Red Cross Scrapbook 1934: page 28 - April
Collection: Red Cross Scrapbook 1934
Title
Red Cross Scrapbook 1934: page 28 - April
Subject
Great Depression, 1929-1939
American Red Cross
Food relief--Kansas
Unemployment
Description
A page from the 1934 scrapbook of newspaper clippings from the Arkansas City (Kansas) Traveler, dated April 19th, 1934. The scrapbooks were created by local Red Cross volunteers. Articles during the Depression years covered food and other relief efforts, and documented unemployment issues.
Creator
Arkansas City (Kansas) Traveler
Source
Arkansas City Public Library, Arkansas City, Kansas
Publisher
Arkansas City Public Library, Arkansas City, Kansas
Date
1934-04-19
Contributor
Red Cross volunteers
Rights
Used with permission of copyright holder. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Clippings
Identifier
RC34024
Coverage
Cowley County, Kansas
Citation
Arkansas City (Kansas) Traveler, “Red Cross Scrapbook 1934: page 28 - April,” Digital Arkansas City, accessed April 26, 2024, https://arkcity.digitalsckls.info/item/83.
Text
ARE IN CONFLICT
4-19-34
W. P. WALKER AND CASE WORKERS DISAGREE.
Commissioner Objects to Grocery Orders Closely Following CWA Wages,—Poor Bookkeepnig Says Mrs. Miller.
“Do you want a startling story?” asked County Commissioner Walker today.
It goes without staying any reporter wants news of the startling type, so Bill began to unfurl one especially concerning case workers, et cetera and et cetera. This story might be condensed by a statement to the effect that “he’s against them” but readers are entitled to a little further peep into county affairs.
"‘Did you know,” continued Mr. Walker, “that poor relief has cost $300,000 in the last 18 weeks in Cowley county? The government sent over $220,000 here, and the county (had to issue $75,000 worth of bonds recently, to pay for it.”
“Well when you put 1200 men to work on a salary it costs plenty of money,” he was told.
“We only received $10,000- this month and I understand it may be cut to $5,000 next month,” Mr. Walker resumed his narrative. “The county has to pay salaries, mileage and expenses of all this extra help, welfare workers, who take care of the federal relief. Wouldn't you just as leave do without a $50 income if you had to hire an extra man and pay out $50 to him. Not long ago we had a group of welfare auditors come here and we had to pay all their expenses. We have had two case workers here and we paid them their salaries. They resigned. Now we have Mrs. Miller and we have to pay her and I don't know how many there are we have to pay. They're running around all over the county. They never kept any books that could be understood. I know the county is supposed to keep them but you have to have information to do it. They wouldn't give us any.
“But here is something startling (and shows how the money has been wasted. I have a number of records of individual cases who have been on CWA work. They received cash salaries in March, then were given grocery orders night in the beginning of April. Here's a Case of a family with five members. (Mr. Walker pulled out a packet of papers and handed them to the writer for him to check). This first family received $105.60 cash in March. On April 9 a grocery order was issued to this family. Looks like they could have done without grocery orders with this much in wages.
“Here is the case of a single man. He drew $38 in March in : wages. April 2 he was given a grocery order. Why did the case workers give this man a grocery order? Didn’t they know he had been paid so much money in March? Here's the case of another single man. He drew $45.70 in cash and $7.75 in grocery orders. He ought to have had some of his money left.
“But take a look at this case of a family of eight. Prior to March 1, they drew $832.20 cash. Then in March they were paid $90 more cash. Then April 9, they received a $3.00 grocery order, a load of wood, and shoes. Here's a family of four receiving wages of $63.60 in March. On April 4 they received a $4.00 grocery order. Look at this single man's record. He received $50 in March and on April 6 was issued a grocery order. Here's three people who received CWA wages of $52.10. On April 2 they were issued $6.00 in grocery orders. Here’s three more who received $62.40 in March and grocery orders April 9.
“Consider this case. This family 14 weeks prior to March 1 received $178 in wages. Then in March they received $34.80 in cash, also some grocery orders. Then in April they were issued more grocery orders. It's true the government paid the wages but the taxpayers will pay it in the long run. These grocery orders the county has to pay for. 'No wonder so much money is being spent.”
“For these wages the county received some constructive work. There's your Horseshoe Hill you straightened out,” the interviewer said.
“Yes I know this,” Mr. Walker answered, “but it didn't have to be done at this time. The county could have got along without this being done right now.
“I'm going to write an -article about all this and I'm going to send a copy to Gov. Alf Landon, John Stutz, Senator Capper, Harold McGugin and others. If they’re spending money this way here, they’re doing it everywhere else,”
“Well you saved some money on the county printing by getting bids anyway, that’s something,” the writer offered as solace to the commissioner. “Yes where we used to pay $1,000, it’s now costing us $100,” he replied. “This end of the county is saving money on gasoline too,” he added. “Have you seen the county’s shop?” he asked. “Well come down and look at the set-up. I'm buying gasoline in tank cars for 5 1-4 cents a gallon. In the north end of the county they’re paying 12 cents for gasoline, double the cost here. It used to cost about $250 a month here for our five trucks, tractors and equipment. We're saving half anyway. Not long ago the county paid $600 for gasoline. We might just as well have saved $800.”
