Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-27
CARING FOR 300 CHILDREN
Persons Who Are Disposed to Disregard
Their Parental Duties.
Report of the Agent of the Board OF
Children's Guardfans-Some
Interesting Facts.

Agent Herbert W. Lewis of the board of
cmldren's guardians has submitted a report
Of his work done during the month. The
report, which was submitted to the board
Saturday, says:
Since the last meeting Of the board ap-
plcations have been received on behalf OF
forty children whom 1t was desired to have
taken in charge. or these, twelve were
white and twenty-eight colored. Fourteen
we're known to be children of unmarried
parents, and of these, four were children of
mothers having from one to three others
OF the forty cases reported for investiga-
tion, six were referred to other more ap-
propriate agencies, and arrangements were
effected for private support of seven
In eighteen cases We definitely refused
to promote the commitment of the children,
or to burden the courts with further and
more authoritative examination, for such
| reasons as evident intention to deceive
garding the parentage and condition of the
children, non-residence, and the absence of
any such condition of restitution, suffering
or abandonment would bring the chill
dren within the intention of the statute
creating the board. Six cases have been
presented in court, resulting in four perma-
nent and two temporary commitments.
Three cases are still under consideration.
Il am more and more impressed with the
Importance of this part OF the work which
is being done, and with the absolute neces-
sity of surrounding the reception of chill
dren at public expense with the safeguards
supplied by proper preliminary examination
and legal and binding commitment, when
necessary. The nature and number of the
frauds attempted make up a rather dis
couraging Commentary upon the apprecia-
ton of parental duties by certain classes
OF our population.
Neglectful Parents.
Such attempted frauds are usually aban-
dcned and the applications are withdrawn
Upon receipt, by applicants of the infor-
nation that children are only received 10y
the board upon orders of the courts Of the
District made upon presentation OF sworn
testimony touching the facts In the case
and Will only be restored to relatives upon
proper showing that the conditions which
made IT an act of mercy and charity to
take the children in the first place have
been permanently changed
L also direct special attention TO the fact
that In single month we have been able
to provide for the support of six children
at the expense of fathers heretofore neg
lectful, and that in one additional case a
home was provided for an illegitimate in
rant without official intervention. This
seems 10 me to Illustrate most clearly the
fact which ii is no longer possible to doubt
that the vice of parental neglect like
most Others thrives best I'm secrecy and
| that the duty placed upon this board of
bringing such cases to the notice of the
courts of the District has a powerful effect
| upon persons who are disposed 10 disregard
their parental duties.
Disposition of the Children.
"Ol the six children received during the
! month, two were sent 10 the George Mauls-
by Memorial Home and four were boarded
out. Two children heretofore under tempo
| rary care were restored 10 their parents
and seven were provided with free homes
! on indenture. Arrangements were also
completed for the transfer Of two boys
from an institution in which the rate paid
| Is slo.2o per month each to family homes
where the rate paid will be s. per month
each for one year; for the retention of one
| in her boarding home without further pay
ment, and for the transfer of one from a
boarding home 10 the nome Of her mother
| without expense to the board for mainte-
nance, but subject to supervision. and to be
| taken in charge again should her interest
seem to demand such action.
| Computing from the rates to be paid for
| the children received by commitments and
| by returns from free homes and from
those paid for the children now to be main
tafned at reduced rates. or without further
expense for maintenance, We find that as a
result OF the months WORK we have re-
| lieved the board of monthly expense of
S4o.I5 over and above the normal incl ease
IN the number of its wards, while the
actual monthly saving henceforth on ac-
count OF the work of the month of April
| will be s11I.75.
Il have visited eighteen children during
the month and filed the usual reports. l
recommended final action upon twenty nine
applications for children on various terms
OF these, fourteen were approvals and ff-
teen reflections. Twenty new applications
for children have been filed during the
month";
Where They Are Located.
The report shows the total number of chill
dren now in the care of the board to be 800.
distributed as follows: In institutions where
board is paid-National Colored Home, Is:
Industrial Home School, 4; George Maulsby
Memorial Home, 16; House of Good Shep.
herd. A. St. Marys Industrial School. 9;
total in institutions for whom board is
paid, A.. In homes where board is paid ~
Total on expense for maintenance, ia
In free homes on trial, 81: in free homes
on indenture, III; In free homes, appren-
tioed, 6; in institutions where no board is
paid, 1: at large, unsettled, 8. Not on ex-
pense for maintenance 1856. Total 300
The children residing in family homes are
distributed, geographically, as follows: In
the District of Columbia. 10: Maryland IS:
Virginia, 81; New Jersey, 5: Pennsylvania
II: Delaware, =; New York, 1; Ala bama l.
Total, %.