The Washington times., 1924-01-29
A Mothers Pension Law for
the District
BY BILL PRICE.

The report child dependency in the District BY the Fed
eal Chdrens Bureau again to emphasize the need
here Of governmental aid for the mothers Of dependent
children that little may kept with their mothers and
the home life preserved.
This Federal Chdrens Bureau that only six States
without public provision for aid Of mothers
whose husbands dead ncapacitated who have de
serted their families
ing Of Congress and the Government Of the United States
should have been among the first attempted solu
Eon Of this breaking Of home ties through failure to give
struggling mothers financial aid in the rearing Of their
offspring.
The indifference Of Congress these social problems
the District lack Of human feeling on the part
Of national legislators They engrossed with mat
ters Of national other nature closer their
and constituencies They feel that they do not have the
time work for the beerment Of child welfare here The
result is that thousands of dependent children Of the District
are turned over to the Board Of Crens Guardians or 20
into private institutions The Board Of Chdren Guardians
gives Of them institutional and farms OUT others
among families which i believes viii treat them well
ton by the bureau had lost both parents At the time Of
the commitment Of 2244 children to the Board Of Chdrens
Guardians four OF those children whose fathers
dead were living with their mothers Of many Of
the 2244 were orphans many iegitmat in
There strong appeals however, fact that there are
large numbers Of little children in the District who could
still remain under their mothers the District govern
ment gave the mothers financial aid The to the Dis
ct would probably be than under the present sy
em There would be disruption Of the home ties none
Of the heartbreaks that go with the separation Of mothers
and children.
would De 100lSh 70 that all dependent children
should remain with their mothers Some Of these mothers
be morally untitled for the task their surroundings
and lives may not be what they should There hundreds
taken from them and placed under other agencies because
they are financially unable to bear the burden
In States and cities where public aid is given in keeping
mothers and children together there supervisors who
investigate each application for aid and who ascertain the
moral fitness Of mothers retain their little ones
The Board Of CMdrens Guardians has recognized the
importance Of family rehabilitation far it has been
permitted by returning to their parents children placed with
the Board, still retaining supervision the wards The
Board has authority to restore children to the legal
troll OF their families, but must continue supervision
them. The Board and the Juvenile Court which
ts children to the Board have been given staffs
large enough to properly handle dependency Congress
has been just nggary in appropriations for child well
The Board Of Chdrens Guardians been seriously han
dcapped by lack Of funds to adopt the best chdcarng
standards.
There is provision in the District whereby mother
who needs financial assistance to maintain her children in
her home be aided from public funds The Federal
Bureau points out that the greatest value Of such aid
mothers pensions is found in giving assistance before the
home has been broken down. thus keeping the children with
their mothers"
There can be argument to need here of
to prevent the breaking up of families when breadwnnes
have been taken from them Some help from public funds
at the right moment would prevent the entire burden of
cdrens care and support through the agencies Of nsu
tions or private homss
Congress puts the District in line with progressive
States and cities in providing mothers pensions our child
caring public agencies will longer be compelled remove
child from his mother and place him with strangers to
provide for his maintenance.