Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-22
sIDDONS GIVES Up DUTIES.
Retirement as Legislative Chairman
Due to Court Work.

The resignation of Justice Frederick
l.. Siddons of the District Supreme
Court as chairman OF the Commission
on Public Welfare Legislation was
announced today by Commissioner
Cuno II. Rudolph. president of the
Board of District commissioners.
The increasing pressure of his
judicial duties. Justice Siddons pointed
out in his letter of resignation. makes
it almost impossible for him to con-
tinue TO serve on the commission.
with the enactmen! into law of
nearly all Of the measures Of 1egisla-
ton considered by the Commission on
Public Welfare Legislation. including
the establishment of Board of Public
Welfare. the so-caIled mothers aid
law, the act restoring Jurisdiction to
the institution for feeble minded
said Justice Siddons. II feel that
now have a right TO ask to he relieved
of the obligations of service upon the
commission.
More than a year ago | took up
with the president of your board
commissioner Rudolph the matter
of retiring from the commission. but
at his earnest solicitation | withheld
a then contemplated resignation. but
the time has come, | am convinced.
when, If for no other reason. the
increasing pressure of judicial duties
makes IT necessary for me TO largely.
if not exclusively. confine myself to
their performance: and l therefore
tender my resignation as member
of the commission. which / trust will
have your prompt action.
The report of the commission
which was submitted To you under
date of December 10. 1925. fully In
formed you az to the various matters
under consideration ny the commits
sion and their status. and there is
little to add save to remind YOU thai
pending proposed amendments to the
Juvenile Court law are receiving re-
consideration by the commission. and
are at the present time in the hands
of a very competent subcommittee
of the commission. with the expecta-
ton that the committee will he able
to make their report to the full com.
mission in time for the commission
to act and advise you with reference
thereto prior to the commencement
of the next session of Congress.
Another Bill Pending.
There also remains undisposed nf
bill for the proposed regulation of
child-carfng agencies. Such a bill has
been prepared by the commission. and
it Is dealt with in chapter V of the
commissions printed report. with
copies of which YOU have been pro
vided, beginning on page 80 thereof.
Personally. l have felt that with the
enactment into law OF the bill estah-
fishing the Board of Public Welfare
the most important piece Of legisla
ton prepared and submitted by the
commission has been accomplished.
The papers =" report the ap-
| pointment of the members OF this
board by you. and they represent
seasoned and experienced men and
women of the District of Columbia,
amply qualified to carry out the law
establishing the board. l haev every
confidence that by the performance
of their duties the board will grow
in Importance and value to this COM
munity, and 1t is. l think, strongly
to be hoped, and indeed expected.
that subsequent welfare legislation
that may be enacted from time to
time will be committed to the board
for its administration and execution.
II cannot conclude this letter with
out expressing the appreciation
feel for the hearty cooperation that
has been given to the commission ny
you, the community. the press and
Congress. Our National Legislature.
in IT'S considera ton of the legisla-
ton prepared by the commission. has
shown an interest quite unmistak-
able. and the people of the District
have every reason to he grateful To
the National Legislature for this.
IT never can forget the loyal sup
port and cooperation that the mem
hers Of the commission have always
given to me. whom they honored by
selecting as their chairman, and what
ever credit may be due to me in the
performance of the work of the COM
mission is very largely to be attrib-
uted to this same loyalty and CO.
operation"