Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-16
CHlLDREN'S GUARDIANS.
Good Work That Has Been Already Accom-
plished by the Board.
Secretary Mann's Letter TO Inststu-
May BE Made I'm Chambers.

Complaint has been made to the appropr1.
atoms committee by certain religious-char-
liable Institutions because of their failure 20
get what they think is due them from the
charity fund for the care of dependent
children. but the board of children's guard
ians. which has done so much gold work
In this direction. stands ready and willing
to take the legal responsibility for the care
OF all such children Agent Lewis of the
board is constantly at work looking after
the unfortunate young ones. and through his
efforts many a sad life has been made hap
py. Children have been taken from unoom-
Portable places and given homes in sood
families. and altogether the work as shown
by the recent published report has far ex-
ceeded the most sanguine expectations OF
the promoters Of the institution
On account OF the complaints about tbe
appropriations and the trouble encountered
In securing the legal guardianship and care
OF the children Secretary Mann yesterday
directed to the various institutions m which
children are cared for the following letter.
To the boards of managers OF those child
caring institutions whose appropriations
Tor the current year have been reduced by
reason OF the appropriation made to the
board OF children's guardians
On the 18th OF May. 1896, i addressed 90
you. on behalf OF the board OF children's
guardians. letter. saying among Other
TO transfer TO the board the responsibility
for the support of any children now In your
charge IL may apply 20 the courts TO have
the board declared the legal guardian OF
such children and that Should this appii-
cation receive the approval of the court
due proceedings being had, your authority
over and responsibility for the children win
be terminated
ACTING upon the suggestion contained IN
the letter above referred TO, certain insfltt-
tons have applied TO the United States
branch of the Police Court for the commit
ment OF number of children to this board.
ana twenty-seven children have been thus
committed.
Some difficulty and objections were en-
countered In having the children already
cared for In the institutions turned Over 20
the board These arose mainly from the
fact that IL was the first attempt TO puf in
operation a new law. about the scope and
intent of which there had been much mis-
apprehension
The board has not at any time had any
disposition to obstruct the commitment OF
children. in reasonable numbers. from the
institutions. but has stood ready TO accept
and care for them at it's own expense when
their cases have been properly passed upon
by the courts.
The unpleasantness. to those having the
matter in charge. OF attending the police
court and the bad results Of such an ex-
perience to the children themselves NAV
now be avoided Arrangements can be made
with Associate Justice Walter s. Cox for
the hearing IN chambers' OF as many
such cases as the institutions wish TO bfin0
before him between the 18th OF September
ana the LIST OF October. and also with Po-
instant.
Additional opportunities are therefore now
opened to every institution which IA sup
porting at It's own expense any child be-
longing TO any one OF the classes for whose
care the board of children's guardians was
Greater to make known how many soch
children IL desires 70 have committed 20 the
care of the board
Any Institution desiring TO avuai itsssf a
these opportunities should communists
with Justice Cox or with Justice Miller,
and have a time appointed for q hearing %
its cases.
Since, however. scarcely 70 per centun OF
the appropriations formerly made for the
care of such children has been placed az
the disposal of the board OF chfldren's
guardians for the current year, and about
so per centum remains at the disposal OF
the several institutions. Il 10 not probable
that the board Of children's guardians ~fu
be able from it's present funds TO pay FOR
the care OF all children whom the institu-
lions may be willing TO commit to II, and n
Is not proper that IT should be expected 20
do so.
As, however, expectations justifies the BE-
lief. and experience shows that dependent
children may be taken care OF through the
agency OF the board at much less expense
than has been incurred hitherto IN the In
situations, IL is certain that the board can
take care of more than 20 per centum Of the
children hitherto supported at public ex-
pense in the Institutions. Should there be
any remainder OF children whom the msti-
buttons wish TO have committed TO the
board. and whom the board cannot care for
with its present appropriations the hssti-
buttons Will be expected 70 care for such
children until these conditions are changed
The board Is ready 70 pay for the main
tenance Of children properly becoming fts
wards. and has heretofore left them at the
institution from which they were commit
ted until they could be pla ced In approved
private homes.
Any institution not having already made
a definite arrangement for the care and
maintenance OF children the wards OF this
board. and desiring TO DO 30. 10 invited %
communicate with Mr.. Herbert W. Le~fa,
northwest