Evening star., 1900-09-29
School, s1235o, and the National Junior Re-


School, s1235O, and the National Junior Re
public, 1915.
The Newsboys and Children's Aid Soce
ty disappeared from the list, occasioning
a relative decrease of Sl.30117 In pay
ments, and payments to the National AS
sociation for the Relief of Destitute Col
ored Women and Children were S6S.2S less,
and those to the House of the Good Shep-
herd for Colored Girls in Baltimore were
$40 26 less than in the preceding year.
The board expects that the reform school
for girls in the District of Columbia will
become able to receive white girls and a
larger number of colored girls before the
end of the ensuing year, but, as that ex-
pectation Is uncertain and special legisla-
ton is required to authorize payments Tor
children placed in the House of the Good
Shepherd, such legislation as heretofore
granted is solicited anew.
One hundred and twenty-siX permanent
and eighty-eight temporary wards were re-
ceived from the courts and four feeble
minded children were taken in charge.
The net increase in number of wards
not of the feeble-minded class, in charge o1
the board. was eighty-two. and the In
crease in average number was eighty-six
The increase in aggregate number of days
that these children were in charge was
81 All. The board gave 1,327 more days
care to children in temporary charge. The
cost or ddmlnlSlrdtlOn was o. CSiitS leSS pei
capita per annum.
Predetermined children were maintaine1
247 less days at a decreased cost Of 81. a
per capita per annum.
Children in Free Homes.
The number Of children placed in free
homes during the year was 156. and the net
gain to the free list, after deducting returns
and transfers, was 50.
The number of wards in free homes. both
inside and outside the District Of Columbia
June 80 1899, was 81. The number June
30, 1900, was 3S2. The number in free and
boarding homes outside of the District June
80 1900, was col, net increase of 20 over
the preceding year OF these 195 were in
free homes and in boarding homes. The
average number of wards in free homes and
boarding homes outside OF institutions, and
therefore under the particular supervision
of the visiting agents during the year, was
436. 10.
.'The reasons" says the board, (which
were stated in the last annual report why
the work of the board is needed are strength
ened by the growth Of this work. During
the past year, as stated above, 126 children
were added to the roll of wards, while only
A passed from the control of the board by
reason of coming Of age. marriage or other
causes. TIE increase In the number OF
wards in free homes was 60. While this In
crease is gratifying, both on the ground of
and on the ground of the benefit which the
children receive from growing ur in homes
under natural conditions, as compared with
expense and the cramping effect of the
maintenance of these children in lnstltu-
tions, this same increase adds to the work
required of the agents who have to select
and supervise homes.
Need of Additional Force.
Until that period arrives at which the
number of children who pass from the con-
troll of the board within the year equals
the number received the need of additional
administrative force will increase. The
number of children in free and boarding
homes outside Of the District Of Columbia
had already at the beginning OF the year
surpa ssed the limit regarded as SUFFICIENT to
occupy the time and attention of one visit
ing agent. That number has increased
twenty-one during the year 1900 and will
increase again before the appropriation for
the year 1902, now to be made. becomes
available. Assuming that without an ade-
quate force for placing and visitation the
work Of placing children in free homes
must cease, 1t has been shown by the cal
culations made in previous reports that for
every twenty children placed In free homes
who could not otherwise be so placed the
saving in maintenance account would be
sufficient for the payment OF salary of
81 500 to an agent.
At the same time the estimate Is made
that but one additional agent would be
needed for each additional ITO children to
be placed and supervised While the field
for placing wards Of the board in homes
near the District of Columbia is not wholly
exhausted, the best part of it has been
occupied already, and the difficulties of
placements and supervision have increased
both as regards the time required Of the
agents and the expense of travel.
The number of children on expense for
maintenance June 80. 1900, was 255, dis
tributed as follows: Infants and other chill
dren of tender years in boarding houses,
109; boys at Hart farm school, AZ; incorri-
gible girls in House Of Good Shepherd for
Colored Girls, Baltimore, 8; children in
Children's Temporary Home. 90; children in
Industrial Home School. 20; boys at Ma
tional Junior Republic, 1; total not feeble
minded 214 At Pennsylvania Training
School for Predetermined Children, "a: at
Virginian Home and Training School for
Feeble minded Children, II; total feeble
minded. Al; total on expense for mainte-
nance, 256.
Estimates for Year 19O1-O2.
The following estimates for the fiscal
year 1901-19O2 are made with renewal of the
request that the distinction between ad-
ministrative and maintenance appropria-
tons be discontinued, and that the board
be authorized to exercise it's discretion in
the apportionment Of the expenditures
among the several subjects. except 20 far
as 1t may seem desirable for the Congress
to indicate the limits within which the work
Of caring for feeble-minded children shall
be restricted.
At the same time the several items OF es-
timated expenditures are stated, in order
that 1t may appear how the estimates are
formed.
The estimates are: Salary of superinten-
dent ana ylisbursing officer. 81 500; salary
and stenographer, $500; salary Of one clerk.
~.