Evening star., 1925-12-07

committed during the year by the
Juvenile court, as compared with 222
for 1923 and 404 for 1924. On June
80 the board had ,693 wards under
guardianship. The board adheres to
the policy that for the normal child
the best substitute for the natural
home is selected. supervised foster
home, less than IA per cent of its
wards being in institutions. A total
OF 6,202 visits and interviews in the
interest of the wards were made dur
ing the year by the social workers of
the staff
staff physicians and physicians of
Children's Hospital made 2,450 phys
ical examinations. AS matter of pol
icy every ward Is given such an
examination at least once a year. Ten
major and 90 minor operations were
performed on wards. Complete dental
treatment was given to 463 children
Out of the 2,152 wards cared for dur
ing the year only deaths occurred
Seven hundred and ninety-seven IN
vestigations involving 1.541 children
We're made by the Investigating de-
partment in the interest OF child pro-
lection and prevention of cruelty to
children. In each of these cases com
plaint had been made by some citizen
or organization that the welfare of the
jeopardiZed as to demand public pro-
lection. However, it was necessary to
secure court commitments in only 121
cases involving PA children. the policy
of the board being to recommend Sepa-
ration of children from parents by
court only as a last resort and when
the welfare of the child is so seriously
jeopardiZed as to demand immediate
removal from the home.
Placing Done Carefully.
During the year 697 applications
have been made for children TO board,
adopt, or to care for free of charge,
with guardianship remaining in the
board. After careful investigation
the board approved less than 20 per
cent of the total number Of homes
offered. This fact indicates the care
with which foster homes are selected
| for the public wards.
The board needs an additional ap-
preparation of SIS, 900 for board and
| care Of children. An institution for
delinquent colored girls is greatly
| needed. \ temporary receiving home
and psychologist are among the
| other urgent needs"
The highway division states in the
| report that despite more liberal ap-
preparations last year. there is still a
up by the resurfacing of many old
| asphalt streets that have outlived
| their usefulness.
THE amount of resurfacing of
asphalt streets that could be done,
| the report goes on. was about one
| third of that necessary to prevent in
| crease in the average age of the total
| yardage of this type--an average now
| far beyond that OF any other nu-
| nicipality and evidenced by the de-
| Perforated condition of the older
| streets, especially in the early weeks
! of the working season"
Wear on Streets Greater.
! Referring to the work of the super
intendent of suburban roads, the re-
port continues:
! THE very large amount of building
| being done in the suburban area and
| the consequent wear on street sur
/, faces of all kinds has greatly in
Crea sed the amount of work to be done
| by this organization. A great num-
| ber of new unpaved streets opened
and built upon during the year We're
| added to the number to be maintained
until they can be paved, requiring d
corresponding increase in expendi-
! lures for work of a temporary char.
| acter"
The street lighting system as a
| whole is characterized by the Com.
| missioners as distinctly inadequate" "
| The report states that installation OF