The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-01-06
Have State Do 1t
EDITOR THE TINES:

/ Eli VIZ
A few days ago you published
an appeal for funds for the Wash
ington Children's Home Society
of Seattle. 1t has a deficit of ST.
500 and wants those who are
interested in the future OF Wash
ington's dependent children" to
! help make up the amount.
Instead of boosting a Seattle
institution, owned and controlled
by a private corporation, why DO
you not show a real interest in
the welfare of Washington de-
pendent children by advocating
a bona-fide Washington Chill
dren's Home,-owned, controlled
and maintained by the State OF
Washington?
Washington claims to have the
finest public school system Of
any state, ] understand that II is
the costliest. This is for the chill
dren who have parents that send
them to public school.
l should like to ask the par
ents whose children are enjoying
these superior advantages at pub
lie expense, what interest are you
showing in the little children
who have no one to care Cor
them?
Would you like to see the
school system for your own chill
dren put on the same basis as
the care of orphan children?
Minnesota has syStlm in
which the state fully recognizes
it's duty as guardian OF orphans;
New York has a system of farm
ing out" its orphans; Washing
ton is inaugurating the latter
system. Why not look into The
matter, and see which is the most
economical, and twhat is yet
more importantly which is the
best for the children?
(The reference department of
our public library can furnish
you with books and periodicals,
See, for instance. Senate Docu-
ment No. 1856, 55th Congress, LIST
session. Also Survey Magazine.D
BY the failure Of Whitworth
College of Tacoma there has been
left derelict a handsome property
in this city.
The main building occupies an
ideal site for Tacoma's next high
school. There Is also an acreage
on an isolated point which would
be equally desirable as a loca-
tion for a state institution for
children. There are two mott
cages against the property, and
the possibility of a considerable
tax judgment, If our county as
SCISSOR should comply with the
legal requirement. -
This is a matter which will not
settle itself Our legislators are
the right ones to take it up. The
bank loan, and the loan of the
Presbyterian board should be
liquidated, and the title of the
state made clear.
If any person or corporation
think they have a superior title,
let them enter suit and prove it
in court.
If the state owns the property
the tax debt is quashed. If the
bank or the Presbyterian board
owns the property the possibility
of a tax suit hangs over it. The
property is worth considerably
more than the Indebtedness.
Furthermore, Tacoma's public
spirited citizens should wake up
to the necessity Of setting aside
for public enjoyment an occas-
ional plot of ground, now, while
the ground is reasonably cheap
especially some of our most beau
tiful water-view grounds.
This property was bought by
contributions from individuals Of
many denominations. The bust
ness men of Tacoma have contrib
uted to its support. But they do
not, apparently, care to support
II any longer as sectarian
school. Neither this property nor
the orphan children of the state
should be left derelict any longer.
Tacoma is entitled to a state :n-
stitution. Here is the location,
and here is the object; let the
legislature do the rest.
All children In need of public
attention would be brought to the
home. and cared for tbere, until
proper private homes C,nld he
found for them-by officers re-
sponsible to the state for their
judgment and vigilance.
Children in need of medical at
tention would receive it there.
Records would be kept of ell
children received in the home.
The state has an authority
which could not be conferred on
a private institution. If it took
charge of the infants from the
White Shield Home it could de-
mand a truthful statement of
narpDtapp and make official in