Evening star., 1927-09-09

N0nIlnUcu from FlISL JdSPJ
Dykes situation is unusual. 1t is
claimed that the Maryland District line
runs through her house, her own
sleeping quarters being in Maryland
and the chldren's wards being over
the line in the District.
Surveyor May Re Necessary.
William ]. Ogden, secretary of the
Maryland board, in his official re-
port, made the following observation
for the benefit of Attorney Peter: She
claims the children are sleeping in
the District of Columbia, so that she
may place them in Washington hos
pitfalls, where she usually abandons
them, and when the District of Co
lumbia authorities go after her, she
claims she is a resident of Montgom-
cry County. Nd"
AS result of what appears to he
some doubt as to jurisdiction. it was
said by both District and Rockville
officials that it may be necessary to
call in a surveyor to settle the dis
pute definitely.
In the meantime. Mrs. Dyke is
figuratively high and dry" with IA
children on her hands and in the posi-
tion of being unable to operate her
home legally either under the Mary
land or District regulations.
Mrs. Dyke applied for the permit
after she had been advised by the
Rockville States attorney that the
supervision of such institutions had
been placed in the hands of the State
board by the last Legislature.
The investigating committee report
ed that several violations of the law,
which requires that no mother shall
place a child less than 6 months old
in a home or institution unless pro-
vided for by the courts or on author
ization of two physicians, had been
found i'm Mrs Dykes Takoma Park
home. Several of the infants, 1t was
said, had been in her care since they
were 2 weeks or more of age.
Other Homes Watched.
A dozen or more privately conducted
homes for infants: operating in Mont.
gomery County and drawing largely
upon the District of Columbia as their
source of supply. are said to be under
the suspicion of the Maryland author.
ities.s
without notice to Mrs. Dyke. the
investigating committee arrived at
her home last July and found IL in
fants occupying the premises During
the interval when the State board re-
fused to issue her a permit she has
taken two other children into the
home.
Mr.. Peter, at Rockville, Is under in
structions from the board that further
continue ton of baby home by Mrs.
Dyke will bring her in violation of the
State laws regula ting such institutions
and make her liable for a fine not to
exceed 800. or 100 days Imprisonment
in event of conviction.
Mrs. Dyke today declared she was
anxious to continue her home, to
which she has devoted 13 years. but
did not want to violate the law. Since
the visit of the investigating commit
tee last July. she explained, she has
not accepted any child under months
old.
Care Held o. X.
= SO far as the care of the children
are concerned, the State board gives
Mrs. Dykes a clean bill of health, AL
though the report points out that she
is lax I'm keeping records of the infants
under her care and after they leave
her home.
of the visit, the report stated, zap.
peared 10 he healthy, we'll cared
for child. The mattresses and bedding
were clean and the child comfortably
and tidily clothed. There was nothing
offensive or insanitary in the arrange
ments. There was no sign of illness
during the period of our visit, about
an hour: there was no crying or dis
tress of any of the children"
Even the District authorities, who
their contractual relations
with Mrs. Dyke because of her slack
methods of investigation. spoke highly
of the care which the children receive
at the home. Before the District
Health Department will issue a per.
init to such a home within the Dis
trict it requires approval from the
Board of Chiidren's Guardians. Be
cause the board claims that Mrs. Dyke
lid not conduct careful enough in.
into the antecedents of
the children placed under her care,
t revoked her permit on the ground
hat there was not ample protection
rom health point of view.
Mrs. Dyke keeps no records" says
the report of the Maryland board.
"She has several loose leaves of a
form of register. but none Of the
IA bies not in her care is registered. |
About seven names were on one of
the sheets. but no account of what |
had become of them. All over a yea |
ago. When the babies are adopted |
she requires the people to pay any
arrears that she has charged against |
the baby"
Often Has Unpaid Bills.
l. IL A0n
Or $40 a month. but investigation !
shows that the character of the /
parents from whom some of the |
babies are received often leaves Mrs. |
Dyke with unpaid bills on her hands.
During the last three years Mrs. |
Dyke has placed between IS and so
children in homes for adoption. Some
lre the children of deserted mothers,
some are children of young unmar-
led girls and others are of parents
who are unable to provide properly
or their children in their own homes
1wing to varying conditions. While
persons who adopt children from the
nome are expected TO meet any ar
ears in board. that practice alone is
not condemned by authorities, al
hough Mr.. Ogden of the Maryland
,oard said it opened the way to ex
)loitation.
Denied license by the Maryland
authorities and unable to operate un-
er a District license, Mrs Dyke was
learly perturbed today over the fu-
ure. Through friends she is attempt
ng to straighten out the tangle with
he Maryland board and conform with
he regulations regarding infants un-
er months of age.
Remedy Pointed Out.
Some one has to take care of these
abies." she said. THE mother of {
ne of them has disappeared and no
race can be found OF her anywhere,
What Ii going to become of them II I
1ey close this place. &