a setup to compete with the experi- ment. In other words, it was some- what virgin territory. Briefly, the index clearance bureau in Charleson for all the public welfare agencies in the State. It “streamlines” their work. It has a name file covering some 180,000 household groups re- | ceiving general relief, old-age as-| sistance, workmen's compensation, Jjobless insurance, W. P. A, N. Y. A,, Farm Security help, aid to dependent children and C. C. C. Each person is listed by name and by address as to relatives and just what relief not only he but his rela- tives are receiving, if any; also when it began and when it stopped and the date of inquiries about each. Working of System. Here's how it works. John Doe enters a county public assistance office and applies for relief. His application is mailed to the index where eight clerks and a supervisor They check Doe's name and find no card. They check his address through and find he lives with his brother. They also find the following information which they relay to the county office: Doe is on W. P. A. rolls, his son is in C. C. C., he lives with his brother who Civic Calendar Twelve Associations Meet This Week The following 12 citizens’ ciations will meet this week: Monday, April 22. Georgetown — Parish Hall, St. John’s Church, Potomac and O * ass0- | streets NW., 8 pm. Midcity—Thomson School, Twelth and L streets NW., 8 pm. North Capitol—McKinley High School, Second and T streets N.E., 8 pm. Society of Mayflower Hotel, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23. Hampshire Heights—Barnard School, Fourth and Decatur streets NW, 8 pm. Manor Park — (Buffet auditorium, Whittier school, Fifth and Sheridan streets N.-W., 6:30 pm. Wednesday, April 24. Arkansas Avenue—Telford's Cafe, Fourteenth NW, 8 pm. - Trinidad— Wheatley School, Twelfth street and Montello avenue NE, 8 pm. Thursday, April 25. Conduit Road—Palisades Park Field House, Sherrier and Edmunds places N.W,, 8 pm. Fort Davis—Southeast Branch Public Library, Seventh and D streets SE., 8 pm. Friday, April 26. Anacostia—Anacostia Junior- Senior High School, Sixteenth and R streets SE, 8 pm. Burroughs—John Burroughs School, Eighteenth and Monroe streets NE, 8 pm. CALENDAR NOTES. A number of congressional and civic leaders in the city have been invited to attend the annual dinner of the Society of Natives tomorrow evening in the Mayflower Hotel, it was announced yesterday. Chair- man King of the Senate District Committee and Chairman Randolph of the House District Committee head the congressional list. Other guests include John Russell Young, the new District Commissioner; Col. C. B. Garnett, president of the Virginia State Society, and George C. Calvert, president of the Mary- land Society. The annual award of the society to the outstanding native of the District last year will be presented to Justice Bolitha J. Laws by Willam E. Richardson, former president of the society. The invocation will be by the Very Rev. Arthur A. O'Leary, president of Georgetown University. Entertain- ment will be provided by the C. & P. Telephone Co. quartet, read- ings by Robert B. Davidson and piano selections by Mrs. Gertrude Mockbee. John M. Howard is chair- man of the Banquet Committee. A buffet supper and party will be given by the Manor Park Cit- izens' Association in co-operation with the Whittier Parent-Teachers’ Association Tuesday evening in the auditoriuth of the Whittier School, | Daniel B. Lloyd, president of the civic group, announced yesterday. Entertainment includes community singing, a dance presentation and general dancing with music fur- by recordings and an ampli- fication system. Several after-din- ner speakers have been listed, in- cluding Capt. Richard (Dick) Mans- fleld and Ernest Pullman, former president of the civic association, who will speak on the “Accomplish- ments of Manor Park.” Miss Elsie Green, principal of the Whittier School, and Mr. Lioyd are co-chair- men for the occasion and will be assisted by Mrs. Howard Jones, Leonard Bowen, John D. Smoot and Mrs. Arthur Kriemelmeyer, Mrs. Earle Dahlberg, Mrs. Edgar Hamil- ton, Mrs. V. 8. Snow and Mrs. Paul Gottwals. Senator John E. Miller of Ar- kansas will address the Arkansas Avenue Citizens Association Wed- nesday evening, it was announced by Hugh V. Keiser, president of the group. 