Evening star., 1897-05-28

Onder the mead or "A plan Tor the con-
solidation and improvement of the public
child-caring work of the District of Co.
lumbia'' President Woodward of the board
Of chidren's guardians has submitted to
the congressional joint committee on char
tiles an interesting statement. 1t says in
part:
Two Methods in Use.
AT present there are two systems of ad-
mitting children to public support and pro-
lection: One through the courts and the
board OF children's guardians, the other
through officers and managers of institu-
tions without any formality which has ef-
feet at law. The first involves legal guard
lanship. permanent responsibility of the
guardian and practical guaranty against
subsequent distress and dependency. The
second involves nothing but temporary
shelter and care, the child being liable to
recall at the whim of the parent. The two
are inimical and mutually exclusive. Since
the close of 1894 the second has increased
and the first has decreased
One or the other should receive final off,
cial approval and support. The attempt to
operate both will hereafter, as heretofore,
lead to confusion and unnecessary expense.
There Is now invested in the real estate
OF the various child-caring institutions of
the District Of Columbia, exclusive of the
H. dustrial Home Scfool. which the District
owns. over $162,OOO of public money, and
the appropriation bill for 1893 gives the
same Institutions $37, 100 for maintenance.
Yet there Is no court of justice and no
public official Who has authority to put in
or take out single child. except that
child might possibly be released through
proceedings III der rit of habeas corpus.
The psrents of these public dependents,
however. can demand, and frequently do
secure, the release of the children to them
when tIs institution officers know that
such arents are both unfit and unable to
properly care for their children.
1T is ar rndeniable fact that if chill
d'en are to be donesticated in family
homes at all the earlier it is accomplished
the better 1t will be for them. To wait
until they approach tie age of adolescence
Is to encounter most extraordinary difficult
ties. II is then found that they are not
prepared for the radical change from con-
ditions so long continued in the institution.
They do rot know how to do the things
required of them, neither have they the
knowledge of the common affairs of order
ly living or of the temptations and evils
from which they are no longer to be kept
back by physical restraint. They are,
therefore, in no position to choose between
right and wrong as it exists in the larger
wcrld into which they are now sent out.
The objection urged against early and
rapid placing out is that the social condi-
tions in the District of Columbia and in
Dear-by territory are Eot favorable to the
well-doing of placedout children. This is
true. 1t will disappear as an objection,
however, when The work is centralized
that some one agency will have enough
children to place out to make il worth
while to seek homes and maintain active
supervision lii other territory.
THE first thing to be done toward the
removal of these Objectionable features of
the present plan, and toward the adoption
of harmonious and effective system, is
the adoption of a definite policy with re-
gard to the public subvention of private
and sectarian charities for the care of
children.
THE next matter in order of importance
will be to consider whether the board of
children's guardians is organized, and
has SO done the work already given it to
do. that 1t can be used as the arm of the
government for the rescue protection and
distribution of all the children for whose
support public funds must be used. If
the law creating it is wise one, and if
the board has done well with the funds
and children passing through its hands, it
can be strengthened by more adequate
support of its administrative work and by
placing at its disposal other resources
commensurate with new responsibilities.
II not, IL should be abolished, and a better
public agency created.
Mr.. WoOdward's Conclusions.
The conclusions of Mr.. Woodward, in be-
half of the board. are summed up as fol-
lows:
mends:
years of age who are hereafter found
abused, abandoned, neglected, morally eX-
posed, or in a condition of want and suffer
ing IN the District of Columbia, and for
whom no other relief is offered, be commit
ted to the guardianship of public COM
mission council, or board during minority
That such commitments be made by the
Police Court or the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia holding session for
Orphans Court business, and that such
emDAWPrpd
revoke orders for contributions toward the
maintenance of such children by parents
and to enforce such orders.
Second. That the public agency which is
| to receive and distribute the dependent
children of the District of Columbia be civ.
en- full legal guardianship of all commit ed
i to its care by the courts designated for the
purpose, have full power to bind them out
| apprentice them, give them in adoption tc
| foster parents, or to board them in ins stitu
| tions or family homes; that 1t be authorized
| to rent a suitable piece of property and
therein establish and equip receiving an6
| distributing station. and that it be author
| lied to receive children for not longer thar
| one month, without authority of the court
Third. We recommend that such adii
tional provision be made upon the plar
| outlined in our communication to you IL
| connection with your fifth hearing and W.
| urge the propriety and necessity of giving
| present consideration to economy in meet
| ing the needs of the future with regard tl
4
has been pursued of making extensive ap
propriations for the creation and enlarge
ment Of institutions owned and controlled
/ by private corporations. These, after re
| ceiving assistance in inception, have be
| come permanent claimants for continuous
| support. They admit and discharge chill
| dren according to their own ideas of righ
| and propriety, and make application, yea
| after year, for enlarged appropriations
upon the basis of increased numbers caret
for.
Following this policy, the District ha
| spent during the thirteen years endin,
| 1S.2, $3OO.S13 for permanent improvement
| of property used for charitable purposes
but over which IT has no control. 1t re
| tains a lien on this property, however TO
| $SS, ,432 recoverable in case the propert,
should cease to be used for the purpose in
tended at the time of the grant Durinl
the same time it has spent only SIS, ,231 TO
| permanent improvements on its own prop
erty used for similar purposes. The ex
| pendftures Of the District of Columbia TO
support of dependent children increase,
from s16,5O0 in 1883 to $54. $50 in 1893, a,
increase Of 331 per cent.
| Consider another state operating lik
the District of Columbia under the pla
OF public support and private control. Cal
fornia, with population 40 per cent les
| tran that of Michigan. appropriates owe
half a million dollars for the support O
Ah