Evening star., 1924-05-04
The Commissions Welfare Bill.

In the past much good legislation
for the District of Columbia has been
lost because of the inability of our
citizens to unite in the support of
valuable measures proposed for Dis.
trict betterment. Such a situation ap-
parently faces the proposal of the
Commission on Public Welfare I,egis-
lation to establish a board of public
welfare in the District.
1t is unfortunate that determined
opposition to this wise piece of legisla.
tion should be offered at this late date
The commission has been at work for
more than three months; it has held
numerous public hearings and confer
ences and invited the fullest express
sion of opinion before it's bill was
drafted. The commission found an
almost unanimous sentiment in behalf
tutions and agencies of a penal and
charitable character. The expressions
of opinion in the public hearings were
preponderantly favorable to the crea-
ton of a board of public welfare con-
sisting of citizens of the District ap-
pointed by the Commissioners rather
than a department controlled by a
single person.
No doubt the commission and ma
jority of those who appeared before il
were impressed with the fact that the
District cannot directly be compared
to the ordinary city, because it has to
some extent the functions and char
acter of a county and of state
While it is true that city government
has tended toward the creation of de-
partments rather than boards, it is
also true that in county and state ad-
ministration the board is the widely
prevailing form. In this community.
where various boards have controlled
public welfare administration, and
where the citizens have been accus.
toned to an effective voice in the man.
agement of such agencies, it may be
properly questioned whether it is de-
sirable at this time to substitute one
man at the head Of a department who
will have all of the powers and duties
now vested in a large number of citi-
Zens who serve on the varied boards
Public welfare administration is
relatively new phase in government.
A board Of public welfare, with a full
time, paid executive, will not only
bring to our penal and charitable
agencies the advice and help of per.
sons who know the District, but it
will offer means Of interesting and
educating the whole community in
this very difficult field. A bill drafted
for the District of Columbia must take
into account the situation here; II can.
not be framed simply upon theory or
even experience elsewhere.
In any event, the commission, con-
sisting Of eighteen respected citizens
appointed for this particular purpose,
has passed judgment after due con.
sideration. 1t would seem that this
judgment has been accepted by the
community. 1t Is to be hoped that
Representative Keller, chairman of
the House committee to which the bill
Has De6u TtleTT6u, VIII IOt, as a result
of the tardy opposition Of minority
throw overheard the careful labor of
three months, but that he will recog.
nize the desires of a large majority
of the District. Successful opposition
now to the proposals Of the commits.
sion can result in only one thing-de-
feat for all constructive legislation in
this matter of vital moment to the
community.
While the welfare bill is Of very
great Importance, the present situa.
ton goes deeper-it goes to the whole
question of whether the citizens Of
the District are to be frustrated in an
earnest and sincere effort first to
reconcile conflicting viewpoints and
then to obtain legislation based upon
that reconciliation. That question
must be answered to the satisfaction
Of the many, even il it involves the
discomfort of the few.