Evening star., 1926-02-06
CITIZENS |ND0RSE
WELFARE MEASURE
Former Commissioners and
Civic Leaders Back Cap
per-ZihIman Bill.

Heartiest Endorsement by repre-
sentatives of the principal welfare
and civic organizations In the Ma
t1onal Capital was given the Capper-
Zihlman general welfare bill today at
Q hearing before the subcommittee
Of the House District committee.
Representative Oscar f. Keller. Re-
publican, Minnesota, who last Con-
gress conducted hearings on welfare
legislation and who introduced the
general welfare bill drafted by the
Public Welfare Commission and
recommended by the District Com
nissioners. was in charge of the
hearing today and proposed that the
CapperZih bill, which has been
agreed upon in conference and on
which the Senate District committee
has ordered favorable report. should
be discussed
Mrs. Mary 7. Norton. Democrat,
New Jersey, d member of the subcom-
mittee, asked for consideration of the
Gerry bill, which she intends to intro
duce in the House. During the dis
cussion the differences between the
Capper-Zihlman bill and the Gerry bill
were carefully analyZed and the rela-
tive merits of the important pro
VISIONS in each carefully considered.
Justice Siddons, u former District
commissioner, as chairman of the
Public Welfare Commission, which
acted in an advisory capacity to the
District Commissioners in drafting the
legislation to coordinate welfare ac-
uvlties in the Capital. was the prin-
cipal witness. Both Justice Siddons
and Miss Mabel T. Boardman, who
also was formerly a District Commits
sioner. emphasized that the District
Commissioners have such multifarious
duties that they could not perform
properly the duties of a welfare board
as proposed in the Gerry bill.
Both of the witnesses assured the
committee that experience has shown
that the best administration can be
secured through a single board OF civic
leaders with altruistic purposes who
would coordinate interlocking func-
tons OF the three principal welfare
boards and would eliminate serious
friction. They maintain that there
was a strong desire that the proposed
welfare board should act in closest
touch with the Board Of Commission.
ers. To whom they would be respon-
sible, both by appointment and in re-
gard TO budget matters.
Among the large local organiza-
heartily indorsed the Capper-Zihlman n
bill and pledged themselves to work
earnestly for its passage We're the
District Federation OF Womens :
Clubs. the Women's City Club. the
Florence Crittenton Home Board. the
Monday Evening Club. more than
score of church organizations, the
District of Columbia League Of
Women Voters, the District board Of
the American Associa OF Cniver-
sity Women. the Federation OF C.iti-
zens Associations. the Consumers
League, Social Hygiene Society
Washington section OF National
Council Of Jewish Women, Juvenile
Protective Association, Housekeeper' s
Alliance: Friendship House Board
Board of Directors of Travellers Aid
Society. tuberculosis Association and
Associated Charities
Says Congress Is Lax.
Mrs. Norton brought TO the atten-
ton OF the subcommittee many com
plants which she has received that
criminals from the jail are placed in
the same hospital with poor people
for treatment. This was answered by
Mrs. Richard Fay Jackson. mem
Der of the board of five women ap-
pointed by the District Commissioners
to advise them regarding Gallinger
Hospital. Mrs. Jackson said that the
prisoners are treated in a different
part of the hospital, entirely separat-
ed from the poor people.
Chairman Keller brought out the
fact that plans for completing the
work at Gallinger Hospital and Gre
ating ideal conditions are only await
ing the action of Congress to make
adequate appropriations. He said that
Congress had been very lax in not
having provided funds for expeditions
ly completing these plans. Mrs. Jack
son assured Mrs. Norton that her
board would be very glad to confer on
the complaints which the New Jersey
Congressman has received