The Washington times., 1922-07-13
PHYSICIAN
ASSS|S TED
IN INQUIRY
overoroWding and Poor SAM
tary, Air and Light Con-
ditions to Be Revealed.

Sharp criticism of overcrowd-
ing, sanitary. light and air condi-
tions in boarding homes used by
the Board of Children's Guardians
for the housing of District wards,
will be contained in the report of
Daniel E. Garges, secretary to
, the Board of Commissioners, in
3 his report to the city heads on
an investigation of these paid
homes, it was learned today.
Starts Work on Findings.
Garges today commenced the
preparation of the report, with the
school physician Of the health depart
ment, who accompanied Garges on
the tour Of inspection.
While ] am not in sympathy with
Institutional care of children" Gar
ges said today. II believe that chill
uren committed to the care of the
guardians board should be given
the best homes possible"
10 was learned that the report will
carry specific recommendations as
to the number of children to be
placed In one home, and that DR..
Murphys observations on health
conditions will be conspicuously men,
toned.
oj comparing notes with Mr..
Gargcs, 1t was learned that several
boarding homes against which com.
plants were made underwent exten.
slve changes by the time the com.
missioners' probers reached them.
Some of the homes of this class have
been abandoned. and their occupants
have left the city, 1t was said.
Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph
Today came out in favor of the wis.
consin Avenue Industrial School,
which the Board of Children's
Guardians unsuccessfully sought to
;lose by July /.
Duty to Keep II. He Says.
The District should keep up this
institution" said Mr. Rudolph. IT'S
The best place of the kind we have
here, and 1t Is really our duty to hold
On to 1t.
II believe, with the school trus.
tees, that children sent to the in.
stttution should remain there until
the close OF the school term. 10 that
their education will not be affected
l believe that many OF these child
rem are of a type that require close
study. and l don't think that suit.
tDlC hOiiICt Dt lot lneDn
IN a day or a week. | believe thai
home atmosphere is good for the
child. but II must be a good home
atmosphere. It Is better to keep the
child temporarily in an institution
than to send II, perhaps, into a
doubtful home"
Commissioner Rudolph expresseu
The hope that the guardians and the
trustees could come to an agree.
nent at a joint meeting next week,
following the return of Engineer
Commissioner Charles Keller to
Washington. Colonel Keller. 1t is lie.
ported, has a plan that may be ac-
ceptable to both sides. The nature
Of this proposition has not yet been
aivulged.
1t was disclosed today that the
Board of Children's Guardians Is
eontrol of mothers pensions for the
District in bills introduced by Sen
ttor Curtis Of Kansas and Congress.
man Tinkham, Of Massachusetts,.
Bill Up Next Winter.
In view of the method used by the
board in caring for dependent Dis
hict children, mothers of Washing.
lon are avowedly not In sympathy
with the authority granted the guard
ANS In this legislation.
The Tinkham bill. which Is practi-
eally identical with the Curtis bill, is
not before the District committee Of
The House, and probably will not be
considered until the winter session
bf Congress.
II provides that the Board Of
Guardians, under rules and regula-
tons prescribed by the Commits
sioners, shall grant, out Of the ap-
broprfation for the board and care of
children, allowances to mothers with
children under sixteen years Of age
dependent upon them for support;
provided that in the judgment Of
such board such mothers are deemed
proper persons to be the recipients
Of such funds. The aid furnished
shall be sufficient to enable the
mothers to care for their own chill
fren properly in their own homes"
This matter will be prominent in
The discussion of mothers pensions
= 1t the mass meeting of District wei.
fare workers in the auditorium of
the Interior Department building,
Nineteenth and @ streets northwest.
tomorrow night.
II do not think that Senator Cur
lis or Congressman Tinkham would
have introduced such legislation e
they possessed full knowledge Of the
manner in which the Board Of Chill.
prenIs q Guardians does its work." said
Mrsl kh NJ. Clements. chairman Of
The District mothers committee. to.
hay. 1.-The Board of Guardians is not
The proper body to administer such
pensions. and the mothers of the city