The county has built a shop, (Continued on Page 8.)
ARE IN CONFLICT
(Continued from Page 1).
numerous buildings and enclosed a most presentable yard behind an attractive looking fence, just north , of the Enterprise addition and on the Missouri Pacific right-of-way. The yard is gravelled and as very spick and span. A county work shop, as are all the buildings , is built of galvanized iron, nicely painted. A large gasoline tank has been installed in the yards. It holds 8500 gallons of gasoline. The tank cost the county $175 Mr. Walker says. He filled it some six weeks ago and there is stall about 6,000 gallons left. Every gallon that goes out of the tank is requisitioned and must be signed for by the county employe getting ft for the county truck or other equipment. There is a rice office, a tool house, a work shop, well equipped where all motor vehicle work is done, a storage place for tools such as shovels, axles and equipment. Everything is locked up at night, and nothing is being lost through theft, Mr. Walker declares.
“Aren't you in danger of -losing-federal aid altogether if you get to quarreling about these things?” was asked of Mr. Walker.
“No, that statement about emergency relief add being taken away, pertains to not being able to agree on the wage scale,” said Mr, Walker. “It doesn’t mean a difference of opinion about other things.”
Mr. Walker exuded the impression to the writer that under the conditions brought about by the acceptance of federal aid by Cowley county as he sees them, it wouldn’t be much of a hardship if government aid was withdrawn. His idea of taking care of the unemployed through, gardens, commissaries and work tickets, is absolutely’ contrary to the federal setup which demands that cash he paid for work.
“Are you going to run for sheriff this year ?” was a question asked of Commissioner Walker.
“No I’m having too much fun where I am. 1 told the voters it would take one term of four years : to straighten things up for the county. I may not get the court house painted before the end of my term but about the last thing to do is to get a nice new coat of | paint for the court house.”
“There’s more money in the sheriff's office,” was suggested.
“Well I didn’t take this job until I was well enough off, I don't mean rich now, but able to get along on the salary. Say there's some fellows on CWA work who drew almost as large a salary as a commissioner,” he laughingly declared.
Original Format
Newspaper clippings on scrapbook page
Title
Red Cross Scrapbook 1934: page 28 - April
Subject
Great Depression, 1929-1939
American Red Cross
Food relief--Kansas
Unemployment
Description
A page from the 1934 scrapbook of newspaper clippings from the Arkansas City (Kansas) Traveler, dated April 19th, 1934. The scrapbooks were created by local Red Cross volunteers. Articles during the Depression years covered food and other relief efforts, and documented unemployment issues.
Creator
Arkansas City (Kansas) Traveler
Source
Arkansas City Public Library, Arkansas City, Kansas
Publisher
Arkansas City Public Library, Arkansas City, Kansas
Date
1934-04-19
Contributor
Red Cross volunteers
Rights
Used with permission of copyright holder. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Clippings
Identifier
RC34024
Coverage
Cowley County, Kansas
Citation
Arkansas City (Kansas) Traveler, “Red Cross Scrapbook 1934: page 28 - April,” Digital Arkansas City, accessed April 26, 2024, https://arkcity.digitalsckls.info/item/83.Text
ARE IN CONFLICT
4-19-34
W. P. WALKER AND CASE WORKERS DISAGREE.
Commissioner Objects to Grocery Orders Closely Following CWA Wages,—Poor Bookkeepnig Says Mrs. Miller.
“Do you want a startling story?” asked County Commissioner Walker today.
It goes without staying any reporter wants news of the startling type, so Bill began to unfurl one especially concerning case workers, et cetera and et cetera. This story might be condensed by a statement to the effect that “he’s against them” but readers are entitled to a little further peep into county affairs.
"‘Did you know,” continued Mr. Walker, “that poor relief has cost $300,000 in the last 18 weeks in Cowley county? The government sent over $220,000 here, and the county (had to issue $75,000 worth of bonds recently, to pay for it.”
“Well when you put 1200 men to work on a salary it costs plenty of money,” he was told.
“We only received $10,000- this month and I understand it may be cut to $5,000 next month,” Mr. Walker resumed his narrative. “The county has to pay salaries, mileage and expenses of all this extra help, welfare workers, who take care of the federal relief. Wouldn't you just as leave do without a $50 income if you had to hire an extra man and pay out $50 to him. Not long ago we had a group of welfare auditors come here and we had to pay all their expenses. We have had two case workers here and we paid them their salaries. They resigned. Now we have Mrs. Miller and we have to pay her and I don't know how many there are we have to pay. They're running around all over the county. They never kept any books that could be understood. I know the county is supposed to keep them but you have to have information to do it. They wouldn't give us any.
