Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-06
CARE OF DESTITUTE
Annual Report of the Board Of Chill
dren's Guardians.
ESTIMATES NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Increase of $4,000 Asked for Ad-
ministrative Purposes.
THE REPORT IN DETAIL

The board of children's guardians,
through Agent Parkman. today submitted
the annual report of its operations for
the past fiscal year to the superintendent
of charities. 1t is as follows:
have the honor to transmit herewith
the annual report of the board of children's
guardians, together with the report of the
agent.
These reports show success in every
branch OF the work undertaken, but / re-
greet to say that during the closing months
of the fiscal year the board was compelled
to abandon it's scheme of placing children
in free homes for lack. solely, of the means
to properly supervise them. If the use
fulness of the board is to continue it is
absolutely necessary that its request for
additional $500 for administrative pur-
poses should be granted.
Such an appropriation would result in
placing large number of children In ap-
proved free homes, subject to regular in
spection. 1t would also greatly reduce
the sum necessary for maintenance of the
wards of the board, and cannot be too
strongly insisted upon.
The Agents Report.
Although great care was exercised to
bring the administrative charges within
the appropriation. imperative requirements
toward the close of the year left the board
in debt in the sum of $17.1S for rent of it's
office rooms.
The board began the year with 312 wards
of the not feeble-minded class in charge.
1t closed the year having $50 such wards.
The aggregate number of days that chill
dren OF this class We're in charge of the
board was 121, 556 an average of 1893
Children for every day in the year. The
board. moreover, has given 3,56S days tenn
porary care to children not its wards, I'M
der authority conferred upon it for that
purpose by the law and the courts.
Medical Attendance.
The aggregate cost of board and care.
clothing and medical attendance of these
children. administration and supervision,
was s19,211.11.
Not apportioning any administrative ex-
penditures among the feeble minded chill
dren, the administrative expenditures, on a
basis OF 12o.124 days care of children not
1eeDle minded were at the rate of 80 cents
per day, or s11.61 per year per capita.
Predetermined children were maintained
9.o41 days at a cost of So 2A.OS, or per
capita of $685. cents per day, or $3.50 per
year.
The imperative need of an appropriation
larger than any of those heretofore made
for administrative purposes is proven by
the statistics and statements rendered. The
most urgent needs are those of an increased
number of employees and an increased
amount available for expenses of placing
and visiting children Aside from all con-
Siderations of economy, the welfare of the
children demands that it should be practic-
able to place the children in homes where
they may grow up to become adult citizens
In the normal way.
Cost of Maintenance
The consideration of the Importance of
increased administrative funds from the
fnf of via Of
to be expressed. as this is susceptible of
statistical treatment. The per capita cost
of maintenance of children in boarding
homes and in institutions was S124IO in
is94, sllS.t6 in 1885. $113 10 in 1896 and
S12o.14 in 1897. Children above the period
of infancy, and who have no special needs,
and receive no special training may be
boarded in institutions for SSj per annum
III IT were desirable to place the children in
institutions, and leave them there INSURER
viSed, the only administrative expense of
their care would be that of reception and
placement. incurred once and finally. But
II they be placed in free homes, under the
conditions OF family life. and be properly
supervised, the cost of such supervision will
be the only expense incurred in their behalf
Administrative expenses per capita We're:
s5o.Gs in 1894, $3.50 in 1895, S13.45 in 1885,
S11.6f In 1897. 1t appears, therefore that
for every child removed from an institution
charging the lowest rate and placed in a.
free home an annual saving of about S75
may be made.
Might Have Had Homes.
OF the 81 children in institutions where
board is paid, some of them of the more
expensive class. at the close of the year.
probably many as 40 might have been
placed out, had proper means been at hand
resulting in a reduction of expense at the
rate of more than 5000 annually 1t is es-
timated that one agent can supervise prop
eriy 10 children The present number of
children not in Institutions, and not on ex-
pense for maintenance, is 240, and of those
In family homes where board is paid is 80
1t is evident, therefore, that at least two
agents are needed.
The law establishing the board authorizes
the employment of two agents, but The ap-
preparation bills have never provided funds
sufficient for the employment of more than
one competent person to that position.
The Estimates.
The following estimates are made on the
assumption that the Congress, recognizing
the need of providing the board with two
competent agents, will authorize the en-
ployment of such, in addition to the pres
ent office force, which carnot be reduced:
Salary of two agents. 81, 900: salary of chief
clerk. slzoo; salary of clerk. 5000; rent OF
office rooms, $3.50: stationery and printing
$50; Office and sundry expenses telephone
furniture. etc). $500: travel and Transports
ton (placing and visiting children, etc.
81 600: total 81, 80
AS has been done heretofore, 1t Is de-
sirable that the appropriation should be
made in gross sum, permitting the board
to exercise its judgment in apportionment
of the items.
Amount for Board and Care.
An appropriation of $4,000 for board and
| care OF children Is requested. The expendi-
| ture 6i rirg the past year was not quite
| s21,o0O. but considerable increase on the
| number of children held in charge is to be
expected before the close of the year 1888
| 1899. and such increase will inevitably re-
suit in an increase of the expense for main.
tenance, unless adequate provision be made
| for administrative expenses, as above re-
| quested 1t is estimated that for an add
ton of $1,000 to the administrative fund.
decrease of 81, 900 may be made In the main
| tenance fund, but otherwise the full S25,0 0t
! will be likely to be needed.
Causes for Commitment.
In giving the causes for commitment 4