Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-08
Wants Commission Named to
Determine Social Needs of
National Capital.
TO CALL ON PRESIDENT
WITH "a SUGGESTIONS
Inquiry Would Be Initial Step To-
ward Establishment of Ideal
Municipal Government.

comprehensive survey for the Dis
trlct or Columbia, which shall include
an examination into the social service,
| health and recreational needs of the
community, is favored by the Monday
Evening Club
mat organization at a special meet
| ing in the assembly hall of the Y. NJ.
{. A. building last night, Endorsed the
suggestion made recently to the Presi-
dent that Congress be asked to provide
for an investigation looking toward the
establishment here Of model munich
pal government and approved a list Of
subjects which it believes should be
| included in the proposed survey.
A special committee of the club, to be
named today or tomorrow, will convey
it's recommendations to the White
House.
Twentyfour specific suggestions, pre-
scented by the executive committee, and
several amendments offered by members,
all of which relate to needs Of the local
government along social service, health
and recreation lines were adopted at
the meeting. which was largely attended
and productive of considerable enthu-
siasm.
Political Questions Barred.
Amendments offered looking toward the
consideration of political and other ques-
tons in connection with the suggested in
vestigation were eliminated, the club vot-
ing to adhere to a strict social service
policy. 1t was stated, however, that
many of the suggestions made would be
referred to in explanatory memoranda
which will accompany the recommended
tions to be conveyed to the White House.
The principal resolutions tabled sought
to put the club on record as favOring an
investigation of the need of suffrage in
the District and of a teachers retire.
ment law. The former was introduced
by Louis Gutenberg and the latter by Miss
Flora p. Hendley.
During the debate, DR.. William c.
suggested that consideration not only
should be given to a retirement law for
teachers, but for all government en-
ployes as we'll.
The executive committee reported
against both resolutions on the ground
that they fail without the scope Of the So
cial service policy of the club. a position
which was sustained by decisive vote
in each instance.
The recommendations adopted are class
ed under three heads and are as follows:
Recommendations Of Club.
First-A sufficient visitorial and inspec-
ton corps for the enforcement of school
attendance laws; regulation Of child la
Dor; supervision of dependent and ne
elected children: sanitation and municipal
tuberculosis and school nurses.
Second-Efficiently organized .and ade-
quate governmental agencies to supply
the need for a system Of branch libraries
and better support of the public library:
a national training school for white girls:
a modern municipal hospital: modern
municipal lodging house; Juvenile Court
building; provision for the care Of feeble
minded; provision for the treatment of
dipsomaniacs and drug victims; a par
entail school; open-air schools; play
ground and recreation centers; public
comfort stations; public baths and wash
houses; provision for health supervision
of schools: provision for social hygiene
and for the employment Of woman police.
Third-Legislation to accomplish the
following ends: Use of school build
ings as social and recreation centers;
establishment of a social welfare de-
partment; compulsory removal of care
less and dangerous tuberculosis pa
TENTS; revised child labor law; re-
vised school attendance law; amend
ments to the so-called loan shark law;
elimination of all blind alleys; i'm
proved procedure for the commitment
of the insane and the adoption of an
indeterminate sentence law.
With the exception of the resolution
| relating to the need of better sys-
| tenn Of branch libraries; that in refer
| ence to a training school for white
B. Olney; the suggestion made by DR..
Willard S. Small for health super
| vision of schools, and the resolutions
of Louis Gutenberg relating to social
hygiene and the employment of woman
police. all of the recommendations
adopted were contained in the formal
report submitted by the executive COM
mittee.