Evening star., 1924-05-11
COMMISSION CITES
! WELFARE BODY PLAN
Gives Reasons for Recommending
Proposed Board in Formal
Statement.
CONDITIONS CALLED UNIQUE
Citizens and Organizations Urged
to Consider Measure.

Reasons underlying the recon-
mendation of the public welfare leg
islation commission for a public well
in formal statement issued by the
commission last night.
After pointing out that it was sug
gested that a department of public
welfare be eSta blished with a single
executive at its head, to be appointed
by the Commissioners, to be in COM
plete control of the work of the de-
partment, the statement announced
the decision after very careful con-
sidcration," to recommend a board
of public welfare to be appointed by
the Commissioners, and the board
members in turn to appoint an exec
utivc to handle administration work.
Reasons Given in Support.
The reasons offered in support of
the commissions proposal include the
following.
If the present system of control of
public agencies Is to be supplanted
by a busineSslike. unified control
which will permit of efficiency,
economy and proper coordination, a
plan must be devised upon which a
majority of the citizens of the Dis
trlct can agree.
AT the public hearings held by the
commission the dominant sentiment
was against one-man control of the
public welfare organization and in
favor of effective participation by the
citizens of the District under board
form of organization. The same view
prevailed in the opinions expressed
by correspondence and personal in
terview. 1t should be clearly under
stood that the annual appropriations
for public welfare institutions and
agencies in the District of Columbia
amount, in round numbers. to S2,500,-
600. The commission feels that this
amount of money should be expended
by or under the direction of a board
of citizens, with an executive respon-
sible to it, rather than by depart
ment with an executive not reSpon-
sible to such board.
Conditions Called "Unique."
"No plan of public welfare organ
ization can be successful which does
not take into account the unique con-
dittons existing in the District of
Columbia. Washington is more than
government. The board form of or
saniZation on the whole is better
suited to the particular needs of
Washington than is any other form
by reason of its situation and ira
ditions.
I'm the past our public welfare
organizations have been controlled
by boards of citizens. The commits
sion proposes to merge three existing
boards into one board of public well
fare, thus securing unified control
but retaining the board form of or
ganiZation. 1t is wiser to continue
that fundamental form of organiza-
ton under a plan of unified control
rather than 50 swing to the extreme
form of Capitalization which is in
volved in a departmental form of or
ganlzation, with one person aSSum-
ing full responsibility. This is par
ticularly true in a community which
does not have the vote and does not
have an effective voice in its own
government.
Continuity of Management.
"A department controlled by one
person who is the executive lends
itself too readily TO domination by
special interests, while a board tends
tinuty OF management. The official
position of the director Of department
may be at stake in any controversy,
while an unpaid board is in an inde-
pendent position.
Public welfare is one of the newer
developments in government. 1t deals
with human beings in distress, and
its work is not so definite, tangible,
and measurable as are, for example,
police and fire departments. A board
Gall De dH euuCallNe ana lnleFpretd-
tive influence in the; community, ac-
quainting the public with methods
and needs in a field where public
education is very greatly needed"
Citizens Advice Sought.
The commission asks that every
citizen and organization in the Dts
trict consider this proposal for a
board of public welfare and take ac-
ton after deliberation. 1t is request
ed that the results of official action
by individuals and organizations be
transmitted to the Office of the COM
mission, 316R District Building
Organizations which have sent Off
cial Endorsements of public welfare
bill to council Of social agencies in
clude, the Washington Council of
Jewish Women; Instructive Visiting
Nurse Society approving with modi-
fication that director should have
power to employ and dismiss mem
bers Of his staf1); the Y. w. C. A.!
the Juvenile Protective Association;
st. Johns Orphanage; the Associated
Charities, and the ntiTuberculosis
Society.