The Washington herald., 1922-06-08
CHARITY BOARD
DHAYSUOSING.
OF CHILD HOME.
Action Postponed to
Await Probe of Al
legged Laxities.
GUARDIANS BAR
INVESTIGATORS
Mothers Congress to Seek
Injunction if Institu-
tion Is Abandoned.

A meeting of the Board OF Chari-
ties yesterday afternoon postponed
action on the proposal to close the
Wisconsin Avenue Industrial Home
School until a more thorough in
vestigation Is made OF alleged laxi-
ties in farming out children to
private homes by the Board Of
Guardians.
Charges Of child slavery and mis-
treatment Of Orphans in paid
homes" II is reported. Induced the
Board Of Charities to instigate a
further probe into the condition Of
homes in which wards Of the
guardians have been placed.
II was learned yesterday that
the Board of Guardians has issued
orders to every paid home" in
which children have been placed to
admit no one without passes from
the board. Indignation was ex-
pressed by guardians yesterday that
Independent Investigations of con-
ditions in these homes were being
conducted by reporters and citizens.
Mother. Name Committee.
The Congress Of Mothers and
Parent Teacher Associations. meet
ing at T.angdon School yesterday.
appointed a special committee to
Investigate the Board OF Guardians
and learn TO what authority II is
responsible. Unless a change Is
made in the plan TO close the Wis
consin Avenue Home on July I. an
injunction will be sought. It was
stated.
Announcements several months
ago that the Board Of Guardians
would not need the Industrial Home
after July l led to the appoint
ment Of a special committee to in
vestigate homes used by the guard
ians Whether the Industrial Home
will remain the receivng home for
children will depend upon the re-
port Of the investigating committee.
II is said.
As viewed by friends Of the Wis
consin avenue institution. the con-
troversy has resolved into the
question Of whether the we'll
equipped Industrial Home Is to be
abandoned for smaller unequipped
private institutions. The practice
Of the guardians now Is to place
from ten to twenty-four children
at each private paid home" until
they can be moved
Denounees secret Practices.
In an open letter indorsed by the
Mothers Congress, Mrs. Edmund
FREEMAN. chairman Of citizens COM
mittee. denounces the secret prac-
tices Of the Board of Guardians
a. - h
zens in keeping the Industrial
School open as receiving home.
TOO many children are taken from
their parents" Mrs Brennan con-
tendS,s usually on account OF
poverty"
When children are taken from
their homes by the Guardians" Mrs
Brennan stated. they are placed
in homes Iit.le better in nine cases
out Of ten than the homes from
which they are taken.
IF the money paid to the homes
were put into the original home.
many other problems would be
eliminated. together with a waste
OF energy.
1T is true" Mrs. Brennan's let
ter continues. that one group OF
children committed TO the Board
Of Guardians has been moved five
times since January II. Surely the
proper investigation OF the houses
was not made. or these changes
would not be necessary. These chill
dren are now in the Industrial
Home-the first time they have been
placed properly. according &c my
judgment BY all means this school
should be left open as a receiving
Nv u-fll
the trouble TO visit the institution
will decide that at once"
Children Brutarly Treated.
Investigations by private citizens
and newspapermen continue to re-
veal homes used by the Board of
Guardians in which children are
brutally treated or poorly cared
for. Investigations show that chill
dren are placed in the care OF un-
educated individuals and foreign
ers. Seven girls were placed in
one home. eleven IN another, and
eight boys in a third.
The case of one girl was dis
covered who. after being released
by the Board Of Guardians. became
the mother of twins at the Column
bia Hospital three months later.
Mothers an6 fathers are prohib-
tied from seeing their childrep ex-
eept with permission Of the board.
with permission a parent may visi.
the child once a month for half
hour. In some cases the parent and
child must meet at the District
Building under the auspices Of the
board. the home" address of the
ehfld being secret
Numerous instances are met In
which children have run away from
homes In which they say they have
been mistreated.