of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 299

This procedure resulted in the establishment of our social welfare program
on a permanent basis. I was fortunate in securing as members of the Beard
of Public Welfare Mr. W. Wallace Lanahan, Mr. Lee L. Dopkin, Mr. William
L. Galvin, Mr. Sidney Hollander, Mr. George M. Moffett, Mr. Thomas W. Pang-
born and Mrs. J. Enos Ray. Under the Chairmanship of Mr. Lanahan, the
Board has made definite and significant contribution to the administration of
public welfare in this State. The Department of Public Welfare administers
programs relating to unemployment relief, aid to dependent children, old age
assistance and help to the needy blind.

As a result of the action taken by you at the last session and with funds
appropriated at that time, I think it only proper to cite to you the tremendous
amount of good that has been done, and is being done with our funds in the
current biennial.

During the month of November, 1940, a total of 18, 330 cases were helped
under the heading of Old Age Assistance; 7, 062 families were included under
Aid to Dependent Children; 5, 509 cases were being helped under the heading of
General Public Assistance; and 690 Needy Blind cases were being given a help-
ing hand.

During the fiscal year 1940, the Department of Public Welfare spent
$4, 216, 057. 00, and for the current fiscal year the appropriation is $4, 499, 920. 00,
or a total of $8, 715, 977. 00 for the two years. Of this amount, a total of $6, 547, -
572. 00 actually was paid to residents of our State for assistance of one type
or another.

Included in the total expenditures for 1940 are the following amounts for
the catagories indicated:

Aid to Dependent Children.................. $1, 257, 838. 00

Old Age Assistance.................................. 1, 298, 832. 00

Aid to the Needy Blind....................... 25, 657. 00

General Public Assistance..................... 119, 162. 00

Total.......................................................... $2, 701, 489. 00

For 1941, the following amounts for these
categories have been appropriated:

Aid to Dependent Children.................... $1, 300, 000. 00

Old Age Assistance............................... 1, 414, 872. 00

Aid to the Needy Blind........................... 30, 000. 00

General Public Assistance.................... 1, 101, 211. 00

Total........................................................ 3, 846, 083. 00

$6, 647, 572. 00

It is well to bring out the fact here that Maryland's welfare expenditures
are being handled in a most capable manner. When our totals are compared
with other states, for instance, it can be appreciated readily how much is
being saved for the taxpayers of the State by proper handling of the funds
entrusted to this Department.

An outside view of our actions from time to time is helpful, and at this
point it might be well to recall an editorial that appeared in one of the Phila-
delphia papers following the close of your 1939 session.