Evening star., 1925-01-25

Speed on Bill Sought.
Efforts will be made TO have this
legislation adopted by the present
session of Congress. Senator Capper
said. The measure now is on the
Senate calendar.
The purpose OF this bill said the
report, is TO promote efficiency and
economy in the administration of
public welfare activities and instItu-
tions in the District OF Columbia, by
abolishing three existing boards, the
Board of Charities, the Board of
Childrens Guardians and the Board
Of Trustees of the National Training
School for Girls and transferring
their powers and duties Uncluding
the supervision OF the publicly sup
ported penal, charitable and correc-
tional institutions) to a board of
public welfare. This board to be un-
paid and to consist Of six residents of
the District appointed by the Dis
trict Commissioners for terms of six
years.
In order 20 focus attention on the
single question of coordination Of
administration. the bill does not alter
the existing laws which define the
powers and duties OF the three
boards TO be abolished. Those powers
and duties a s they are now set forth
In the statutes would be exercised by
the new board. If there are any
abuses or defects in the welfare leg
!slation OF the District requiring at
tention they could be dealt with in
separate measures designed to ac-
complish specific reforms.
No Money Involved.
In the same way. no new bureaus
or departments under the board are
asked for, and consequently no addi-
tional appropriations for supporting
such new bureaus are involved The
appropriations already made for well
fare activities and the employees now
engaged therein will be transferred
20 the new board. Authority is given
the board to organize the administra-
ton OF all the activities placed under
It's direction in such ways as will pro-
mote efficiency of operation. The
bill provides that the board may
nominate. and the District Commis-
sioners appoint. a director Of public
welfare, who will be the executive
and administrator serving under the
boards general supervision.
The three boards abolished by this
bill are the Board Of Charities, the
Board Of ChildreR's Guardians and
She Board of Trustees of the National
Training School for Girls.
The Board of Charities consists of
aVe members, appointed by the Presi-
dent It Supervises nine institutions,
which would be placed under the con-
troll Of the Board of Public Welfare.
1he workhouse at OccoQuan, va.
where shoTt-term prisoners convicted
OF minor offenses are kept.
The reformatory at I.orton. Va. for
long term prisoners.
The Washington asylum and jail
In the District, place os detention
Tor persons awaiting trial
The Gallingera Municipal Hospital
In the District, which receives in
digent patients needing hospital care.
The tuberculosis Hospital. in the
District, which receives INDECENT tu-
bercular patients needing care.
The Home for the Aged, In the Dis
trict, which cares for the aged.
The Municipal Lodging House, in
the District. which provides tenn
porary shelter and care to homeless
men.
Would Change Home.
The Industrial Home School for
colored children, which, while under
the general supervision Of the Board
OF Charities, receives all its children
through the Board OF Children's
Guardians, under whose guardianship
they have been placed by the Juvenile
Court
The Home and Training School for
the Feeble Minded, in Anne Arundel
County, Nd, to which feeble minded
persons from the District are sent for
custodial care.
In addition to its supervision OF
these institutions, the Board of Char
tiles has other duties which would
go to the new board of public well
fare. Those duties are as follows:
THE board transports nonresident
pauperS and insane persons to their
place Of residence; provides medical
care for INDECENT patients and insane
persons who are residents; admins
ter5 per diem payments to the Ma
tional Training School for Boys to
care for boys sent to that institution
from the District; administers cer-
tain funds appropriated by Congress
for special types Of care for needy
and tnfrm persons.
$2a.I4O Given for Board.
The 1925 appropriation for the ad.
Tninistrative expenses Of the Board O,
Charities Is s29140; for the rnainte-
nance OF the institutions under its con
troll and for the care Of persons who
are provided for in private institu-
tions or outside of institutions, the
sum of s2,221,S5o was appropriatet ed
for 1926.
"The Board oS Children's Guardians
consists of nine members appointed
by the District Commissioners i
supervises the Industrial Home Schoo
for White Children and sends to thai
school certain children who are com.
mitted to its guardianship by the
Juvenile Court. This school would
also be placed under the control OF
&he board of public welfare
In addition to its supervision of tht
Industrial Home School the Board Of
Childrens Guardians has the following
duties:
Provides for Children.
1T receives and provides for all de-
pendent. neglected and delinquent chill
dren who are committed to guardian
ship care by the Juvenile Court, excep
those delinquent children who are sen
By the court to the National Training
School for Boys and Girls. The chill
dren are placed by the board in family
homes for temporary care at board or IL
permanent free homes or in institutions
The board also provides care for feeble
minded children and assists In the en-
2orcement Of laws for the protection o.
children. All Of these duties would b,
performed by the board Of public vel
fare
"The Board of Children's Guardianl
received an appropriation for admins
trative expenses in 1925, OF S46,100
for the board and care Of children un
der its guardt&sShip. S57r5ees and "a.