The times., 1899-03-03
legal AUTHORITY
over FOUNDLlNGS
A Question of Caring for the
Infant Charges.
The Claims of the Board of Chill
dren's Guardians.
An Opinion by <. Il. Thomas. The At
torncy for the District-Duties
of the Police.

The question Of the care Of foundlings
and abandoned infants picked up by the
police, and the authority of the Board of
Children's Guardians to direct where such
charges shall be taken, has been made the
subject of an opinion by s. T Thomas, the
Attorney for the District The question
was opened by DR.. z. T. Sewers. President
of the Washington Asylum for Fonndlings
who called upon Commissioner Wight some
time ago fer the purpose of inviting the at
tention of the Commissioners TO the no
tices in local police stations telling where
foundlings might be placed. DR.. Sewers
suggested the propriety OF the Commission =
ers giving complete information on the
subject rather than allowing notices 10 DE
posted referring TO only one founding in
stitution.
The visit of DR.. Sewers gave rise to the
question of just what authority the Board
of Children's Guardians has over found
lings The entire matter was referred TO
Attorney Thomas for a legal opinion. He
rules that the Board of Children's Guar
dians has no power to direct where found
lings should be taken. He says the Police
Department, however, should be instructed
that white foundlings may be taken 10
the Washington Hospital for Foundlings.
The suggestions OF DR.. Sewers were also
brought to the attention of Herbert W.
Lewis. the District Superintendent OF
Charities. Upon the question OF the au-
thority of the Board of Children's Guard
ians, Superintendent Lewis stated that the
board had never presumed 10 direct what
disposition should be made of abandoned
infants found by the police. He said that
the board had asked the police to take all
foundlings to the places prepared by the
board for their care. because that was con-
sidered the best solution of the problem.
Continuing. the report Of Superintendent
Lewis says:
Whether that request should be granted when
made, and whether direction given the police in
compliance with il should now he withdrawn or
modified, are questions oi expediency a. well rs
Law, and might well be decided upon considefa-
iio7 Of the success o: the Board of Clnldrc,' r
Guardians in avoiding complaints concerning tie
conduct 81 It's Affairs and in preserving the liyts
VI infants coming under its care. a. compared
with that Of the Washington Hospital for Found
lings in the same lines
The opinion of Attorney Thomas deny
ing the power Of the Board of Children.
Guardians to dispose OF infants found by
the police is in part as follows:
The Washington Asylum for Foundlines was
chartered by Congress April - ls7O for the re-
Sepiton and support OF destitute and iriendiess
children, and the bill provided that foundlings
received by the hospital should be considered
Ni'iIs nlocf the guardianship OF tie Institution,
10 be cducated. apprenticed, OF otherwise dis.
posed Of, in suoh manner the directors may
deem best for the interests of the children Until
they attain the age of eighteen years
Congress on July PC, 1892 passed an act progid
ing for the care Of dependent children in the
District OF Columbia, and creating a Board 0.
Childrcn's Guardians.
Attorney Thomas then quotes this ac-
and then continues in part as follows
The Board Of Cilildren's Guardians is the le.,a
guardian Of all children committed TO il by I'd,
courts. and has power 70 board them in priyat,
families, TO board them in institutions willing 1,
receive them. 10 board them out 10 apprentic,