Evening star., 1935-11-06
PUBLIC WELFARE
GAINS STRESSED
1887 Budget of SO, 500, 900
Held Justified by Good
Achieved.


are "one Of the best investments" in
Washington and more than justify
their cost, Elwood Street, director OF
public welfare, told an audience which
crowded the Commerce Department
auditorium last night for the ninth
annual meeting of the Board of Public
Welfare.
The 1897 budget of $8,500,000 for
Washngton's public welfare program,
including old age and blind pensions,
sounds like lot," but is amply justi-
fled by anticipated accomplishments,
Street declared.
Each individual restored to the COM
munity who otherwise would have
been dependent or anti-social, Street
figured, is worth S25,000.
1T would only take $40 persons thus
restored at $25,000 capitalized value
each to be worth sS,50o, ,OOo," he said.
"Our institutions and agencies easily
restore five times that number each
year."
Six Principles Cited.
Street listed six principles which he
said should guide the Capital in future
welfare services: The growing need
for welfare services, the need for di-
verSitied ability and flexible social
treatment by personnel, the need for
preventive activity, the need for inter-
probation Of public welfare problems
and procedures, the need for adequate
finance and the need for thinking
in larger terms than "just our indi-
vidual jobs"
AS Washington grows, Street con-
tinued, its relief burden will grow cor
respondingly. Neglect of relief and
rehabilitation activities will prove more
costly, however, than "the cost of
doing them well and adequately" he
said.
Street stressed the preventive angles
of handling welfare services, stating
hospital care must be sufficiently
adequate for permanent cure; that
penal institutions must handle their
prisoners so competently that they will
not again commit offenses which have
brought them under our supervision;
and that agencies for readjustment OF
delinquent children must put their
charges ION the path which will re-
main straight and narrow throughout
their adult existence"
I'VE need more and better schools"
Street said, "a larger police depart
ment, more adequate health depart
services must increase"
Welfare History Told.
Arthur w. James. Virginia commis-
sioner of public welfare, outlined to
the meeting in detail the history of
public welfare activities in his State.
In Virginia, he said, only for schools
and roads is there a larger expendi-
ture than that for the care and cure
of the delinquent, the dependent and
defective and the prevention and con-
troll of the causes which lead to these
conditions"
Praising the new social security
act James discussed the benefits which
1t would afford as well as its general
philosophy.
The opening address, by Frederick
w. McReynolds, board chairman and
presiding officer Of the meeting, was
principally a resume of his annual
report, embracing public welfare ac-
tlvlties during 1934-5.
In the past year, McReynolds said,
we have been called upon to do more
Things for more people than ever be-
FORE" He mentioned the improve
ment OF facilities here for care of the
poor, the sick, the feeble minded and
the socially maladjusted, but cited
increases In the number of cases for
which the welfare department has
had to assume responsibility, and the
consequent necessity for expanded
facilities.
Costs Of Each Case Gain.
The cost of each case handled by
the department increased from $24 in
July, 1884, to $28 in the correspond
ing month this year, Mr.. McReynolds
said.
Prior to the speeches, 10 men and
women who have been in the service
of the Board of Public Welfare for Is
years or more were introduced to the
audience from the speakers platform.
Music was furnished by the Army
Band and the George Washington
University Glee Club.
In the corridors adjoining the audi
torium, where the meeting was held
were displayed samples Of the work
of children and adults In institutions
under the supervision Of the board.
These included sewing, auto tags,
paper flowers, vegetables and examples
of variety Of handicraft by prisoners.
insane asylum inmates and youngsters
Nred for by the Child Welfare Divi-
SION Of the board.