The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-18
POLICE PROSECUTE
CHILDREN, CHARGE

The Monday Evening Club has
taken a hand in the problem OF child
welfare in Washington.
Meeting last night at the Y. II.
c. A to discuss the child welfare
problem, the club launched into a
lively discussion as to the fitness Of
the House OF Detention In the Districc
to receive children who are held for
investigation by police and Juvenile
Court authorities.
Commissioner Louis Brownlow.
Judge ]. Wilmer Latimer. OF the
Juvenile Court; Mrs. Edna X. BUshee.
Louis Gutenberg, and A. J. Driscoll en-
gagged in q lively debate oyer the al
legged evils at the House OF Detention,
which was cut short by adjournment
at 10 o'clock.
The debate was brought on by ref
erence to an item in the District ap-
preparation bill for a temporary shsl-
ter for dependent children before they
are placed in homes, or institutions.
Mr.. Gutenberg opposed the use OF
the House Of Detention as a place TO
detain children until disposition is
made Of their cases.
"PoIice records will show" he said.
that less than two weeks ago a bow,
fifteen years old, was taken from mis-
work and sent to the House Of Deteu-
ton and held from Saturday until
Monday without just cause. 1t is said
by many that the police hold children
in the House Of Detention while they
scour about 10 fasten crimes upon
them"
Commissioner Brownlow replied
that the House Of Detention was
-
ment, and the authorities did not
abuse the power lodged in them by
the unlawful detention Of children.
Mr.. DriscOll, president Of the Mid
City Citizens Association, said the
House Of Detention is as fine an in
stitution OF its kind as any in the
country. He declared that the build
ing, located on NJ street between
Ninth and Tenth streets, is a mOnu-
ment in the neighbOrhoOd.
Mrs. Bushee, secretary OF the Juven-
lie Protective Association, said that
witnesses had been held at the House
OF Detention for as long as three
weeks. She said there were not
nough matrons at the institution to
permit the children to exercise in the
backyard.
Before the discussion arose Commis-
sioner BFownloW told the club Of the
item for SI1, 600 In the District bill
for q temporary receiving home.
whatever may result from an in
vestigation OF child welfare COndI-
tions in Washington, there are few
things we must have, and one OF them
is the temporary receiving home,
said the Commissioner. We need
home for feeble-n.inded children ard
will attempt 20 get II from the mex
Congress"
The item IN the District bill calling
for the Sll,GO0 appropriation includes
$1,000 for renting and maintaining =
building, and the balance for salaries
Miss Jessie L. Haver was named
chairman OF q committee that will
call upon Senate members to urge the
passage OF the bill containing this
item. The other members OF the spe-
cial committee are Mrs. w. S. Uf-
ford and 4. J. DriscOll
Other phases OF child welfare work
were discussed by Stephen i. Kra-
mer, assistant superintendent of
schools; DR.. George 81. Kober. vice
president or the Board of Charities
and dean Of Georgetown Medical
School; Mrs. Gilbert II. Grosvenor,
member Of the Board OF ChiIdren's
Guardians: DR.. William Fowler, Dis
trict health officer: Judge L. r.
Weir. chief executive officer OF the
District War Comp Community Ssrv-
ice: Judge William H. De Lacy, of
the Juvenile Court. and Simon Wolf
Resolutions were adopted by the
club requesting the Russell Sage
Foundation to make a study and
Investigation OF child welfare con
6itions in the District