The Washington times., 1919-01-31
DEMAND LAWS TO
PROTECT ORPHANS

Social service workers in Washing
ton see in the disclosures being made
in the court investigation Of the
Greer bakery children the need of
drastic legislation.
Mrs. Walter S. Cford, executive
I secretary Of the home service divi-
sion of the American Red Cross in
| the District, first brought the Greer
bakery TO the attention of the police.
Mrs. Nina c. Van Wrinkle told the
| court that she first went to the Greer
! bakery unoffcialIy to determine
! whether an investigation was war
ranted. She was asked at whose di-
rection the visit was made. She gave
the name Of Mrs. Uford as her in
! formant
'Itt is a deplorable situation that
we face in the District-this matter
! Of child-placing." Mrs. Ufford told
| The Times today. 1.-THE Times has
done no greater work than in bring
ing the Greer Bakery case to the at
tention of the public.
Years of experience in dealing
with social service problems in this
city have shown me that the great
est need is for drastic legislation to
-r Present Law Inadequate.
The law, as it now stands. is wo-
fully inadequate. Anyone could start
an orphan asylum in the District,
farm out children Unfortunately
and make no accounting whatever to
the State.
What may grow out of such a
system is beyond comprehension.
''The Board of Children's Guardians.
Of which l have been 4 member for
more than three years, has been
working to get legislation that would
make all dependent children wards of
the state.
These children are going to be
citizens when they grow up. What
can we expect Of them as citizens il
/ they are permitted to grow up with
out proper supervision as to their
mental, physical. and moral develop
ment?
"of course. We know that private !
institutions should have a follow-up !
system through which to look after
children after they arc placed I'm pri- !
vate homes, but on account of made |
quate facilities, this is seldom done
Board Lacks JurisdIctIOn.
Our board has no Jurisdiction |
whatever over children other than |
those committed to our care by the |
child. our inspector visits the homo
Juvenile Court When we place a |
inn which the child is placed, once a !
year. and often where we or the in |
spectOr feel more frequent inspec- |
tions should be made
The Greer bakery case NAV be /
only one OF the many in the city |
But what machinery have we with /
which to ascertain such facts? None.
Congress should give use authority.
AT the present time. the best VIC
can do is to have an inspection made
only after charges have been made
by someone.
There IL no law under which we |
may initiate an investigation in a |
home over which we have no juris- /
diction
IF the charges against the Greer |
bakery are proven. it is a challenge Il
to every social agency in the city. II II
should result in a demand on Con-
gress for more adequate legislation. II
The Times, in giving publicity to this
matter, has started what is certain TO h
prove better living conditions for
helpless children
Calls Ii "BurnlnE shame
william Knowles Cooper, general
secretary of the Young Mems Chris.
tian Association and president of the
Board OF Children's Guardians. dis
cusslng the Greer bakery case today.
declared that:
THE whole situation as To child
placing in the District of Columbis
is a burning shame on every member