Evening star., 1923-10-11

, committees. but. through the council,
duplication Of work is avoided.
For example, the interests OF chill
dren are looked after by all four
committees, but from different stand
points. The children's committee fnds,
| after survey, that 1t could organize
subcommittees, one composed of the
| executives Of chiidren's institutions,
! nurseries. These could get together.
| compare experiences and plans and be
| mutually helpful. At the same time.
the health committee finds need OF
sanitarium where tuberculous chill
dren who do not need hospital may
combine schooling with medical care.
| This need has been reported to the
| board OF education, which agrees 10
| undertake to get the funds necessary
to supply the sanitarium school.
The family committee is looklng
after the organizations which help
homeless men, stop street oegging,
care for homeless girls. unmarried
| mothers. lost persons and victims Oh
| non-support.
| There are also a few special COM
| mittees for special problems. and
| standing legislative committee, which
| Is urging legislation by Congress 10
| establish a home and school for fee,
ble-minded. to obtain an increased
tients. a compulsory school attend
ance law. and new municipal lodg-
ing house.
| The council Of delegates, as above
! described, meets from time to time
as called, having held eight meetings
| during the last year A former sec
| retary. Miss Sophy Sweet. prepared
the first complete directory of the
social agencies of Washington, and
| 1t is found to be OF great value to
| social workers.
| y * =
| At the last meeting Of the council,
a report was made by DR.. Hastings H
Hart OF the Russell Sage Foundation.
| OF a survey of the situation In this
| city which he had made for the
council. The speaker followed with
some punsent suggestions based upon
his many years Of experience in So
cial work. and his knowledge of what
other cities are doing.
| DR.. Hart emphasized especially the
| very great Importance OF occurring
congressional establishment of au.
| thority, vested in q director OF social
| work. who shall have power. by law
| TO restrain undesirable duplication
| imposition and fraud under the guise
Of charity or social relief. The pres
| ent council Is excellent SO far IS itt
| powers go, but there Is need Of real
| authority. which will license all So
| cisl activities and supervise them.
! At present, the council Is somewha,
| divided I'm opinion as to whether to
! support public supervision with gov
! erning authority over all private
organixations-churc and social-ol
! TO limit that supervision to public IN.
| stitutions. That has been a moo'
| question for many years, but the rec
| ommendation Of the Russell Sage Foun
| dation is unquestionably urgent
toward full supervision of all such
activities-public or private.
DR.. Hart called special attention &c
the failure Of the District Of Colum'
bla to recognize the Importance of III
Juvenile Court. as demonstrated by th'
| salary paid It's Judge. Pittsburgh pays
its Judge OF Juvenile court $4,000
| Minneapolis, $500; Norfolk. Va. 81
500 and Washington only S3.6O0
Philadelphia pays its probation ON
Ger 5000. Pittsburgh $4,000 and Wash
ington 5000.
| Does not the Capital need the edu
eating influence In social responsible
ity, urged Dr. Hart, which will come
| through organization and authorita
| tive control, upheld by Congress a.
| we'll as by churches, city officials and
| the charitably disposed citizens!
copyright. 1923. by Paul v. Collins)