Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-04
ALEXANDRIA HEARS
WELFARE PLANS
Proposal for Establishment
of Department Discussed
Before Council.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, June 4.-Estab
1shment of public welfare department
in this city was urged by Paul S. Bland
ford of Richmond, field representative
of the State Department Of Public We'll
fare, at a special session held yesterday
at the city hall.
Blandford outlined two plans for
conducting welfare work here, either of
which can be employed successfully, he
said. One would be to organize public
welfare board composed of seven nom
salaried workers. headed by superin-
tendent of their own election. The other
plan would be the formation of public
welfare department, headed by an et1-
Gent officer who would take charge OF
the delinquent and dependent cases OF
the city.
Would be City Unit.
Under the latter plan the welfare
department would come under the
direct supervision of the city manager.
the same as the fire, police, health ana
other departments of the city.
Blandford said perhaps more than
one worker would be needed for the
successful operation of the welfare de-
partment. However, he said, the money
would be wisely spent under an estab-
lished system of welfare work and many
cases of delinquency would be prevented
He said under that plan the various
State institutions would take many
cases off the .city's hands.
Need Intelligent Head.
Blandford said that an intelligent
department head, we'll versed in welfare
work. could obtain greater results with
an annual appropriation Of $4,000 than
a board OF workers not experienced IN
the work could expect TO accomplish
with $4,000.
The City Of Lexington, Va, which
has a population Of 10000 persons, has
successfully operated a welfare depart
ment for the past five years at as
tinct saving of funds for welfare work
in that city. The department has
rendered splendid and efficient service,
he said.
Stresses Other Departments.
Clifton Forge, Covington and Har-
risonburg, three Virginia cities smaller
than Alexandria, have recently opened
welfare departments, Blandford told
the council.
He asserted that the establishment
of a mothers aid fund has been found
practicable in many municipalities
Blandford said it has been found lar
wiser in many cases to place the money,
which ordinarily would be spent to
hands of their mothers, who then
would be able to better provide for the
child at home than an institution
could.
Bureau Is Planned.
He also claimed that a sufficient
number Of dependent persons would be
rebuilt under the welfare departments
supervision to warrant the establish
ment of a bureau here.
Police Justice William S, Snow told
the council that public welfare work In
this city has been neglected and that
Alexandria has no proper place Tor
confirming boys and girls for any ex-
tended time. The accommodating in
the detention rooms are very limited,
he said.
The establishment Of a public well
fare department would be greater
help to his court in the settlement OF
public welfare cases, he said, in view
Of the advisory capacity in which the
department would work with the court.
Board Is Necessity.
Judge Snow also pointed out that
counsel for Arlington County laid great
stress upon its Public Welfare Bureau
and Alexandrias lack Of such a de-
oartment in this city'S recent annexa-
ion proceedings against the county.
Mayor William A. Smoot stated, In
closing the special session, that the
council was not ready to go into the
question of establishing department
at once, but promised to schedule the
proposal for a hearing before the coun-
IL before the budget for the next fiscal
year is designed.