“But here is something startling (and shows how the money has been wasted. I have a number of records of individual cases who have been on CWA work. They received cash salaries in March, then were given grocery orders night in the beginning of April. Here's a Case of a family with five members. (Mr. Walker pulled out a packet of papers and handed them to the writer for him to check). This first family received $105.60 cash in March. On April 9 a grocery order was issued to this family. Looks like they could have done without grocery orders with this much in wages.
“Here is the case of a single man. He drew $38 in March in : wages. April 2 he was given a grocery order. Why did the case workers give this man a grocery order? Didn’t they know he had been paid so much money in March? Here's the case of another single man. He drew $45.70 in cash and $7.75 in grocery orders. He ought to have had some of his money left.
“But take a look at this case of a family of eight. Prior to March 1, they drew $832.20 cash. Then in March they were paid $90 more cash. Then April 9, they received a $3.00 grocery order, a load of wood, and shoes. Here's a family of four receiving wages of $63.60 in March. On April 4 they received a $4.00 grocery order. Look at this single man's record. He received $50 in March and on April 6 was issued a grocery order. Here's three people who received CWA wages of $52.10. On April 2 they were issued $6.00 in grocery orders. Here’s three more who received $62.40 in March and grocery orders April 9.
“Consider this case. This family 14 weeks prior to March 1 received $178 in wages. Then in March they received $34.80 in cash, also some grocery orders. Then in April they were issued more grocery orders. It's true the government paid the wages but the taxpayers will pay it in the long run. These grocery orders the county has to pay for. 'No wonder so much money is being spent.”
“For these wages the county received some constructive work. There's your Horseshoe Hill you straightened out,” the interviewer said.
“Yes I know this,” Mr. Walker answered, “but it didn't have to be done at this time. The county could have got along without this being done right now.
“I'm going to write an -article about all this and I'm going to send a copy to Gov. Alf Landon, John Stutz, Senator Capper, Harold McGugin and others. If they’re spending money this way here, they’re doing it everywhere else,”
“Well you saved some money on the county printing by getting bids anyway, that’s something,” the writer offered as solace to the commissioner. “Yes where we used to pay $1,000, it’s now costing us $100,” he replied. “This end of the county is saving money on gasoline too,” he added. “Have you seen the county’s shop?” he asked. “Well come down and look at the set-up. I'm buying gasoline in tank cars for 5 1-4 cents a gallon. In the north end of the county they’re paying 12 cents for gasoline, double the cost here. It used to cost about $250 a month here for our five trucks, tractors and equipment. We're saving half anyway. Not long ago the county paid $600 for gasoline. We might just as well have saved $800.”
The county has built a shop, (Continued on Page 8.)
ARE IN CONFLICT
(Continued from Page 1).
numerous buildings and enclosed a most presentable yard behind an attractive looking fence, just north , of the Enterprise addition and on the Missouri Pacific right-of-way. The yard is gravelled and as very spick and span. A county work shop, as are all the buildings , is built of galvanized iron, nicely painted. A large gasoline tank has been installed in the yards. It holds 8500 gallons of gasoline. The tank cost the county $175 Mr. Walker says. He filled it some six weeks ago and there is stall about 6,000 gallons left. Every gallon that goes out of the tank is requisitioned and must be signed for by the county employe getting ft for the county truck or other equipment. There is a rice office, a tool house, a work shop, well equipped where all motor vehicle work is done, a storage place for tools such as shovels, axles and equipment. Everything is locked up at night, and nothing is being lost through theft, Mr. Walker declares.
“Aren't you in danger of -losing-federal aid altogether if you get to quarreling about these things?” was asked of Mr. Walker.
“No, that statement about emergency relief add being taken away, pertains to not being able to agree on the wage scale,” said Mr, Walker. “It doesn’t mean a difference of opinion about other things.”
Mr. Walker exuded the impression to the writer that under the conditions brought about by the acceptance of federal aid by Cowley county as he sees them, it wouldn’t be much of a hardship if government aid was withdrawn. His idea of taking care of the unemployed through, gardens, commissaries and work tickets, is absolutely’ contrary to the federal setup which demands that cash he paid for work.
“Are you going to run for sheriff this year ?” was a question asked of Commissioner Walker.
“No I’m having too much fun where I am. 1 told the voters it would take one term of four years : to straighten things up for the county. I may not get the court house painted before the end of my term but about the last thing to do is to get a nice new coat of | paint for the court house.”
“There’s more money in the sheriff's office,” was suggested.
“Well I didn’t take this job until I was well enough off, I don't mean rich now, but able to get along on the salary. Say there's some fellows on CWA work who drew almost as large a salary as a commissioner,” he laughingly declared.
Original Format
Newspaper clippings on scrapbook page