Evening star., 1897-04-10
President Woodward's Statement Of
the Guardians Action.
FHE TEST OF DEPENDENCY APPLIED
Duty of the District to Those Off,
no.
ciaIIy SoaDecIared.
THE PROPER TRAINING


charities devoted the greater portion of it's
of children's guardians. President Wood
ward presented a statement to the commit
tee, in which he said:
1.-The proper. definition of dependency in
children is, 1 believe, yet to be written.
The test to be applied. and which must
be met as condition precedent to support
and protection, at charitable cost varies
at different institutions according to the
mental peculiarities of founders; so that,
In this matter, we are compelled to con-
slider what ought to be rather than what
IS.
Those Needing Protection.
''The following classes of children should
be subject to the protection of public au-
thcrity, and should be supported at pub
lie COST whenever no parent or relative
can be compelled to adequately support
them and they are not offered charitable
care and support by private or religious
organizations, approved by the govern
ment:
''(A) Children under sixteen wears of
age who are found exposed to such immor-
al and communicating influences as make
1t probable that they will become morally
depraved. 1t should not be necessary that
the condition of depravity be already set
up. If 1t is imminent the child is en-
titled to authoritative removal to health
fui moral surroundings.
(B) Children whose personal habits
language and manner of life render them
unfit for association with their kind under
ordinary circumstances. A corrupt boy or
girl has often been known to ntaminate e
whole neighbOrhood or school. The ca
reer or all such should be cut short by
their instant confinement in an appropriate
institution.
"(C Children of habitual but unneces-
sary paupers or workers of the charitable
resources of q community The patIner
instinct. in addition to being transnissa bic
from parents to children, is powerfully re-
lnforced by example, precept and neces-
slty, When children are allowed to remain
in the environment which such parents
create
O) Children subjected to willful abuse
Dy drunken parents, or those whose bru-
ta]fty cannot be restrained
ND Al! children abandoned by their
parents. all children found begging on the
street or from door to door. and all chill
dIen who, for any reason, are deprived
OF the common necessities of life.
Duty Of the District.
Has the District az Columbia a dutv
toward children not; Sicially declared de-
pendent? 1 answe5sssndoubted it has.
The only way in WITCH cases involving the
welfare of childrepSean. be successfully
and adequately dealt with will be found
to be by means of the maintenance of
nssS1 agency 10 which reports and COM
Pialnts regarding such matters can be
made, and which will have for its specific
duty the enforcement of the law for the
protection of children,
,u me DUTY OF aking such provision that
al cases or abuse, abandonment moral
danger and hurtful poverty shall be speed
ny brought to light, and the children af-
1ected thereby promptly relieved, is by no
,nta. means the least OF the duties of the Dis
chr
provision made fof the Temporary care of
children while the necessary legal stems
toward commitment iaBe being taken. for
instances Will often be found wherein the
rescue of the child cannot safely he do
iayed for a single hour. 1 know of no
reason why all children who come within
the scope of the work which the govern
ment can properly do should not be Off
cially declared to be under the nrotect;or
OF public authority.
Only One Process.
There is only one process through
which children may properly become ner-
manent public beneficiaries, ie., through
a commitment had in a properly organized
court OF justice. The attempts at fraud
on the part of persons who wish to push
on their children during the years of their
heiplessness are so insidious, and such per-
sons become so expert at invoking SYM
pathy where none Is due, that only by the
process and among the SURROUNDINGS of
judicial examination can the truth be as
certained.
Again. if the doors of public suppor.
open only in obedience to orders of the
courts. they will remain closed to the hun
dreds OF children whose parents have been
affected in imagination by an imposing ed;-
nee. erected as home for dependent chill
oren and who would appeal for admission
thereto II 1t could be done practically in
secret. but who will struggle on to the
end OF life, bearing burdens which they
aione should bear. rather than appear In
court In an attempt to secure share in
the benefits provided for the children of
the unfortunate. the incompetent and the
depraved. Wv
Il urge the legal and binding commit
ment as the only proper process for the
reception Of children into public care and
support, for the additional reason that
only by such means can their parents and
relatives be prevented from Interfering
with them to their damage. The relations
of a child-caring body with the parents
OF It's wards are the most annoying and
tne most unsatisfactory to the interests of
the chlldren under care of the whole round
of Its varied experience. Somebody must
have authority to. in the first place, take
children away from unfit parents, and, in
TIE second place. keep such parents away
done.
The trouble with children who become
dependent is that they have never had,
or have lost. the right sort Of home and
would seem to be to supply. just as soon
as possible. that which has been missed
or taken away. When man Is thirsty we
give him drink; when he be hungry we
give MIN food. In like manner, when a
child is homeless we provide him home.
The Proper Training.
Therefore. since somebody's home is the
proper destination of every child, that
training which will soonest fit a child for
reception into that haven Of comfort and
protection is the propfr training. Home
life fits a child for home life. and that
alone. unless he has been injured by want
of proper home surroundings; In which case
he has become abnprmal.
Institution life, up to certain point.
corrects abnormaifty dHd refits child for
home life. Beyond that point it fits him
for institution life and that alone. which
Is nisfe rtune. For infants and very
young children the principal value of an
institution is as a, receiving and distribute
ing point, such children being best pro-
vided for In selected, family homes as
bOarderS. while waiting the rOmnlotion of