Evening star., 1923-11-15

Child Welfare Legislation.


The announcement by the Board of
Chlldren's Guardians of the program
toward which ii proposes to direct its
energies serves a purpose of dual use
tulness. It scotches any possible idea
chat the board as today constituted
las any desire save to work in har-
nnony with all. other forward moving
childcaring agencies in Washington
along lines established as most prac-
teal and effective in the care Of chill
.iren. And. contemplating as il does
certain Legislative changes essential to
carrying out its work along those
lines, it emphasizes the necessity for
q determined and whole e-hearted effort
nn the part of all who are interested
first TO reach agreement among them
Eelves as to what welfare legislation
they desire to ask OF Congress at the
coming session, and. second, TO main
tain steadfaSt front in pressing for
congressional action upon the legisla-
tion determined to be needed.
Briefly. the board proposes the sale
Of the Industrial Home School as
being too remote and too expensive
70 serve any useful modern purpose.
and contempiates using the proceeds
Of such a sale, as Ear as they may go,
for the esta abiishment Of two centrally
located temporary Receiving homes
FOR children. the enlargement Of the
Colored training school az Blue
Plains and the establishment OF q cot
taGe system industrial school for
white boys and girls upon the site
of :he Old George Junior Republic. at
Annapolis Junction. II is furthe.
recommended that. after Il temporary
commitment Of a child by the Juvenile
Court to the board for observation i'll
ore of the temporary receiving homes.
II may be recalled by the court and
by il committed to any suitable su-
pervised private institution.
Each Of these several projects will
require the enactment Of Special legis-
latiop if Il is to he put into operation.
The board is apparently fully aware
oS the fact that in order TO obtain
this legislation it will be advanta-
geous. if not essential, to have the
united backing of all interested in
child welfare in the District
Happily there is evidence cf an
awakening on. the part Of all-or
Ginlost all--concerued to the need for
g systematic and serious effort TO de-
teFnlinc precisely what child welfare
legislation is needed at the National
Capital. 10 draft that legislation and
TO impress Congress with the vital
need for its enactment. The program
Cf the Board of Children's Guardians
comprises bu. Il portion OF what many
feel Is needed 10 bring ,epdcr out OF the
chaos under which the work OF caring
for the child wards Of the community
Las overlong been handicapped. Pro
vision for mothers pensions: for the
direct supervision OF all public and
private child-caring agencies; for an
adequate school attendance law; for
much.neeGed homes for tubercuiar
and feeble-n.inded children of the Dis
frict, stand in the front rank Of Wash
tngton's legislative needs.
Experience and common sense
point stusefuI lesson in the pre-.
liminary steps incident to the prob
lem Of how to get the legislation the
city wants. Numerous efforts have
been made in the past to get what is
needed-conscientiou earnest efforts,
which have, however. ended In failure
because OF the omission OF certain pre-
lin1inaries essential to success.
Those responsible for child welfare
work IN Washington must get together.
Together they must thrash out such
differences OF opinion az may today
principles for modern child care and
what Is the best application Of those
principles TO the requirements OF this
community. Together they must ar
range the drafting OF the legislation
deemed by them desirable. And togeth-
CT, shoulder to shoulder. they must
undertake the persuasion of Congress
to meet their recommendation.
The stage is set for the initiation
OF this procedure. Let the Commits.
sioners call forward the actors. Wash
ington as whole will be behind the
effort to give the hundreds and thou
sands of her destitute and unfortu.
rate children the best that human
study and effort and love can devise.