Evening star., 1934-04-20
WELFARE POWERS
CHANGE STUDIED
|NSUBCOMM|TTEE
Full House District Body to
Get Commissioners Bill
Wednesday.
NEED FOR TRANSFER
ARGUED BY PRETTYMAN
Declares Duties Now Too Burden
some to Be Handled by
Citizens Group.


District Committee decided to report
to the full committee at its meeting
next Wednesday without recommended
tions the Commissioners bill t1 trans
fer the powers and obligations of the
Board of Public Welfare to the District
Commissioners.
Corporation Counsel Prettyman en-
phasiZed that the District officials
considered this desirable because the
public welfare work has 81 multiplied
that they believe there would be more
efficient administration, since the &C
tivitieS have grown too burdensome to
be properly administered by board
of citizens, serving withou. compensa-
ton.
Cites Number Of Workers.
Mr.. Prettyman pointed out that
there are 1,058 employees and that
for the current fiscal year the board
will have authority over the expendi-
ture of s14,625 ,000 He cited the per
capita cost at various institutions
coming under the board; for example.
at the receiving home for children the
per capita is $l,0009l. at the work
house and reformatory 1t is s484 10,
at the National Training School for
Girls. s858.9l. He also gave figures
showing how the daily average popu-
lation at some OF these institutions
has increased since 1920: At the
work house. reformatory and Jail the
population increased from 787 to
$685. at the Industrial Home for Col
ored Children, from 29 to 1873; at the
tuberculosis Hospital, from 100 to
202, and at Gallinger Hospital, from
131 to 583.
The corporation counsel told the
committee that these figures show that
the public welfare work is one Of the
major Government operations. He
commended the work of the present
board of nine members. serving with
out compensation for six-year terms,
as of the highest character, but
stressed that the Commissioners feel
the powers should be vested directly
in the Commissioners themselves in
stead of one step below.
Study Being Made.
He explained that a scientific study
of all the public welfare work is being
made and a new set-up is being pre-
pared, with a director and three sub
directors, one for penal institutions,
another for hospitals and a third for
case work.
Walter S. Uford, veteran local well
fare worker, representing the Monday
Evening Club, made a plea for delayed
action until more details were avail
able regarding the proposed new set
up and to allow for discussion before
various civic bodies. He reviewed the
history of the Public Welfare Board
as successor to the old Board of Charl-
ties with the old Board of Childrens
Guardians and Of Jurisdiction given
over the National Training School for
Girls.
He said the Monday Evening Club
and other welfare workers would not
oppose any improvement in efficiency,
economy or effectiveness, but argued
for board of citizens who would deal
directly with the human aspects Of
welfare work.
Agrees to Set-Up.
Mr. Ufford said that the proposed
set-up as outlined is very desirable,
but that there is no provision for the
appointment of employees under civil
service. Mr.. Ufford placed in the
record an editorial from The Star
which stated that the bill under con-
sideration might well be called a bill
TO abolish the Board of Public Wei
fare. Mr.. Ufford said that the Mon
day Evening Club stresses an excel
lent feature of the bill requiring scien-
tific research
He also laid before the committee
IA points of welfare administration
proposed by DR.. D. W. Willard, pro-
fessor of sociology at George Wash
ington University. He questioned
whether the Commissioners with their
manifold duties could give as close
attention to welfare needs as the
Board of Public welfare with its va
rious committees. saying that the pub
lic utilities was too great for the Com
missioners and they had had to ask
Congress for separate board.
Bill Being Drafted.
Representative Dirkson asked about
the jury system in operation in the
District for passing upon the lunacy
of individuals. Corporation Counsel
Prettyman denounced this system as
barbarous, cruel and inhumane and
said that legislation is now being
drafted to correct that situation. As
surance was given by the subcommit-
tee that they would welcome legisla-
ton on that subject. All the welfare
workers attending the hearing ap-
plauded that promise.
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, on behalf Of
the Voteless League of Women Voters.
asked for delay on the measure until
her association could consider it.
Evan H. Tucker, president of the
Northeast Citizens Association. in
dorsed the bill in principal on the
ground the volume of service is so in
creased as to be unwieldly for VOL
untary board. However, he said the
bill as drafted does not take care Of
all requirements and is in conflict
with existing laws.
Mr.. Prettyman explained that the
proposal is to relieve the present
Public Welfare Board of administra-
tive duties. leaving that board free to
perform the work in which it is most
interested for improving conditions
by research and scientific study.
Marlboro Licenses.