Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
z|H[MAN WELFARE
BILL IS APPROVED
House Subcommittee Favors
Measure Backed by Dis
trict Agencies.

A favorable report on the Iihima n
bill to create a board of public vel
fare along the lines advocated ny the
commission on public welfare legisla-
ton will he made 10 the House DIS
trict Committee by the subcommittee
which, held hearings on the subject
today
a few changes in phra seoioEN were
agreed to by the subcommittee at the
request of Mrs. Norton. Representative
from New Jersey. but they we're not oi
such A nature as 10 change the prlr-
ciple involved in the bill. namely. to
consolidate in q hoard Of public wei
fare the functions now performed
separateIv by the Board n Charities.
the Board If Children's Guardians and
the trustees Of the National Training
School for Girls.
The action OF the House suhcommit-
tee today is in harmony with the De
cision 81 the Senate District commit
Tee few DAYS ago in reporting favor
ably 10 the Senale the corresponding
bill offered by Senator Carper.
Many Supported Bill.
Among those WIZ nave attended the
subcommittee meetings and explained
whv the people Of the District are
anxious 10 coordinate various welfare
activities nf the District government
were: Miss Mabel Roardman. former
District commissioner; Mrs. Frank Il
Moves. VICE president of the BOARD of
Children's Guardia ms. Mrs. Il. Thomas
West. former agent Of the Board OF
Guardians: James Stuart. agent OF
the Board Of Chidren's Guardians AT
the present time.
Others who attended the meeting
10 a 'hor MI
Mrs. Mary e. Holiday and Evan n.
Tucker.
One of the amendments proposed
by Mrs Norton. and agreed To pro-
rides that when practicable the board
Of welfare shall place children in In
stitutions or homes of tho same faith
as the child Before 1t vas amended
the bill provided that n child would
he placed under the infrerC' Of the
sa me religious faith as thai of the
last surviving parent II was agreed
by those present that the amendment
was satisfactory.
Mrs Norton is sponsor for diff
ferent plan Of handling welfare work.
similar tn that advocated by Senate
Gerry. which would place the full re-
sponsibiIity for directing welfare
activity in the District Commissioners
with two executive directors. one for
charitable functions and the other to
manage penal institutions. The sub
committee. however. voted in favor
of the Zihman bill. which has tn"
hacking Of the commissioners and
the local welfare agencies.
Provides Board Of Nine.
The ZihIman bill provides for a
board Of nine members appointed by
the Commissioners. in which would be
vested all Of the powers and duties
now performed separately by three
trdepe ndent boards. There would be
a paid director of welfare. appointed
by the Commissioners. upon recon-
mendation Of the welfare hoard.
Although Mrs Norton was not GER
tain she would make minority re-
right to do so Representatives Keller
and Houston favored the Zihlman bill.
Mrs. Moves told the subcommittee
that members of the existing boards
We're in favor of abolishing those
boards because they felt that in doing
so they were creating in the proposed
board Of public welfare a better sys-
tenn Of handling these problems.
Mr.. Keller observed that one Of the
facts which made him favor the board
of public welfare pan was the spirit
shown by the members of existing
boards
Miss Boardman. who is a member
Of the commission on welfare iegisla
ton. also told Of the advantages that
would come from co-ordinating these
agencies.