The Washington times., 1922-07-15
.CENTRAL|z|NG
OF L[.CHAR|TY
.WORk|sS0UGH7
Expansion Of Commissioners
Powers to Control Welfare
Agencies Near.

Expansion of the powers OF the
District Commissioners. to give them
complete authority Of appointment
and supervision over all municipal
agencies. probably will be accom-
plished through the District Vel.
fare Commission. OF which Justice
Frederick L. Siddons, of the District
Supreme Court bench, Is chairman.
The commission was appointed
during the administration of Dis.
trict Commissioner Louis Brownlow.
It originally was intrusted with
the task Of codifying District laws
governing children. This plan later
was abandoned. and the group now
functions as an advisory board to
the Commissioners on all questions
Of local welfare legislation.
II is certain that the commission
will not act until the present con-
troversy between District citizens
and the Board Of Children's Guard
ians has quieted.
Nothing would be accomplished" !"
said Justice Siddons today. by
promulgating measures OF reform
until the questions involved may be
viewed coolly and sanely.
Would Unity Work.
PERSONALLY, think great good
would be done II Congress should
authorize the appointment Of a
commission of competent people TO
draw up a plan for the concentra-
| ton OF all local welfare work. 90
that the city might have a logical
structure upon which to work,
without these wide Emergencies ot
authority. To say the least, IL ID
not very scientific to have 30 many
| Independent bodies actively at work
| In the District.
"It has been my feeling since the
| creation of this commission that
/ Capitalization Of authority in the
District Commissioners over all city
| agencies would prove Of benefit 70
| Washington and would pave the
way for much proposed legislation
Justice Siddons Indicated that the
welfare group might propose to the
Commissioners, for reference jtc
Congress, that the appointing mem
bers OF the Board OF Children's
Guardians be removed from the
| judges of Police Court and the jus
tice presiding in Criminal Division
No. OF the District Supxeme Court
"This method of appointment. he
said, remains with US as a relic ol
the days when delinquent and de
pendent children were brought into
Police Court and their disposition or
dered by the judges. When the Juye
nile Court was created, the power o'
appointment remained unchanged
regardless of the altered relations OF
the District courts to children"
Seek New Legislation.
A subcommittee of the welfare
commission Is considering certain
phases of municipal affairs brought
into the prevalent controversy, II was
stated. However, the commission
does not intend to act on these mat
| ters for some time. The subcommit
tee Is drafting certain Legislation
which, Justice Siddons believes, may
have a definite effect upon the fu
ture of city charities. .
Among bills under adyisement By
| the commission, on subjects related
| to child care, is one involving the
ruling OF the Court of Appeals
against the Juvenile Court, which de
cision would remove jurisdiction over
nonsupport cases from the lower tri
bunal.
In the opinion of Justice Siddons
the present municipal mix-up re
suited from the unheeded growth
of many. agencies charged with
| duties relating to dependent chill
Idren. Private and public bodies OF
this character have sprung ur
during comparatively recent
period, and their interrelated worR
has led to duplication OF effort and
to consequent friction. The only
apparent solution to this problem
as seen by the welfare commission
is the coordination Of these agencies
under a specified authority, In the
interests of efficient administration
4