Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-03
What Representatives of Child Car
ing Institutions Say.
DISTRICT ASTLUMS ECONOMICAL
Protest Against the Proposed Dep.
rivation Of Appropriations.
A QUESTION OF POLICY

ton bill recently proposed by Senator Nc
MILAN proposing to give to the Board Of
Children's Guardians the amounts formerly
allotted to the several charitable institu-
lions of the District in payment for the
care of Juvenile dependents has naturally
called out the most vigorous opposition on
the part Of the institutions. The PROPOSE
ton was made in the House Of Represent
atives, but 1t was there defeated by a unan-
imous vote in the District subcommittee on
appropriations The proposition has excited
anew the discussion of the best manner of
expending public funds appropriated for the
care Of children. Recently The Star pub
lshed a communication setting forth at
length the various advantages, economical
and otherwise, claimed for the system I'M
der which all expenditures are controlled
by one central board. 1t Is argued. how
ever. that in this city. where many useful
institutions have been built up by years OF
careful attention and charitable effort on
behalf Of benevolent people, a change made
now in the system would not be economical
or wise Those who champion the cause of
the institutions assert that the Board of
Chtldrens Guardians has special functions
to discharge and favor making a special
appropriation for ii, and at the same time
helping the old-established Institutions to
continue the work they have been doing for
years The side Of the Institutions as against
the board Is presented strongly in a number
OF letters received by The Star.
The Industrial Home School.
Mr.. B. I. Janney. writing in behalf Of
the Industrial Home School. says:
The question, What shall be done with
the funds generally appropriated for the
benefit OF the homeless and friendless chill
dren Of the District of Columbian" has come
TO be an interesting one. Shall IL be ap-
propriated for the sole use of the board
Of children's guardians shall the usual
amount go to each OF the various institu-
lions Of the city? This should be decided
only after all OF the environments have
been carefully examined, and all of the
facts bearing upon the subject duly consid-
cred i am Interested In one Of the ''insti-
buttons" and speak from some experience
In the matter of caring for children and
with a knowledge of the good work that
has been done by the Jealous Christian
people. who have for so many years labored
md given their time without any reward
ave the satisfaction always bestowed up
on well-doers.
Congress is asked by the board of chill
dren's guardians to turn over to 1t all of
the funds to be used for the care of chill
dren-
1t has been asserted that the "institu-
tions" are trying to get the money of the
board OF children's guardians. This is not,
so far as / know, the truth. On the con-
trary, the board of children's guardians
has asked that every cent Of every ap-
preparation for every institution in the Dis
trict of Columbia for the care of children
members of that board well know. that II
cannot. under the organic law creating 1t.
take cognizance of more than one-ffth of
the homeless and friendless children OF this
city.
The law says that the board Of children's
guardians shall have care and supervision
Of children of specified classes whenever
ouch children may be committed to the
care of the board by the Police Court or
Criminal Court of the District.
What Is to be done for the four-hfths
Who from some misfortune. have become
ieduced TO poverty, and who have no call
10 APPEAR within the sacred precincts OF
criminal court?
There can be but one answer. They must
te neglected till compelled by the Cravings
u hunger to commit some act for which
they may be forced before the criminal bar
The agent of the board of children's
guardians delights to tell of the ''monu-
mental success of the Children's Aid So
ciety of New York; and of the successful
results in Michigan Of the free home prin-
ciple."
Why does he not tell of the monumental
establishments erected by the Children's
Aid Society of New York and of the states
of Massachusetts,, Ohio. Michigan and 9TH
ers In which the children are cared for and
made over for one. two. three or more years.
and fitted to take advantage of the free
home principle?''
This is precisely the work that the In
austrial Home School, has been doing for
twenty years. and it's records and results
are oren for inspection to any who feel
sufficiently interested to examine them
verify believe that the homeless and
fri6Edless'' children of the District of Co.
lumbia have during any one Of the past
ten years. been quite as well cared for as
during the one now nearly gone by. and at
no time ever before in the history of our
beautiful city has it been possible for a
parent to have his offspring taken possess
sion of by "a government agency which is
not urder any obligation to tell him where
his child has gone"
The National CoIored Home.
Martha S. Pomeroy, president, and Louise
s. Swan, vice president of the National
Colored Home. write: The National Asso-
citation for the Relief of Destitute Colored
Women and Children has been in existence
and its work carried on most successfully
foi thirty-one years. Its conduct has been
approved Of by successive committees on
appropriations of both houses of Congress
and by the former superintendent of chari-
ties; also by the present superintendent
It's earlier officers and patrons bear names
not unknown here now or in the states of
their homes. as that Of Mrs. Lyman Trum-
bull. Mrs. Ben F. Wade. Mrs. James Grimes
and Mrs Justin Morrill,. This association
was organized soon after the close of the
war, when the need OF such an institution
vac most apparent, viz. the supporting OF
such aged or INDECENT cOlored women and
children" as would properly come under the
charge OF such an institution. This asso-
ciauOn, therefore, Is not Tor child caring
solely. though this feature Of IL, by reason
of the circumstances surrounding it in this
community Of limited means, has become
more prominent, for of the many homes
asylums and institutions where children are
received and provided for, this Is the only
one in community OF $1,000 colored people
where there Is found home where negro
children are cared for. receiving a common
school education. with moral and Christian
as well, until such times as homes or places
OF employment (which promise other and
further means of Improvement in the learn
ing and acquisition of trades, in other
useful occupations whereby they may be-
come intelligent, moral and useful members
OF society can be procured. Homes are
carefully sought for them by this institu-
ton, where they are placed and inquired
after until grown to the state of manhood
or womanhood-
1t is proposed to transfer the work of
this association entirely to the board of
children's guardians. by failing to make
any appropriation for their maintenance
through this association. In our Judgment
this viii result in failure and disaster to
this class of children. Homes for white
children are readily found in white families
but for this class Of children, the orphaned
or abandoned ones, between the ages of
three and twelve years. the finding of a
single home is rare indeed and 1t is a labor
10 secure places Of employment after the
age OF twelve years. when by the manage
ment OF this home the placing out is sought
children are here taught to read and write
and secure common school education
which otherwise thew would not a.