Evening star., 1924-02-08
MOTHERS PENSION
BILL IS UNOPPOSED
Proposal to Aid Families in
D. c. With Public Funds
Urged at Hearing.
661 CHILDREN IN NEE1
Denial Made Measure Would En-
courage Maternity - Term
"Charity" Is Repudiated.
661 CHILDREN IN NEE1

Not voice was raised in opposition
to a mothers allowance bill for the
District at the public hearing held by
the commission on public welfare leg
islation at the District building yes
terday afternoon. Discussion extend
ed over more than an hour, but was
al! In advocacy of the legislation.
Following the public hearing the
commission, headed by Justice Fred
erick l.. Siddons of the District Su-
preme Court, held a brief executive
conference, but did not take definite
action.
The commission announced that the
compulsory education bill prepared BY
the school authorities will be the sub
1ect for another public hearing at $3.50
O'CLOCK next Thursday afternoon at
the District building.
Cash Aid to Mothers.
The purpose of the so-called
mothers allowance bill is to provide
system whereby the city could
make cash allotments to unfortunate
Families to enable them to keep their
children in the home. This form of
relief would only be extended in cases
where the mother was found to be &
mt person to keep her children.
Mrs. Whitman Cross told the com
mission the Washington Council Of
Social Agencies recently made II
survey which showed there are 22S
families in the city, having 661 chill
dren, in need of such aid as the pro-
posed bill would provide.
Members of the commission, who
are engaged in comprehensive study
of the social welfare Eeeds of the
city, not only listeS-a attentively to
the speeches of advocates Of the
mothers allowance bill, but asked
questions that indicated desire To
get all the facts bearing on the
subject.
Not Maternity Allotment.
Miss Emma o. Lundberg Of the fed
eral children's bureau emphasized the
fact that a mothers allowance law is
not maternity allotment nor is il
another form of aimsgiying. Mr.
Edna X. Bushee. who has had long
experience in juvenile protectiv"
work. expressed the belief that after
the bill is passed the administrative
needing such relief than present esti
mates indicate. She said there are
many homes that do not seek public
charity that could be assisted by the
proposed law.
Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter suggested
that it would not be wise to seek
enactment of the mothers allowance
bill until action has been taken On
the recommendation of William Hod-
son of the Russell Sage Foundation
for the establishment of department
of public welfare in the city govern
ment.
James Stuart. executive agent OF
the board of children's guardians, de-
clared that in the last six months the
board discovered twenty-seven fami-
lies in which there were sixty-four
children who could have been pro-
vided for under a mothers allowance
bill.
Edward \. Parker, representing the
i r. ,-.N-
zens' associations, urged that the
mothers allowance law be entirely
removed from the atmosphere Of
charity. Evan II. Tucker. another
citizen association leader. said he was
willing to trust the commission to
work out the details of the law as
they should b..
Mrs. Lyman B. Swormstedt and
Mrs. Robert Howard opened the dis
cussion.