The Washington times., 1922-06-05
ON
PROGRAM
EXPECTED
Project Has Long Been Under
Investigation and Report Is
Due Wednesday!

.s&t Sdo vvOuftoouoy.
The Industrial Home School, on
Wisconsin avenue, about which q
storm h3s been raised by charges
that children inmates have been
farmed out and trafficked in, and
by the announced determination of
the Board of Children's Guardians
TO close the institution July /,
may be converted into a tubercu-
losis "preventorium" for the
young, it became known this
morning.
A special committee from the
Board OF Charities headed by Mrs.
Whitman Cross for three months
has been investigating the. home,
among other so-called child CARRYING
institutions, with view TO it's pos.
sible conversion for other purposes
than at present. officials of the char
tiles body disclosed, The commit.
tees final report will be formulated
at a meeting "Wednesday afternoon
at the District building.
II is represented that there Is
crying need In the District Of such
an establishment, where boys and
JoAAo WhO ohOW u pTcutbDOoiIlOH 10
tubercular affections without hav,
ing the disease actively can be made
strong and well through outdoor
treatment.
Protest Meeting Held.
Despite this possible devotion to
an admittedly worthy cause of the
Industrial Home School. efforts will
not cease to prevent It's closing a
month hence. Representatives of
various organizations held an in
dignation meeting Saturday night.
The National Woman's Party. Con.
gress OF Mothers, Parent Teachers
Associations and numerous citizens
associations are embarked on de-
termined campaign to end rhe alleged
rnishandiing 7of the children, inciud.
ing their assignment to private
homes, many of them claimed to
be of a totally unsuited character,
and to such institutions az that
conducted at Herndon, Va, where
they are said to suffer hardsbips
and depriyations q
Representing a committee ap-
pointed Saturday evening, Mrs. Ed
mund J. Brennan and Mrs, y. A.
Hawley, describing themselves as
"just Interested citizens" and a. J.
Driscoll, Of the MidClSy Citizens'
Association called upon 2omn,ission-
er Rudolph and Secretary Wilson, of
the Board Of Charities. today to pro-
test against the school closing and
find what might be done 10 stop II.
Jurisdiction Is Claimed.
Commissioner Rudolph explained
to the delegation that the goysrnance
of the Industrial Home School 10 en-
tirely out Of the Board of Commits
sioners. The Board Of Children's
Guardians, having supervision over
the institution, is a body appointed
by the judges of the two branches
Of Police Court and one justice Of the
District Supreme Court. 1t was fur.
ther emphasized that, while the
Board of Charities maintains su-
pervision over the Board Of Guar
dams as far as advice and definition
of policy goes, It cannot compel &C.
ton by the latter body,
Mrs. Brennan and her confreres
announced that they will confer with
Judge Mcmahon of Police Court TO-
morrow. II necessary. they say,
they will take the matter up with the
Department OF Justice.
The secretary of the Board of
Charities informed the delegation
that no move could be made In any
direction until the investigating
committee had made their report on
the Industrial school. The board
meanwhile has under advisement
the various letters Of protest sent
in by civic leaders who have beeti
aroused by word that the school
win get rid of all its children and
close on the first Of next month.
Members of the protest committee
feel that no matter to how neces-
sary purpose the school may be
transferred from its present use.
the farming out process which first
aroused the angry criticism of
m, -ubers OF the board or trustees
for the school, should be investi.
gated and halted. They will do
all In their power to halt a practlct.
which they describe as wicked To
the children hnd wasteful OF public
funds. ls
"Since the founding OF the Juve-
nile Court. through which all chill
dren who are inmates Of the Indus
trial Home School must pass" said
Mrs, Brennan today, there have
been 5000 girls and boys intrusted
10 the institution, and this IL the
first Investigation. so far as I know,
that has ever been undertaken.
What may not have happened 20
many OF them in the years the
school has been In existence? When
the first probe into the operation,
Of the school reveals children
farmed out and lost to- their par.
cnts. settled in squalid homes ana
amid Undesirable families, what
may not dig deeped into the rec
ords7
I'VE are determined to bring
about an airing OF the whole situa-
ton once and for all Around the
District Building our Investigation
seems only TO result in our being
handed on from one person to an.
other. Final responsibility rests
somewhere, however, and there our
work win carry us"
A survey into the activities OF the
Board OF Chiidren's Guardians OF
the District Is being conducted by
the Children's Bureau of the DEPART.
mont OF Labor to determine the use.
fulness OF the board TO the general
community. The report viii not be
available for several months. II was