Evening star., 1923-10-09
ASKS MORE STUDY
OF CHILD WELFARE
Council of Social Agencies
Wants Body of Citizens to
Look Into Problem.

Plans were made by the Council Of
Social Agencies. at the first. meeting
of the year, held at the Raleigh
Hotel yesterday afternoon. to renew
the study of child welfare legisla-
tion In the District
The council adopted a resolution,
upon motion of DR.. John OGrady, re-
questing the president of the board
of District Commissioners to appoint
a committee of citizens to study the
feasibility of additional legislation for
the care of children in the District
This action followed an address by
DR.. Hastings S. Hart of the depart
ment Of child. helping of the Russell
tensive investigation and report last
year of child welfare agencies in the
National Capital.
''The thing most needed here is the
getting together of the people inter-
ested in social work." Dr. Hart said.
THAT is the burden of the song of
every one who becomes familiar with
the conditions in the District"
Work Under Disadvantages.
DR.. Hart declared that he and his
associates who made the local study
came to fe<i very strongly that
great many of the institutions here
are working under disadvantages,
such as lack of equipment and small
salaries.
He stressed the right of a COM
munity to supervise It's institutions,
declaring that such supervision is
stimulus to the agencies. No agency
that IS honest and .aboveboard, he
SAID, has anything to fear from su-
pervision. although it is possible. he
admitted. for overzealous inspection
TO cause trouble There must be COM
mon sense and practical thought
given to this sort of thing, he said
I'VE ought to be glad. as those who
are given this sacred charge, Of car
ing for little children, to avail our
selves of this Inspection. DR.. Hart
continued. Public supervision, prop
erly exercised. is very great assist
ing force in the faithful discharge of
this kind of obligation"
Pension Bill Failure.
He pointed to the failure of people
engaged@in this line of work here to
pool their interests, instancihg the
failure of the passage Of the mathers'
pension bill,
IF you are going to meet the pecu-
liar and extraordinary conditions in
regard to Legislation in the District.
We must do what DR.. Hart says"
cies, he intimated. is probably the
means for this getting together"
DR.. Hart said he hoped there would
be concrete efforts made to perfect
the code for the welfare of District
children. He told of one children's
institution in which there are but
nine children, of which seven are the
children of the superintendent. t.-
I'VE must do what DIR. Hart says"
declared Newbold Noyes, who pre-
sided. THE supervision of child well
fare agencies, if not of all the agen-
cies, would be advantageous"
Mr.. Noyes said that there are agen-
cies here that are a disgrace to the
city and a blot upon social work"
Following the address, DR.. Hart was
given vote of thanks by the coun-
Gil, not only for the address, but also
for the study made of child welfare
conditions in the District. Motion
to this effect was made by Walter S.
Ufford and unanimously adopted by,
the gathering. The meeting was
largely attended.
Reports of the executive committee,
the treasurer and the committees on
child welfare. family conditions and
community showed the affairs of the
council to be in good shape. -
Mr.. Noyes appointed DR.. OGrady
as chairman Of a special committee,
together with Mrs. Whitney and Mrs.
Day, to make nominations. to be pre-
sented at the annual meeting next
month. to fill seven vacancies on the
executive committee of the council.