Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-06
RAPS SUBSTITUTION
FOR MOTHERS BILL
Ihlder Says Other Pension
Measure Not Certain to Fit
Needs of. District.

Indignation over The shunting aside
II the Districts thoughtfully worked
cut mothers pension bill in favor of
me sponsored by a New York group,
Who have not studied local conditions
: but are DESTROYS of making a showing
I'M several States, was voiced by John
hlder. vice president of the Council
Of Social Agencies, this afternoon in "a
talk before the Soroptimist Club at the
"a Fayette Hotel Mr. Ihlder used the
steam-rOller" methods of the New
York group, employed during the past
few days, as an illustration of what
happens to a community which has no
vote.
While the community chest was the
subject OF Mr.. Ihlder's talk. he used
much of his time in familiariZing the
SoroptimistS With the plight of Dis
trict leaders regarding the mothers
pension legislation.
Not Government Function.
Mr. Ihlder made il clear that while
1t Is not generally understood. il is a
act that support of private social
agencies by contributions is not in any
sense a governmental function and
consequently is one in which residents
power of Standardization.
This he COntraSted with their lack of
power over their own concerns in the
fields of government. He described
the work of the Commission on Public
Welfare Legislation. appointed by the
District Commissioners to draft bills
which would bring the public welfare
workers of the District up TO the hes-
modern practice. This commission
drafted a series of bills which lit INTO
activities OF the various public welfare
agencies. and which consequently are
to be considered in their relation to
each other. he said
! Mothers Assistance Bill 4
One Of these bills, he explained.
dealt with mothers assistance. de
signed to make il possible TO keep
children at home instead of sending
them 10 institutions when the problem
is that of poverty.
Before drafting this bill the com
mission studied what IS being done
III other parts of the country and
held a public hearing. Then there
was introduced in Congress a new
hill which came from an orGaniza-
ton in New York and was introduced
by a Senator and Il Representative
OF whom the members of that or
Ganization are constituents.
This organization is interested in
hat one bill only. Il wishes To have
II applied TO the District of Columbia
50 mat il may then urge II upon
some state Legislatures with the pres
tige of being a congressional enact
ment. This organization did not con
FER with local agencies. did not pre-
sent its proposals at the time the
Commissioners bill was being con
Sidered last year. did not study the
local situation What it is primarily
concerned with is not TO get i law
which will best serve the District of
columbia, but primarily TO get con
@resSiOnal approval of bin designed
for state use.
That measure. based upon New
York conditions. designed 10 meet tua
needs Of a large State containing many
cities, may not III Il small area like
he District. containing only one city
IS 10 this orga nization a matte of sec
ondary Importance. BGt this organi-
zttion has representatives in Con
Gr'aSS who are ready 70 fight for the
'.---. CONSTITUENCIES The
District has VERY good friends in
md efIor. u fur,her the Districts in
terests. but hey are in the position
Of being legally no more its repre-
Sentatiyes than are those from New
York. for example. Consequently.
they hesitate 10 oppose the desire of
colleagues who are lighting for con-
stituents.'
woman'S instinct i rarely at fault.
1t is only when she attempts TO rea-
son with II that she. bilIndprS