The evening times., 1896-06-30
WARDS OF The GUARDIANS
Interesting Monthly Report Of the
Agent Has Been Submitted.
Recurrence Of Rejected Cases Under
Different Names-valus of Care
full Investigation

The Board of Cbildren's Guardians has
received the monthly report of the agent.
1t shows that since the meeting of the board
on the 23d or May applications bad been
made ON behalf OF fifty children whum it
was desired to have taken in charge; of
these thirty-two were colored and eighteen
were white.
Invest. cations had been made in all cases.
resulting in recommendations favorable TO
tue commitment of four oo.ored infants.
Other cases had been referred TO more ap-
propriate agencies, continued for fur
tber Investigation or refused. so far as any
action of the board is concerned, prior to
commitment.
Several definite attempts to secure the
public care OF children from outside the
District or whose parents are well able 10
provide for them, were reported and dis,
cussed.
The agent also reported that recently
there had been noticed the recurrence OF
cases once refused usually under different
names, and the application being made by
different parties. The great value OF care
ful Investigation and complete records Of
such cases is becoming more and more ap-
parent.
He insisted that it may be said nothing is
accomplished by continual refusal TO pro-
vide for children not proper subjects for
public care, for the reason that there is no
law in force in the District by which Il
parent, able, but unwilling, can be com
PEELED to support a child or that, If there
were, it would not be operative against per
sops living in the surrounding states, who
n District tho a
getting nd of children.
Helpful legislation in such matters, how
ever, will only come into existence in
obedience to public demand, and the public
abuses about which it knows nothing.
Nine children were committed during the
period for which this report was submitted;
six had been found destitute of suitable
homes or adequate means OF earning an
| honest living; two aba nd oned by parents.
and one was taken from a drunken and
unfit mother. Ten had been provided with
| free homes since the last meeting OF the
| board.
! The total number Of wards of the board
| is now 312, distributed as follows:
| In family homes on trial, 20; In family
| homes on indenture 11S in family homes,
| apprenticed, Z; at large, 6; in free institu-
| tions, 4; not on expense for maintenance,
205; in family homes, at board, sc; in insti-
tutions where board is paid, Al; total for
whom board is paid, 107; total, as above,
| SIC.
At the close OF June, 1895, the whole
number OF wards of the board was 255,
OF whom 103 were on expense for main-
tenauce. Since that time 81 have been
committed to the care of the board, while the
number on expense for maintenance has i'll
creased only from 103 to 107.
The board was also asked To consider
and determine how many feeble-minded
children could be provided for during the
next fiscal year in addition to those already
under public care. The cases of clever
such children were reported as having
been taken up for consideration, some oi
them having been pending since the earlier
months of 1894.
In view of the inadequacy Of the appro
priation to care for these children. in
addition to those of other classes to be
committed by the courts Of the District. a
special alcommittee ofthe board was appoint ::
to canvass the cases reported aud recon-
mend which and how many of them shoult
be taken under public care it being under
stood that. in the selection of such cases
girls owe r twelve years OF age should have
the preference.