The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-29
Children's Code Commission for
County Welfare Board.
AL Duties Could Be Performed
by One Man.
PLAN MANY INVESTIGATIONS
California Saved SeS,S1s in Two
Years With System.
Kansas Would Equal This Rec
ord, Says Mrs. MayfieId.

One of the most important bills to
be urged before the next legislature
by the Kansas Children's Code COM
mission. In the opinion OF Mrs. Hen
ryetta Mayfield, executive secretary. Is
the measure which would authorize
county commissioners to create coun-
ty welfare departments. THIS county
welfare measure, IL passed, Mrs May
field said today, would b. optional
with the commissioners in that 4
would not compel them to set up wei
fare departments in their respective
counties, but would leave the matter
entirely to their discretion.
An Unpaid Board.
The county welfare department stip-
ulated in the measure, Mrs. Mayfield
said, would be made up Of an unpaid
board appoi1 ted by the county conf
missioners, and a county superinten-
dent of public welfare with as many
assistants as necessary to be ap-
= pointed and paid by the county com
inissioners The duties of the board
would be inspection of county insti-
buttons and cooperation with the paid
superintendent, who would be secre-
tary of the board.
The duties of the superintendent as
outlined in the proposed measure are:
Probation officer of the Juvenile
court.
Truancy officer in the schools.
Parole officer for the district
courts and state institutions within
the county.
Local representative of the state
board of administration in work for
children.
In a small rural county. Mrs. May
field said. all of these duties could he
performed by one man or woman.
thereby eliminating two, sometimes
three part-time, unframed officers. In
q large county like Sedgwick, Tor in
stance. she said. the work would be
organized into departments with one
executive head.
A Detailed Explanation.
The secretary of the code commits
sion gave a detailed explanation of
how this proposed welfare department
would save money for the counties.
First, relief to the poor, given as
of a larger staff to administer per-
sonal as well as financial help to
needy persons would save money to
the county and produce better results
than are obtained under the present
system. I have known cases where
the monthly allowance from private
charities was paid for years after the
death of the person and cases where
the children had grown up and be-
come self-supporting, but the allow
ance was still paid.
second. thru investigation of ad-
missions to the county infirmary.
Many of these cases should bee
to state Institutions or could be cared
for by relatives or lodges, If the cir
cumstances were thoroly looked into.
Third. thru enforcement of the
truancy law.
Fourth, thru the placing of
orphaned, neglected or otherwise de-
pendent children in foster homes.
where they have a chance to grow into
normal manhood or womanhood
Fifth, thru proper supervision of
the parole system. Many thousands
OF dollars could be saved to the state
thru this supervision. All of our state
crowded they are running over
Saving i'm California
Five California counties-Fresno.
San Bernardino, San Mateo. Sonoma
and Humboldt-the first in that state
to organize welfare departments, re-
port an aggregate saving of 6S,313.71
in less than two years, Mrs. Mayfield
said. She added:
kansas could do as we'll Kansas
counties last year spent $905.403.6S
on their poor farms, poor relief funds
and mothers pensions. The total fig
ure would run well over $1,000 900
as eight of the largest counties of the
state. including Sedgwick, Reno and
Montgomery, are not included in this
total. In the year ending July, 1921,
a total of 1855 civil and criminal
cases were tried in Kansas courts.
The cost of these cases would run
over $2,0Oe,000. Out OF these enor-
nous totals Kansas county welfare
departments would be able to equal
the saving of the California countless