Evening star., 1926-06-19
The Public Welfare Board.

Wisely choosing as far as possible
members of the three boards that were
merged by law in the creation OF the
new Public Welfare Board, the Com
n1issioners have effected the orSaniZa
tion Of that new body With a personnel
nf experience and acquaintance with
the duties that will he discharged by
a. 1t is an assurance Of effective CO.
operation and service that SO many of
the former members of the three
boards have been induced To carry on
with the task to which the new or
canization will address itself. They
arc giving their services without com.
pensation, devotinG their time and
energy. to the sacrifice Of their other
interests. in orderi that the District
may care properly for the unfortunate
ones who require aid and attention.
These appointments consummate
procedure that has covered many
months of research and study and
legislative endeavor. A few years ago
some of the people Of the District
came to the realization that there was
an undue dispersion Of supervisory
authority over the charities and cor.
rections of the Capital Numerous
onf1icts had occurred. To the detri-
ment of the institutions and ufGani-
cations serving the people. Differ.
ences Of judgment developed as to
he best methods to he employed.
confidence in the effectiveness of pub
lie welfare mea sures was shaken. The
way to the correction Of these condi-
tons was difficult. 1t required pains
taking inquiry and tactful treatment
q bring together all the interests in
volved to support of 4 plan of con
solidation.
In this work Of survey and planning
The Public Welfare Commission Of citi.
zens named by the District Commits
sioners. headed by Justice Frederick
=. Siddons, was the chief factor. IT
was largely due to the patient address
nf the chairman of that commission
that agreement was finally reached
upon a plan that would smooth out
the main differences and lead to con.
solida ton. And il was then due to the
effective cooperation of the chairmen
cf the two District committees Of Con
rress that the measure, which had
been carefully drawn. was enacted into
,aw in satisfactory form.
At one stage of the work Of secur-
ing this important measure danger
threatened from source that had not
been considered during the process of
adjustment. In seeking for the Dis
trict a supplementary law to provide
nroperlv for the home care of children,
which was necessary to complete the
program of social welfare work, the
proponents representing the local
sentiment and desire found themselves
Jurisdiction insisting upon different
plan But for the faithful adherence
Of the Senate District committee to
the Commissioners bill. that other
man W0uI0 nave Uc6n duODleu,
ing in great part the good work that
had been already accomplished toward
the consolidation Of the welfare
agencies and organizations. Happily
that obstacle was in turn passed, and
now the District Is equipped with the
hest public welfare service it has ever
possessed.
The high and representative charac.
ter of the new Public Welfare Board
gives assura nee that the spirit in
which these reforms and changes have
been sought and secured after several
years of effort will he carried on in ac-
tual administration, and to the men
and women who have consented to
serve in this work the thanks of the
people of Washington are now due,
with best wishes for a discharge of
their important duties in a manner
that will satisfy their most conscien-
tious desire to serve the community.