The evening world., 1917-10-24
DEN0UNCES PLAN
TO SWELL PAYROLL
OF WELFA BOARD
sophie Irene Loeb Oppose:
investigators" and Wins
Officials Support.

before the Board OK Estimate tu-
day Miss Sophie Ircne Loeb objected
to tho creation OF three Senior IN
restisators" In the Child Welfare
Board. II Is proposed to pay them
each $1,000 "a year.
When the Now York state Com.
mission which fathered tho Chiid
welfare Law investigated the whole
suhjcct," said Mise Loeb, "It found
that there was entirely too much
money spent on investigators. u
found In It's pcrusal of tho work of
private charities that a very large
part of the money that went into the
payroll Of costly investigators should
have gone into the meagrc purses or
tho poor.
In the widows. pension system the
success OF the work depends upon the
heart interest OF the members OF the
board Tho less machinery you put
between the members OF the board aud
the widow tho better It is for the
work
Il contend that the appointment o,
these three so-Called senior investi-
gators will prove but the entering
wedge for moro positions In the fu-
turc. The moro Of these investiga-
tors you tho moro machinery
the less chance there is OF the widow
and her children getting a square
deal
THE Child Welfare Board has thus
far taken 500 children out OF lnstl-
tions ana restored them TO the loving
care OF their mothers. II has kept
5000 children out OF the Institutions.
fho work has been done at a cost OF
per cent to tho city. Tho law In
simple and represents only ono form
or relief. II is not complicated, and
tho less machinery between the Wild
ow and tho board tho better. The
personal touch Is the big tring In this
form OF relief.
II am loath to see this machinery
Installed. II 1t Is. II will be done
without the sanction OF tho real
working members OF the board.
III the Secretary Of tho board can
not handle 223 applications for relief
which IL the average number. then
say that official In not equal to the
job"
Comptroller PrenderKast paid a
tribute to tho work done by tha Child
Welfare Board. lie said Il represent
ed Wholesome and a great work"
The board took no action to-day OH
Miss Loeb's request.
After tho hearing Frank Dowling
Ilpaai1anI % n,s.N 90 A l.,
Expressed himself az unalterahly up-
posed to creation OF such new posi-
tions as senior Investigators In the
child Welfare Board.
Tho work OF this board has proved
most successful In keeping the chill
dren OF widows out of institutions"
he said. Tho money that has been
appropriated hRs thus far been wisely
spent. / am convinced that tho sue
cess OF the work has been due to the
personal touch that has been mani
tested between tho poor family and
tho board. Any more machinery to
operate the law, I believe, would ar
ioct seriously this close relationship
that Is 80 desirable"
Borough President Marcus Marks
expressed similar opinion AMI added:
81 can see no reason why any more
positions should 10 croatcd In the
Child Welfare Board, especially when
senior members are opposed TO y.
Tho work has proceeded well thus
far. | believe in continuing II along
tho same lines until they prove inef-
feCtive. Besides, | believe In tho saw
Ing Of this $4,000 TO the city anna
ally"
IIc commended the clear manner
In which Miss Loeb presented the
matter. Miss Loeb - now tho senior
member Of the Child Welfare Board,
having beon recently reappointcd for
a nlno- year term. She also served on
the New York State Commission that
widow's pensions and led
the campaign 10 put the law on tho
statute books "A measure strongly
advocated by Tho Evening World.