The times., 1899-11-01

One Of the most interesting OF the an
nusi reports that of the Board Of ChiIdren's
Guardians. was made public by the Commis-
sioners yesterday. There are a number Of
incidents cited in the statement OF the
president Of the board and the appended re-
port Of its two agents. showing the work
Of the Institution and the manner in which
il Is carried on.
The appropriation for the maintenance
OF this important branch of the District
charities amounted TO s44.750 all told OF
this amount 81. 600 was apportioned for ad-
ministratiye purposes and the balance OF
S3S 800, was used for the purpose OF carry
ing out the work Of the board At the be-
ginning OF the year there were 4+5 wards
under the care Of the institution. and on
June 30 1899. there were 552 such charges.
The care Of these children. exclusive OF these
OF feeble mind cost the authorities an
average OF % cents per day per child. or
Sl0.5S per annum. The feeble minded
children were maintained 1928 days al
cost Of s. 303-3S. or 57.15 cents per day per
child. There was an increase Of expendi-
=
The children Of SS.36 SO. OF which 81 $3.50
was for the care Of feeble minded children.
s.. So for the board of children in insti-
tutions 3.l20.40 for the board OF children
IN private homes. and SS6-1S for clothing
and medical care.
Continuing, the report states:
Children for Life.
The care Of feeble-minded children is
likely to continue an increasing expense
indefinitely. Such persons remain chill
dren 10 great extent throughout life, and
when once taken in charge are likely to
remain on the expense list. The board has
secured some reductions in the expense Of
caring for individuals since the response
bility for payments was placed upon it.
and has kept in view opportunities for such
reductions By a revision Of its list il has
secured additional aid from parents in pay
ing for the care of such children, where
parents were not able 10 bear the whole
expense. II has satisfied itself that child
stood in need Of public support before ap-
plying for authority to receive il 10 the
president Of the Columbia Institution for
the Deaf and Dumb. without whose sane
rion II can receive no child as feebie-mlnd-
ed
AS regards the increase in expense for
board OF children in institutions payments
to the Hart Farm School alone increased
S4623 ST. Aside from this, the expense
was less by $l.155-sI than last year The
only other institution which received an
increased payment was the House OF the
Good shepherd. for colored girls, in BalJi-
more. the increase il this institution be-
ing s5s3 90.
The Children's Temporary Hc-.- Ep-
pears for the first time in the report this
year. having received Sl.30S.3S. Only col
Ored children have been sent 10 this home.
The payments 10 the national associa-
ti0u for the relief of destitute cOlOred Wo-
men and children. styled the National
Cclored Home, which receives only colOred
children, have been reduced S295-2l, and
those TO the NewsbOys' and Children S Aid
S0ciety-the George Aiaulsby Home-which
received both -colored and white children
during a part Of the year, have been Ie-
duced Si815.36. Moreover, The Industrial
Home School. for white children, received
S639.3 less than in the preceding year, and
the House Of the Good Shepherd, for white
girls in the District OF Columbia. and ST.
Mary's Institute, for white boys, in Balti-
more. received nothing, effecting reduc-
1ion Of 1925 - and 500, respectively, in the
latter two cases.
Disposition of the Wards.
The reasons for placing girls in the
House Of the Good Shepherd in Baltimore,
School. may be set forth briefly as fol-
lows:
The District Reform School. for girls.
which receives only colored girls cannot
accommodate all the incOrrigible girls
the Police Courts needs to subject 10
wholesome restraint and the District Re
form School for boys. Is for a large part
OF the time too fun to receive the colored
boys in need Of its care.
FH f.rF r11 IN 2 Aa y-fls
OF Columbia for the care Of these children.
nor is the Reform School the appropriate
place for many Of the cOlored boys, from
twelve 10 sixteen years OF age, who are
placed in charge OF the board. and need
temporary training before they viii be-
come suited TO such homes as can be
found for them The act OF Congress ere
atiug the board imposes upon il the duty
OF caring for all classes Of dependent
children which the Police Courts ind fire.
Quent need 10 commit TO our care. The
board finds its need for the use Of these
two or like institutions as great as here
IcfOre. and as special legislation is required
10 enable il 20 pay for the care OF girls
whom il may send 70 the House OF the
Good Shepherd. in Baltimore. or may keep
there during the coming year. IL solicits
such legislation. as heretofore granted
"One hundred and thirty-hve permanent
and Il3 temporary wards were received
from the courts. and feeble minded chill
dren were taken in charge.
The increase IN number OF wards not
OF the feeble minded class. in charge Of the
board, was l07 and the increase in average
number was 81 The increase in sggre-
gate number Of days that these children
were in charge was "a. .457- The board gave
40 more days care 20 children in tenn
p0rary charge. The cost OF administration
was Sl09 less per capita per annum
Feeble minded children were main
tanned 2.S45 days. al an increased cost OF
l25 per capita per annum. Payments for
tbese children individually have ranged
from 500 10 1925 per annum. according 10
The kind of care required. Al present none
q these children remain upon the roll ex-
cept those Of the most helpless character.
for whom the rate OF 1925 per anuum is
paid.
The number q children placed in free