Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-13
MOTHER
SUBSIDY IN LIEU
Of ORPHANACES
Atlanta Hebrew Orphans Home
Makes Counter Proposal to
Chicago PhiIanthrOpist.

A subsidy for mothers is the stag
gering proposition presented to the
trustees of the Hebrew Orphans
Home of Atlanta by julius Rosenwald
the Chicago philanthropist, who seeks
10 insure home rearing for bereaved
children.
The Rosenwald idea is that orphan
asylums are unnecessary. and the
Rosenwald plan is to provide pensions
far the upkeep of children in private
ZONES BY its operation, widowed
mothers, he thinks will not be forced
by poverty to place their children in
institutions and children who are
wholly orphans can be located in the
homes of others.
Altogether the plan is revolution
airy, and because it is so radical, the
trustees Of the Atlanta home balk at
all its features. When Mr.. Rosen-
wa,d recently made the proffer of
s. 900 a year to help conduct the
new system, they refused it condi-
tionally.
Makes Counter Proposition.
The trustees were ready to approve
the plan of pensioning widowed moth
ers with children. but felt, on the
other hand, that they could not agree
nation of the orphan asylum. For
children who have lost both parents,
they hold, the institution is necessa-
~,
The present situation regarding the
Rosenwald offer to-day was outlined
by r. A. Som, Superintendent of
the home The Hebrew Orphans
Home, he said, is dear to its patrons
and its supporters, who would not
see it eliminated. And yet that por-
ton Of the plan has an appeal, which
would allow widowed mothers to
keep their children by the help of
pension.
Hence, a committee Of the trustees,
headed by DR.. Simon Wolf. of Wash
ington, President of the Board, has
been named to renew negotiations
with the Chicago philanthropist, and
10 attempt a compromise
The Hebrew Orphans Home of At
lanta is the child of the B'nai Birth,
a benevolent Jewish organization. and
its scope extends to the five States
Of Georgia, North and South Caro-
lima, Virginia and Maryland, and to
the District Of Columbia.
About 100 children of Jewish par
ents are inmates of the home at ATS
Washington Street, a large proper
ton OF whom have mothers living
who through pressure of poverty
must relinquish their children to the
care Of the asylum. If the COM
promise suggested by the trustees is
accepted by the philanthropist, most
Of the children will go home to their
mothers But the institution win be
maintained for those children who
have neither fathers nor mothers.
Pensions Per Child
Considerable calculation regarding
the proposition has been made by
trustees of the institution. It has
been figured, for one thing, that the
subsidies to mothers will vary in
accordance with the number of chill
dren in the bereaved family. The
figure Of S12 a month for each child
was established as about the proper
amount for a pension. II costs some
thing more than this, Mr. Som said,
to maintain the inmates of the home
at present,
The amount OF pension would not
be absolute, but would vary from
the Sl2 figure as the resources of the
mother varied.
The trustees put their foot down
hard on the Rosenwald proposition
to do away altogether with the in
stitution.
Home rearing no doubt is best
for the child" said Mr.. Som, "and
where the child can be returned to
its mother the pension or subsidy
plan is by far the best. But the
reform suggested by Mr.. Rosenwald
is radical, and at best must be achiev-
ed slowly. The home must remain
for some time, anyhow"
Meanwhile, the counter proposition
~ -
plan be put partially in operation, in
sOfar as IT applies to children whose
mothers are living. win be presented
To the 1hilanthrOpfst