4 is a central| Natives—(Dinner), | supper), | and Decatur streets | gets workmen’s compensation and furthermore, his wife, who has lost her job, is receiving unemployment compensation benefits. To get all this information would take caseworkers several days and many of the caseworkers feel that much of it would not be given them by the applicants or relatives if they knew they were getting more than they should. The two objectives of the index are to make information on relief clients quickly available and to pre- vent duplication of grants. Identie fication is available in nearly 70 per cent of the 200 daily inquiries received. In addition to the names and relief benefits being received, other information recorded through co-operation of employment offices includes not only placements in private industry but the names of those who refused to work. The mount of benefits being re- ceived in dollars and cents is not carried, it was stated. With this information on hand, it is obviously no problem to quickly put the finger on the complete relief record of an individual if | one exists and some 17 States have been curious about the workings of the system. Public Assistance | Director A. W. Garnett would not | estimate what money has been | saved by the index, but he pointed | to the hours of work saved case- | workers by referring to it. | Contributions Asked. Agencies using the facilities are | supposed to contribute to the sup- ‘port of the index in proportion to | their use of it. Compared with this set-up the | District is covered by a private agency more limited in scope but considered by an official of the | Office of Government Reports to be | about 75 per cent of the West Virginia machinery in case this were found desirable for the Dis- trict. This is the Social Service Ex- change supported by the Commun- | ity Chest at Eleventh and M streets N.W. and used by at least two public agencies on a contract basis. Thus, whereas the West Virginia machinery includes all public wel- fare agencies and no private ones, the Social Service Exchange has a | largely private clientele outside of | the two public agencies—the Board of Public Welfare and the Health Department. It serves some 175 agencies and departments. Likewise, its cards do not go as far as the West Virginia cards in | their information. The exchange's card will give you the names, ad- dresses and family relationships and to what social agencies they are known. Further information may then be obtained by getting in touch | with those agencies who have in- | dicated the applicant known to them. The exchange, under direction of | Mrs. Mary F. C. Leute, said to be one of the ablest administrators in the exchange feld, also reaches out into nearby Maryland and Vir- ginia. Job Agencies Help. While W.P.A, N.Y.A. and the employment center do not use the exchange, they have been repre- sented as being very co-operative in checking their own files to aid in | identification of an applicant. Hence, | according to Philip Hamblett of the | Office of Government Reports the District with its peculiar setup of being a city-State and in extending | into nearby counties is fairly well | covered. Of some 182,000 inquiries i:ast year some 48 per cent were | identified. One of the agencies using the ex- change under the public contract is the Public Assistance Division which administers the District’s direct re- lief and C. C. C. When John Doe submits his notarized application for relief his case is immediately checked through the exchange. The other public agencies, including W.P. A, N. Y. A and employment center are also queried. “I da not see how a case could get relief from us and be receiving aid for the same need from some other agency,® declared Public As- sistance Director Otto Cass. This does not mean, Mr. Cass added, that a person may not be receiving aid from more than one agency. In some cases, he said, the need requires that agencies supple- ment each other, but explained that this was known by the agencies. Mrs. Leute .also said that there was small opportunity for duplica- tion if the agencies used the ex- change to the fullest extent. This is not to say, however, that some ineligibles may not be receiv- ing relief benefits. But those in- eligibles were eligible when they went on the rolls. In some instances they have since received work in private employment and casework- ers have not gotten around to check up on them. More Checkups Needed. ‘The problem is thus to get more caseworkers to check up on those who have become disqualified since getting on relief. The machinery by which they get on the rolls is probably fairly foolproof in the minds of those who administer it. The 1941 budget increases the per- centage of the relief funds to be used for administration from 10 to 12 per cent and this may provide more caseworkers. Under the present set- up some 40 caseworkers have be- tween 180 and 190 cases to check up on aplece. Whether the West Virginia sys- tem would improve the situation here is a matter for determination by experts in the fleld. It is indi- cated there might be some opposi- tion from some social agencies to including as much information on the cards as the West Virginia cards give. Some agencies, it was stated, feel the information is confidential between the agency and the appli- cant to the extent that it should not be on the card. b