The Washington times., 1922-07-07
PETITION !
REFERRED;
T0J()lCES
Mrs. Brennan Meets Setback
In Plea for Representation
In Children's Affairs.

ment of member of the Congress
Of Mothers and Parent Teachers
Associations on the Board of Chill
dren's Guardians or the Board of
Education, District Commissioner
p Cuno H. Rudolph today informed
Mrs. E. j. Brennan, chairman of
the mothers committee investi-
eating paid homes of the guardians
board.
Mrs. Brennan, who yesterday
presented a petition to the Com
missioners urgng representation of
the mothers OF the two boards, call
ed in person today and conferred
with CommissioneoRudo
Ten Homes Investigated.
He pointed out that the District
Supreme Court judges appoint the
Board Of Education, and the judges
Of the District criminal and police
courts name the members of the
guardians board.
Commissioner Rudolph said, how
ever. that the judges might ap-
preciate the suggestion, and recon-
mended that they be made acquaint.
ed with the aims of the Mothers
Congress.
Daniel E. Garges, secretary to
the Board Of Commissioners, today
stated that he had investigated ten
homes in which dependent District
children have been placed by the
board of guardians. These homes
were in Georgetown and in north
east Washington. Secretary Garges,
who is making this inquiry by order
of the Commissioners, was accom-
panied by DIR. ]. A. Murphy, school
physician of the health department,
and by a "giude" from the Board
of Children's Guardians,
The homes inspected are taken
from a list of more than zoo sub
mitted to the Commissioners by the
guardians board. Garges stated
that II would be impossible to ex-
anime all Of these. but that a goodly
percentage would be looked into,
with special reference to homes con-
cerning which complaints have been
made.
Whitewashing Is Feared.
Leaders in the movement to give
dependent children good District
homes have expressed fears that
the investigation may fail of the
best result as II is known to all
boarding home keepers that they
may momentarily expect visit
from Garges and Murphy and are
said to be prepared.
The Commissioned it was learn
ed, are considering no more applica-
tions for membership on the investi-
eating committee. The committees
report will go directly to the Com
missioners. and no detailed informa-
ton will be given out until the final
disposition of the matter by the Com
missioners.
The trustees Of the Industrial
Home School will meet next Monday
to take up the recommendations
made by the Board Of Guardians to
the Commissioners, regarding the re-
tention OF the institution as a tenn
porary receiving home for children.
keeping children at the scEo = until
the close Of the regular term will be
stressed at the meeting. The guar.
dams board has told the city heads
that this is not necessary, while the
trustees contend that it is vitality
important to the education of the
child.
Shifting About Charged.
One Of the major complaints made
against the board Of guardians in
this connection is that children have
been shifted about from one home
to another to the detriment OF their
schooling; whereas, they would be
benefited II permitted to remain at
the home school until the vacation
period.
The. committee of which Mrs.
Brennan Is the head will con tinue
it's work in behalf of the children.
A study Of all District and Federal
laws regarding children has been be.
gun, and may consume the entire
summer.
Let us take the children by
groups" said a member of the COM
mittee before the call on the COM
missioners. I'VE see first that there
are 1925 who entail no expense at
all to the Board Of Guardians at
the present time. or these $40 have
been returned to parents and
friends, and the board acknowledges
in Nits report that many of this
group are employed and are prac-
tically supporting themselves
There are 220 children classed as
feeble-minded; these are not ap-
propriated for by the board. since
tney are III government instltutlOnS
There are sixty-five given out on
trial for adoption; these cause the
beard TO expense. ...
There are 457 children on a
boarding basis. Let us suppose the
sixty.five on trial for adoption are
returned to form an expense item.
This Is a total OF 523. The Off
cial capacity Of the Industrial Home
School is $50. leaving 373 the board
thinks Il must farm out. These we
wished placed in one Of the follow.
ing five classes:
81. Infants, those under the age
OF five years, which according to
District statutes should not corie
under the boards control. IAN
over the age OF five whom their
parents are now able to support.
3. All over the age Of fourteen, in.
GLIDING those who have reached the
age OF female majority teightecn).
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