26 State Papers and Addresses

not only because of loss of their own savings, but because of increasing inability
on the part of the younger generation to support them. Today we are pro-
viding for 17, 386 aged persons in this State through the medium of old age
assistance, representing approximately 1 out of every 6 aged persons 65 and
over. Their support is a joint responsibility of Federal, State and local gov-
ernments. By September, 1941, it is estimated that 25, 928 aged persons will
need to be taken care of.

The assistance which they receive is meager in the extreme. The average
grant in the State amounts to 58 cents per day for food, shelter, clothing,
medical care and the many other necessities of life. But even this much burden
taken from the shoulders of young families has relieved financial strain, worry
and deprivation, and is an important factor in keeping independent family
groups from also becoming dependent.

Provisions for the Care of Children

Many years ago the people of the Country, and of Maryland, enunciated
the principle that no child should be deprived of his home for reasons of poverty
• alone. Accordingly we enacted legislation popularly known as Mothers' Aid
or Widows' pensions. Gradually it became apparent that there were reasons
other than death of the father which threatened family homes. Our present
aid to dependent children, recognizing this, makes allowances to dependent
children whose need is due to incapacitation of a parent, or desertion by a
parent.

Families numbering 7, 692, in which there were 20, 824 children, received
this type of assistance during the past month. It is estimated; that this number
will rise to 8, 934 during 1941, and that thereafter, we may expect a slow decline.

Maryland receives from the Federal Government, through the United
States Children's Bureau and by authority of the Social Security Act, a grant
of $22, 000 a year for extending and strengthening Child Welfare Services in
the rural areas. By means of this grant the State is able to carry to the
remotest corners of the State the protective and preventive child-caring
services which are a proven and necessary adjunct to our present community
life. It is hoped through this endeavor to demonstrate the value of early
recognition of juvenile delinquency and its correction by modern scientific
means.

Care of the Blind

There were 625 individuals receiving assistance last month under the pro-
visions of the law relating to the needy blind. The number of blind persons
who have had to be given help has been increasing very slowly during the past
year. It has been estimated that 793 persons will be eligible for assistance by
the end of 1941.

Referral to Projects of W. P. A.

As has been pointed out above, all persons, other than the small non-relief
quota, must be certified as in need of assistance by the public welfare agencies.
In the week ending December 27, 1938, there were 19, 312 persons employed on
W. P. A. projects, 11, 080 in the counties and 8, 232 in the City. This figure does
not reflect the flow of W. P. A. applicants. For example, in the 23 counties
during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1938, applications numbering 17, 799