Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-22
GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN.
The Board Authorized by Congress and Its
Proposed Work.


The board Of children's guardians is now en-
tering upon the necessary preliminary work to
be done before the beginning OF the ensuing
fiscal year, at which time it expects to be ready
to accept the guardianship and custody of such
children may be committed to it by the
courts of the District.
The act Of Congress approved February IS,
1886, provides that the Washington Humane
Society shall be auth orized to extend its opera
tons to the care and protection of children. as
well as animals, from cruelty and abuse, gives
that society extended privilege Of use of the
metropolitan police in the prosecution OF bu-
name work, and empowers its officers to bring
before the courts for examination any child
under sixteen years of age who is subject to
cruel treatment. willful abuse. or who may
be found in such circumstances endanger its
health or make probable the corruption Of its
morals. BY the same act the courts are en-
powered to commit such children to orphan
asylums or charitable institutions or make such
other disposition Of them as might be provided
by law.
Under the provisions Of this act the Humane
Society has rescued scores Of children from
poverty, neglect, abuse and immoral sur
rorndings, they being usually placed in the
private charitable institutions OF the District
THE BOARD OF cHnDRES's GUARDIANS.
The act approved July 20. 1892, by which the
board Of children's guardians was created. pro-
yides that children committed under the pro-
visions of the law above referred to shall here
after come under the care of that board In adj
dition ''all children destitute Of suitable homes
and adequate means Of earning an honest Hv-
ing, all children abandoned b. their parents or
guardians. children of habitually drunken or
unfit parents, children found begging on the
streets or from door to door, children kept IN
vicious or immoral surroundings. or those
known by their language and manner OF life TO
be vicious or incorrigible. whenever such
children shall be committed to the care Of the
board by the Police Court or the Criminal
Court of the District" also such children as
the boards of trustees of the reform schools
may commit to Its care aud control
DISPOSITION OF THE CHILDREN.
The board is gwen wide liberty as to what it
shall do with the children committed to its
guardianship. 1t may give them in adoption
10 foster parents. place them in private homes
on indenture or as apprentices, board them
with families for o consideration or in institu-
tons willing TO receive them, upon such terms
may be agreed upon.
The boa-d has issued a circular letter to the
boards of trustees of all institutions for children
whose appropriations were diminished by the
last District appropriation bill explaining that
any institution may receive from the board
more than the amount by which its appropria-
ton has been diminished BY caring for children
under contract with the board OF chlldrens
guardians and that If they wish to have the
board Of childrens guardians made the legal
guardian OF children now in their institutions
they may apply TO the courts to have them
properly committed. and that IL such appilca-
tions are approved by the courts, due process
being had, the board will assume the RESPONSE
bility and expense Of maintenance OF those SO
committed.
COOPERATION. "
The board has been assured OF the hearty
cooperation Of the Washington Humane So
eiety, with whose work its own will be closely
connected. The services Of Mr.. Herbert ".
Lewis as agent have been secured Mr.. Lewis
vas for six years the agent OF the Minnesota
State Public School for Dependent and Ne
elected Children. The board has secured
offices at 5l2 street northwest and desires to
communicate with all who wish to take children
into their families. either by adoption or in
denture or as bnarders. The necessary qualih-
cations will be. in general, reasonably comfort
able home conditions and unquestionably high
moral character