Evening star., 1923-07-15

- for mothers with dependent
children is provided by law in
= forty-two states Of the Union.
The mothers pension" as this aid is
more popularly known, has become
recognized as good business for the
community. 1t is better for the chill
dren to be cared for in a home looked
after by their own mother whenever
it is possible.
In Washington, the National Capital,
however, there is still no mothers
pension provided. Congress, the leg
islative body for the District, may
get to this matter in time-just as
it may provide adequate school facili-
ties for the children some day. Dur
ing the last session there was agita-
tion for mothers pension law. Bills
were introduced by Senators Pom
creme of Ohio and Calder of New York
and still other legislators. Hearings
were held before the Senate District
committee on the two measures cited.
But nothing further was done. In
| fact. the understanding was that no
further steps would be taken until
the public officials here charged with
administering charities and the Dis
trict Commissioners had agreed upon
a plan and were ready to present a
bill OF their own. Neither Senator
Pomerene nor Senator Calder will be
members Of the new Congress which
meets next December. But If the
Commissioners prepare a mothers
pension bill it will be introduced in
| the Senate by Senator Ball of Della
| ware, chairman of the District COM
| mittee. and in the House by the chair
man of the House District committee.
Report of Bureau.
The children's bureau of the De-
partment of Labor has just made pub
| lie a report on standards of aid to
| children in their own homes, which
| should prove Of much assistance not
| only to the members of Congress
| when they come to finally drafting a
mothers pension bill for the District
of Columbia, but which should prove
| of value to the officials who must ad-
minister the law after 1t has been
| passed. The administration of moth
ers' pension laws in representative
| states. cities and communities was
| carefully investigated by the agents
| Of the children's bureau and the re-
suits have been tabulated. Boston
Denver, st. Louis. Minneapolis. Haver.
hill. Mass; westchester and Mont
gomery counties. N. Y; Northampton
| -,
| county. Mimi. were studied as repre-
senting various types. from the large
city to the rural community.
The purpose of the study, the report
says, was to collect material showing
the results Of experience in admins
tering aid to children in their owr
homes in order that other agencies
working out methods of administra,
tion and standards of relief and SUI
pervision might profit by what ha,
been accomplished in this field. II
other words, SO that communities like
the District Of Columbia, which have
not yet adopted the mothers pension
might have the benefit OF the expert
ence' of those places which have beer
more progressive. The inquiry deal.
| primarily with the STANDARDS or living
maintained by the families receiving
aid from the state.
| Standard OF Living.
One Of the matters which the bu
reau's investigators made inquiry int,
was tho conception of the standard o.
living to which the families receiving
aid were entitled. It was found tha
most of the people actively engaged
in the administration Of such aid hat
given consideration to the standard.
on which the homes should be main
tanned.
1.-THE way in which a normal work.
ing mans family lives" was the
expression most frequently used by
those consulted in describing the
standard of living to which. in theil