Evening star., 1924-04-06
BILL ASKSPUbL|C
!. WELFARE BOARD
Mould Abolish Various Organ
izationS Now FunCtioning
in District.

Establishment of q board of pub
iIc welfare in the District of Co.
imbia and the automatic abolition
the board of charities, created
~ act of Congress June 6, 1900: the
lpard of childrens guardians, created
'y act of Congress July 26, 1892, and
he board Of trustees of the National
training School for Girls created by
aet of Congress of July ., 1883, is
.roposed in Il bill introduced yesterday
~ Chairman Reed of the House Dis
,r'ict committee.
The bill provides that the new
board shall be the legal successor to
he abolished boards and shall sue
iced TO all of their powers, authori-
les and property and to all the duties
ana obligations imposed by law upon
he existing boards.
The new board Of public welfare
would consist of nine members ap-
"ointed by the District Commission
RS for terms of six years, with pro-
vision that for the first term three
members shall be appointed for two
Years, three for four years and three
or six years. Thereafter all appoint
1nents shall be for six years. Legal
ncSidenCe in the District for at least ,
three years is prerequisite to appoint
hent. The members of this board
Z
The board under the provisions of the
Ct would have authority To elect its
~n chairman vice chairman and sec
eIzry and to make ali rules, regulations
s,nd administrative orders governing
he organization of its work and the
ischdrge Of its duties as will promote
tticiencY Of service and economy OF
nperatiOn.
Upon nomination by this board the
District Commissioners would have au-
horlty TO appoint a director Of public
Welfare who would be chief executive
%rfer nae th< 9t the board The bill provides
:uch training. experience and capacity
S viii especially qualify him or her 70
discharge the duties Of the Office"
Functions OF Board
The new board would have complete
and exclusive control and MANAGEMENT
VI the following institutions in the Dis
trict:
"a the workhouse at Occoquan Va.
% the reformatory at llorton. Va:
% the Washington asylum and jail
% the National Training School for
iris, in the District and at Muirkirk,
Nd; Ce) the GalI.ager Municipal Hos
pital; fD the tuberculosis Hospital:
90 the Home for the Aged and In
.irm; th) the Municipal Lodging
; i9use; o. the Industrial Home
school; % the Industrial Home
School for Colored Children; tk) the
Home and Training school for the
feeble Minded, in Anne Arundel
county, Md
The superintendent and .alI other
employees now engaged in the opera-
ION OF these institutions would be
TubJcct TO the supervision Of the new
welfare board. The Superintendents
would have the management and CON
Toi or the institutions to which an
pointed and would be Subo ordinate to
the director of public welfare.
subject to Discharge
The superintendent and other en-
ployes Of the institutions would he
appointed hy III" District Commits
SionerS upon nomination by the well
rare board and subject to discharge
oy the commissioners upon recon-
incubation of the board.
The welfare board would he re-
CURED to submit estimates to tht. Dis
frict Commissioners for the annual
budget and to make an annual report
The bill 10 C'tatc the board of pub
nc welfare was drafted after two
hearings, one attended by represent
atiNes of the public boards and insti-
IntionS which might be affected by it,
ana the other Il general public hear
ing, 10 which over a thousand per-
sons and agencies were invited hy
letter, IN addition to extensive news
paper notices. Correspondence and
personal interviews supplemented the
hearings and three executive sessions
pt the commission on public welfare
were devoted TO preparation Of the
bill.