The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-04-19
AMOther's Pension Law Should
Not Be Deferred

FOR the sixteenth time Congress is being asked to give
District of Coua amohers pension law that dependent
little ones may home instead of being armed out
to homes not their to institutions.
This Just and humane legislation is reality
than at any before Congress is virtually unanimous that
such should be passed Most unfortunately for helpless
mothers and little Ones controversy has arisen over the
simple of how the proposed law shall be administered
whether by the Public Welfare Board by Mothers
Aid Board consisting of bona fde residents Of the District
As already passed by the House the bill gives the admnisa
ton Mothers Aid Board The bill, reported to the
Senate the Senate District Committee turns mothers
sions over Public Welfare Board The Senate bill
not acted upon There to be opposition when
it reaches the floor of the Senate.
Senator Wordsworth of York. will an amendment
which differs the favored by District
Commissioners and District organizations in that it provides
for separate agency of administrations Mothers Aid
Board
If the Senate should pass committee BILL and not accept
the Wadsworh amendment there will have be conference
between the two houses of Congress and that means that in
the closing days Congress- with opponents still clashing
we may have mothers pension law at ALL
The sufferers by this failure will not be those who fail to
reach agreement matter Of administration. It
will be little boys and girls and good mothers.
The advantage of the legislative situation is clearly
in favor of acceptance by Senate of the House bill
Wadsworth amendment that it will be most regrettable and
unfortunate this is not done. Such action will In
District want-HoME CARE FOR HELPLESS CHILDREN
Forty States of the Union have already adopted mother
pension legislation Of these only ten have placed the adj
mnration in the hands of poor law or correctional au
thorities.
40 States hold that 1ac1t1eS
rearing and maintenance of fahere children should
be in the spirit Of duty Of the States and not matter
charity association with correctional activities The hu
name of these 80 States is that worthy mother may
apply relief for her children without attaching to the
stigma of charity.
The Public Welfare Board viii not only have charge Of
public charity in the District but Of the worhouse at Deco
guam the District JAIL the reformatory at Lorton and other
correctional institutions
The mother who must go to that board for ptuly small
pensions for her children must mnge with the types of people
who must do business with the board.
what would under the Senate committee
put before the Senate The House bill and the
Wadsworth amendment would send that mother Mothers
Aid Board for relief and she would feel she subject
Of charity be classed with drug addts the lame and halt
and other recipients of public charities
The difference cost between the two bodies of admins
ation will be insignificant Members of the Mothers Aid
Board will draw salaries Employees of this board engaged
in administration of the law will be paid higher salaries
than will employees Of the Public Welfare Board.
The fight might do special harm
this the beginning of the session of Congress- which wants
all the information it get Continuation of the fight
VIII eopardze justice to worthy mothers Let have the
House bill its equivalent the Wadswoth amendment
thus guard against again deeg just treatment of those who
should be wards of the municipality and classed
mendicantS.