Evening star., 1926-05-27
The Mothers Aid Bill.

A. tonisht's session for the consider
alton Of District bills the Senate will
perhaps come to a decision regarding
the two measures which provide for
the establishment Of a system Of pub
lie Aid or pensions for mothers with
dependent children. One Of these.
which has received the approval Of
the District committee. puts the ad-
rninistra tion Of the bounty for the sup.
rorl of these women and their chill.
dren under the newly created Boa rd
of Public Welfare. which replaces the
Board of chs rites. The other. offered
as substitute and agreeing in it's
major provision with bill which
ia ssed the House some time ago ere.
a,~s separate hoard for this purpose.
Local opinion strongly favors the
enactment OF the mea sure which the
Senate District committee has ap-
proved. that which places the admin
istration Of the moi hers' aid system
under the Board uf Public Welfare
There is hut little support on the part
of the District people for the other
hill, which is chiefly promoted by
general ora,a MIA ton. with head1uar-
ters in New York ana which seeks TO
have this District measure esta blished
as form for National and State legis,
istion.
There IT, more than a difference as
to form of aciministrat tion In this diver.
gAnce "f opinion and support. The
measure which provides for sepa.
rate board OF distribution. called for
purposes Of identiric4 ti"n and descrip.
tion the New York hill.'' views the
hounty as natural right and not as
q cha rity. a nd seeks. therefore. to sep
arate it wholly from other forns of
phila nthropic benAfacti"n by placing
II under n separate administration.
The hill approved hN the Senate com
miitee which WAS proposed by the
Commissioners upon the recommended
tion Of body OF citizens which for
many months conducted research
into local public welfare questions,
conceives this bounty from different
viewpoint. AS something that can be
taken AWAY hereafter IL desira ble Il nd
not as something that should he es-
tshlished as a funda mental. natural
inherent right.
A Board of Public Welfa e. which
replaces three separate Orsa MIA lions.
was created for the purpose of con-
a. ..f
this character. to get rid OF superhu-
Gus and overlapping administrative
orSa MIA tiOns. IT Is highly undesir-
able Immediately after creating this
agency to ignore the principle upon
which il was founded and proceed at
once 10 create new agency. which
cannot fail to conflict in its opera lions
with the ma jor body. IT has been
clearly demonstrated that under the
operation Of the Wadsw"rth bin
which has been offered a. substitute
in the Senate. IL it should he enacted
as a law. there would he constant con
fusion OF jurisdiction between the
mothers aid board and the Boz; I'd Of
RuNilC W eifdIe.
Much in feeling has been erinced by
supeorters OF the substitute bill.
ma inty from out OF the city, because
II insistence by the Commissioners
and the people OF Washington who
support The principle Of co-ordinated
charities and public welfare upon d
measure which represents virtually
unanimous local opinion and belief.
and which Is the product of q pains
taking study OF the District = needs 10y
a representative body AT citizens.
Was1in. ton asks that in this matter
sentiment for worthy measure VI
aid to dependent women, which is cal
cuiated 10 give them ma aximum OF
hepeht with minimum Of disturb
ance and confusion, and which is re-
fective Of its substantial agreement
on principles and details should be re.
spected now ny the passage OF the
Commissioners hill.