COO State Papers and Addresses

In citing some of the accomplishments of the Maryland State Government,
the Editorial went on to say that:

"such reforms must arouse envy and ought to stir emulation at Harris-
burg and Trenton. Maryland's handling of the problem of relief is
especially worth thinking about in New Jersey, where every possible
form of raiding other funds to take care of the needy has been the prac-
tice for years.... Maryland is to be congratulated on having.... a
Legislature with sense enough to see it was good politics to meet the
people's insistence on coupling economy with provision of revenue
ample to furnish the type of service which citizens demand of their
state governments today. "

The Maryland Public Welfare program has been based upon administra-
tion by political sub-divisions and for this purpose Boards of County Welfare
have been established in each county with representation from the Board of
County Commissioners. In Baltimore, the work is administered by the City
Department of Public Welfare. Funds are contributed by the Federal, State
and Local Governments, each contributor sharing in a rated proportion. In old
age assistance, aid to dependent children and public assistance to the needy
blind, the Federal Government has shared the cost with State and Local Govern-
ments. General public assistance funds have been provided entirely from State
and local money.

In the categories of old age assistance and public assistance to the needy
blind, the number of cases has increased, but in the category of aid to dependent
children the number of families assisted is less than at any time since March,
1938. There is a great variability in the number of families helped from
general assistance funds. The number rises in the winter, when employment
is less, and decreases in the summer when more jobs are available.

Beginning with October, 1939 uniformity of administration was established,
with the amount of funds available based on local levies, the State matching
local funds and setting up a broad policy of eligibility within which the local
units set up their own more specific rules and regulations.

General public assistance is the only resource for providing assistance for
persons in need who do not qualify for the other three categories of assistance.
It is the only type of assistance available for so-called "employable" families
or individuals, or for ill or otherwise handicapped persons between the ages
of 16 and 65 who do not have in the family children under 16 eligible for Aid
to Dependent Children.

Among other special services, the department makes the financial investiga-
tions for the purpose of determining whether patients committed to the State
mental disease hospitals or their families are able to pay for their care. It is
planned to make somewhat the same type of investigation with reference to
patients admitted to free service in general hospitals in the counties. This
sort of investigation is now being made by local welfare boards with reference
to the eligibility of children for foster care at public expense. The local wel-
fare boards are also cooperating with the training schools in developing the
social background of boys and girls sent to these institutions.

Another important activity of the department consists in licensing homes
for aged persons. Appropriate rules and regulations have been developed for
licensing of such institutions and the cooperation of the State Department of