Evening star., 1897-05-28

for every biennial period. This is universal
experience. Strong expressions of disap-
proval of the policy of permitting COM
bination of public support and private con-
troll abound throughout the literature OF
the subject, having been uttered by those
of the widest experience and greatest in
sight 20. !.3.-
Mr. Woodward quotes from established
authorities to substantiate his argument
and then continues
1--WE believe that the District of ColuH-
bia should conduct its own business,
through its own officers, in its own build
ings, for its own purposes and at ITS own WI
expense; and for this reason, and the ad-
ditIUnal reason that others desire to do
only a part of the work to be done, that
in the part which they wish to do they
wish also to be left entirely free as to de-
tails, and that they cannot be held respon-
sible for it's results. we have recommended
that you authorize the immediate estab-
lishment of a receiving depot for children
and the creation of thoroughly modern
child-caring institution.
Features of the Plan.
Bringing together. now, for closer. OBJ
servation, the salient features of the plan
recommended by the board, they are found
to be:
First. A public agency for the bringing
to light of all cases of abuse, abandonment
and hurtful poverty, and their presentation
to the courts of the District Of Columbia
for adjudication, such courts having power
to commit during minority, and no child to
be provided for at public expense for longer
than one month without such commitment.
Second. Provision for the collection of
contributions from parents toward main
tenance of children necessarily taken from
them and remaining under the protection
of public authority.
Third. The boarding out of all very
young children with nurses selected upon
the sole consideration of the fitness of their
hon, md har, a1 fha n
of such service medical attendance directly
responsible to the public agency being fur
nished. s.,
Fourth. A receiving station convenient
ly located in the city Of Washington, where
would be established the executive offices
Of the child-caring commission. which would
also provide accommodations for not to ex-
ceed twenty children, to which the police
could send any child found homeless about
the street, night or day, and at which
would be kept children held under tempor-
airy care, pending investigation Of their
necessities. -
Fifth. A thoroughly modern child-car-
ing institution, located near some whole
some country town within fifty miles Of
Washington, and easy Of access. This
| should consist of one central building for
| general purposes, and grouped about 1t
| such number Of cottages for children and
| other buildings for special purposes as
might be required. 1t should occupy tract
| of land of such dimensions as would FUR
| nish facilities for the production OF the
| fruit, vegetables, milk and meat required
for its own use, and for the training OF
bows in agricultural pursuits. To this In
| stitution would be sent, first, the colored
| children, for whom there Is row no proVl-
! sion whatever. and for whom It Is most
| difficult to provide suitable 1amny homes.
| Later IL first experience should be AS en-
| couraging as it has been elsewhere. or II
| other provision for white children should
be unavailable. the institution cou,a ps
| adapted to the use of both coiored ana
| white by the simple addition OF cottages.
| "Sixth Intelligent observations and study
| of all wards of the District OF Columpla
| for the purpose of determining which and
| how many Of them may properly be trans
| ferred from the institutions or homes or
/ hired nurses to free family homes. by
adoption, indenture. or apprenticeship, ana
| their removal to such homes as rapidly as
| such work can be safely ACCOMPLISHED
| Those showing special capabilities, or for
| whom no suitable family homes are Of
fered. would be sent to trace scnoois, or
| Seventh. Maintenance of the moral hold
| of the guardian upon the children, and
| the protection of both guardian and wards
| during the minority OF the children,
| through active SUPERVISION Of all placed
l out.
| .'These we believe to be the essential fea-
lures Of an ideal system. Applied to the
| District of Columbia such a. system would
leave open to the Industrial Home School
| gradual development along industrial lines
and toward the character OF trade school.
| The OiQ appTentlCeSLup SyStcm udS poSoCu
| away. and trade unions control and strict
ly limit opportunities for trade instruction.
The field of usefulness open to the purely
Industrial school is wide enough and prom
ising enough. The appropriations for the
year 1893 for the maintenance of children
in institutions which would be affected by
this organization, amount to SO, 100. If
recent rates of increase from year to year
should continue, as for instance from $54,
75O in 1893 to SO, 100 in 1893, at the end of
another five years the amount called for
will be, under the subsidy plan, A per cent
greater than for 1893. or $113.904.
Under the plan herein proposed, an out
side estimate Of the annual requirements
at tho end Of five years from 1888 will be
as follows: Maintenance of fifty children
at National Colored Home, at 500 each
S 600; maintenance Of eighty-f1ve children
at the Industrial Home School. at $50 each
$12. .7bO; maintenance Of 100 children at the
each. $4,000: eighty infants boarded out
.. $l00 each, 5000; medical attendance and