Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20
Variety of Appointments.

Discussing existing administrative
confusion among local welfare agen-
cies. the report says: We md one
board appointed by the President. an
other by the Commissioners of the
District and third by the President
ON the recommendation Of the Attor-
ney General. Historical accident
seems TO be the explanation
for this variety of appointments.
In recommending the abolition Of
the Board Of Charities. the Board Of
Childrens Guardians and the board Of
the Training School for Girls the re-
port indicates that Il majority of the
members of these boards agree with
the recommendation Of the commits
sion that one new board be SubSti-
tuted.
After discussing the flaws in the
functionins of the three existing
boards, the report says: 1T seems
clear there ought TO be a decided gain
administratively in abolishing these
three boards and substituting in their
stead a single board, provided the
services rendered by the different
boards are so closely related as to
permit of unification under one board
and provided further that this process
does not result in loading the new
board with more than 1t can efficiently
and intelligently administer
Tendency to Center Control.
The report points out that the
modern tendency in State. county and
city units of government has been
definitely in the direction of center
ing the control of public welfare
agencies and institutions in u single
department or board"
The obvious advantages in this
movement" says the commissions re-
port. are the possibilities of co-ordi-
mating the various public welfare
services. Effective team play should
result in better service to the poor and
the handicapped and in the elimina-
ton of friction and overlapping. with
a consequent saving in money or, at
any rate, better service for the money
expended. One board can plan to bet
| ter advantage for the public welfare
as whole than can several boa rds,
and 1t can more effectively balance up
the needs and demands Of the various
activities under its control. assigning
| to each a more equitable share of the
appropriations available at any given
time. Uniformity in purchases. &C
counting and reporting work can be
effected with resulting economies in
| time and money.
ANOiucu SOH1plitdtlOH.
The report declares that while there
| are some needed reforms in the laws
| relating to the various welfare boards
| in the District which might have been
| remedied in the bill on this subject
| now before Congress. it was thought
| wiser not to complicate the issues.
| but to confine them to the one ques-
| ton OF administrative reorganization.
| NO new duties are imposed on the
| proposed board of public welfare
which would replace the three exist.
| ing boards. The new board would
| simply discharge the responsibilities
now resting on the boards to be
| abolished. No new employees are pro.
| yided for except a director Of public
| welfare.
| Discussing the relative merits Of the
supervision of welfare activities by a
| board of citizens appointed by the
| Commissioners, as provided in the
| pending bill, or by n department, with
a director appointed by the Commits
sioners, the report says: 1T seems
| wiser to reduce the existing diffusion
| of boards to order and unity rather
| than to turn suddenly to the extreme
/ form of Capitalization represented
by abolishing all participation of the
citizens through a board and by put.
| ting one man in complete control OF
our welfare administration. A well
chosen board can bring to the prob.
lem. without cost to the public, a
wealth of experience, a knowledge OF
| business method. a human sympathy
and understanding which ought to be
/ invaluable to a director in the solu.
| ton of his difficulties and an assur.
ance to the public that its wards are
receiving proper attention at cost
which represents efficiency both in ad
ministration and service. Responsible
| ity to the heads Of the municipal gov.
eminent Is definitely established by
having the Commissioners appoint
the board, and the director, upon
nomination Of the board, and by hav,
ing the boards budget submitted to
the Commissioners, as are all other
budgets for municipal activities"
| The commission was assisted in its
| preliminary studies by DR.. Hastings
! II. Hart Of the Russell Sage Founda
ton, and since by William Hodson
! formerly director of the Department
| Of Social Legislation Of the Russell
| Sage Foundation, New York City
who is consultant to the commission
1