The Washington times., 1922-09-17
FOCHT To URGE
PENSIONS FOR
D. {. MOTHERS
Indicts Child Welfare System
Here and Promises Bill to
Correct Conditions.

SOTTeCL SonutttOnS.
Farming out children in the Dis
trict of Columbia must stop.
You put children here in homes
that are not their own. You take
hem from their natural mothers to
be treated like slaves and kicked
around like dogs. Many Of them
never know what home life is like"
Congressman B. X. Focht, chair
man Of the House District Commit.
tee. made this indictment of the sys-
TEN before the committee yesterday,
when he announced that he had in
course of preparation a mothers
pension bill. which he would shortly
offer in the House.
That bill will be patterned utter
the Pennsylvania law, which / help
ed to draft" Mr.. Focht said. Most
Of the delinquency in the District Is
the result Of poverty. My bill would
eliminate poverty in most cases and
reduce delinquency 30 per cent"
Children are never farmed out in
Pennsylvania, Mr.. Focht declared,
because no outsider would have the
interest in the child the natural
mother would have"
BIanton Raps System.
The question OF placement Of chill
dren in the District was raised when
Congressman Blanton declared that
but for the fact he feared II wooid
prevent it's passage, he would place
an amendment on the compulsory
education bill which would complete
ly revolutionize the system now in
effect here.
IT am not at all satisfied with the
acts Of the Board of Children's
Guardians" Mr. Blanton said.
They are probably doing the best
hey can under the circumstances.
,ut I have affidavits here which II
hey are true, are an outrage and
'emand our attention.
Mr.. Blanton said that one aft
avit was made by a girl Of seven.
cen who swore she had never re.
eived the IS weekly she was en-
titled to under an agreement made
between the Board Of Children's
Guardians and the home In which
she was placed. She explained that
for certain errors" she was penal.
lied IS a week. Her statement was
that the family each week marked
up sufficient errors against her
conduct so that she never received
why, I have atfidavits that show
rhe Board Of Children's Guardians is
even playing grandparent to chill
dren," Mr.. Blanton declared. BE
cause certain Of their wards give
birth to children, the board then
contended that the children became
their wards"
Al this juncture Mrs. Nina G. Van
Wrinkle. lieutenant Of police In
charge OF the House of Detention.
took hand. She explained that the
board had no authority over such
infants: that only the Juvenile Court
had authority.
Mr.. Blanton said he was not criti
rising, but merely transmitting the
facts as stated In the affidavit. He
further declared that In his eight
years as a Judge he never took a
child from It's natural mother.
Lieutenant Van Wrinkle Heard.
II don't mind telling you" MIR.
Blanton added. that ! got these
affidavits from that lady there" He
indicated Mrs. c. F. Winters. who
has been conducting the campaign
this summer against the Board OF
Childrer's Gus rdians.
"Yes and l have forty-seven OF
them" Mrs. Winters spoke up.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle told the com.
mittee that "the board does not take
child except by order of the Juve.
nile Court. We take the children to
court (meaning to the police depart.
ment) and the Judge makes the com.
mittment, she explained.
They are committed to the Board
OF Children's Guardians. Most Of
these children come first to the
House Of Detention, where I am In
charge. During my term Of service
there. more than 1000 children have
passed through our hands and my
staff has had opportunity to talk
with them. We have yet to hear a
complaint from any OF these chill
dren.
Just show US those affidavits and
we will investigate them"
Mrs. Van Winkle sought to dis
credit the sworn statements, setting
up that in many of such cases there
was a personal grudge that caused
the girl 20 make a false statement.
Mrs. Winters sought to put in a
word. but Mrs. Van, Wrinkle con.
tinued her statement. Mrs. Win.
ters managed. however. to say that
the affidavits were the property of
the persons signing them and could
not be turned over to the woman po.
lice official.
Chairman Focht finally took charge
and announced that his bin would
| make possible further hearings at
which the three score Of women's
organiza tions now engaged In the
controversy could air their vi.~s
fully.