The Washington times., 1912-01-05
CHILD BUREAU IN
CAPITAL PLANS 4
SWEEPING PROBE
Council, Organized Today,
Will Seek to Improve
Conditions.

Headed by representatives OF prac-
ticalle every society and charity or
ganization in the city that touches child
life. including officials Of the public
schools, Judge Julian Mack, of the Uni
teJ States Court OF Commerce. and
Judge William II. De Lacy, OF the
Juvenile Court. q Children's Cnuncil, the
most comprehensive organization OF It's
Kind yet formed In any city. has lust
been organized in Washington. Plans
have been under way for nearly a
month. but every effort has been made
TO keep the project quiet until q COM
plete organization was effected.
general and Widespread investiga-
ton of home conditions and a probe Of
the places Of amusement for children
IN the Capital Is to be the first work
OF the new organization.
Tentative plans already are on foot
for the collecting OF information re-
Rardfng moving picture shows, and in
few days Inspectors will be sent into
me hotels and cafes to See whether
liquor Is being sold to girls, as has been
charRed at the early meetings Of the
council.
Ofcers Chosen.
Officers already have been selected.
Judge Julian Mack Ii president. Mrs.
Murray Crane, wife Of Senator Crane.
OF Massachusetts. ID secretary. and Miss
Mary Swain is field secretary. Miss
Swain is SO far the only salaried en-
ploye Of the organization. DR.. w. ].
Kerby, of Catholic University, is treas
urer.
Members Of the executive committee,
besides the officers. are Miss Cornelia
Adds. George S. Wilson, of the Board
OF Charities; Walter 8. Ufford. Of the
Associated Charities: Judge William II.
De Lacy. of the Juvenile Court. and
Mrs. ]. 5. Neleigh, in charge Of the
Neighborhood House.
Nearly every charitable organization
In the. city that has in any way to do
with the handling Of children has MEM
bers In the council. Among the men,
bers are Miss Isabel Strong, Of the
Visiting Nurse Society: Mrs. Henry
john. A. Sisco, of the Board of Chill
dren's Guardians; Edward s. Martin,
representing the Washington Play
Grounds ro,,ts n Association Mthna.oa and the Boy
perintendent of public schools; Miss
Clara Herbert. Of the Public Library.
and Mrs; Charles A.. Goldsmith. OF the
cent de Paul Society also is represented
by Judge De Lacy.
The objects of the organization as
OutuneQ Dy Mr. UnOrQ and ~Other men,
bers of the executive committee this
morning are to make a thorough and
systematic study of child conditions in
this city, with special attention to home
environment, places of amusement, and
child labor laws.
To Cut Duplication.
1t is believed that the council also will
eliminate much duplie@kIon OF work now
done by the dozens OF societies working
Independently. The council also will be
place of general conference and PLAN
ming.
The enterprise is being financed by
private subscription, and the field sec
rotary has offices in the METROPOLITAN
sank building, at the Boy Scout head
Every social settlement in the city is
represented In the council. Miss Swain
qeclined to give out a full list of MEM
pers this morning, declaring that the
society did not want its plans to be-
come known until a complete organiza-
ready has held four informal meetings
at the Associated Charities office and
in Judge Mack's office.
On January Is the first general meet
ing will be held, at which definite plans
for work will be formulated
Mrs. Murray Crane and Judge Mack
will address the council Januarv IL. and
by that time the executive COMMITTEE
Will have outlined a definite plan of
work to present to the council.