Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-22
CHILD WELFARE
IS EMPHASIZED
Agencies Now at Work to be Uni
fed and Code Of Laws
Drafted.

The uniication Of all agencies for the
welfare of children and ultimately the
formation Of . code of laws toward
,bo same end wcrc the two p ints
cmphasiscd at the meeting of the
state Childrcn's Bureau, held at st. An
drrw's parishhousc yesterday afternoon.
II is not expected that these things can
he ACCOMPLISHED soon, but every effort
will bc made to bring them about within
a reasonable length Of time.
Mrs. Frank Morton Jones, chairman
of the Childrens Bureau, presided over
the meeting. which was very largely at
tended. The principal speakers were
& Spenccr Richardson of the Russell Sage
Foundation, who presented his survey Of
the state, and Miss Emma Lundbcrg of
the Federal Childrens S Bureau.
As an outcome of the meeting the chair
man Is to appoint a committee of three
of which she will be one, to confer with
Governor Townsend, on the appointment
Of commission TO draft code of laws
for the welfare of children in this State.
II was announced that Governor Town
send is In sympathy with such a comms-
sion
Miss kIndberg spoke Of the world
wide interest in children aroused by the
war. All existing agencies arc being i'm
proved. and in France and Italy war
orphan laws have been passed providing
measures that would have been impossible
during pcaoe. The Federal Bureau for
Children, Miss Lundberg stated, will in
stitutc "Chlldren's Year on April 6,
the anniversary of our going into the war
Ms. Charles r. Miller spoke of children
rs one of the special interests of the
Womcn's Committee Of the Council of
National Defence. George b. Miller,
president of the Board Of Education. W 5.
Prickctt. judge of the Juvenile Court,
Mrs. Henry jackson, superintendent of
the Delaware Industrial School for Girls.
C.. ]. Scott. superintendent Of city schools,
and several Others spoke briefly. Mr.
Richardson spoke in part as follows:
There appears TO be no need of ad-
ditional organizations IN Delaware to
care for the dependent, delinquent and
defective children. The Is existing or
ganizstions represent the different kinds
required The present need is 10
strengthen. extend and unto the exist
IN agencies There are three groups
Of colored children which are not now
cared for: delinquent colored girls babies
under THREE wears Of age and babies OF
unmarried mothers. but in each case it
would lie possibl, 10 provide care by an
extension Of the work of existing oruani-
cations.
The Wilmington Juvenile Court dur
ing the Sin years of its existence has
amply justified itself II has had 10
meet serious difficulties in the form Of
unframed and too few workers. who have
received meagre pay or no pGv at sll,
and also Of certain amount % prejudice
sgainst a separate court for children.
Placing out of Delaware children is
being conducted by 10 local organiza-
,ions, only two of which employ for the
purpose trained agents. The Delaware
Children's Home Society has performed
faithful service along this line, but it is
not equipped to handle all the work OF
the State. We recommend the consoli-
dation Of all placing out work in Della
ware and 10 effect it, merger of the
Home for Friendless and Destitute Chill
dren and the Delaware Children's Home
Society.
We recommend that the Children s
Bureau Of Delaware enlarge its work 50
ss TO perform for the organizations for
dependent. delinquent and defective chill.
dren throughout the State preliminary
ease study Of children. including inves-