Evening star., 1936-04-21
NATIONAL TRAINING
SCHOOL TRANSFER
TO D. c. PROPOSED
Key to Sweeping Rea|ign-
ment of Institutions for
Problem Children.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
MAY BE ABANDONED
Possibility of New Plant to Be
Erected for Children at
Muirkirk, Md.

Transfer of the National Training
School for Boys on Bladensburg road
northeast from the Federal to the Dis
trict government as the key to pro-
posed realignment of city welfare in
stitutions caring for problem children
may be proposed to Congress soon.
Possible abandonment of the old
Industrial Home School at Thirty
seventh and Calvert streets and shift
ing of children among several insti-
tutions to gain better housing and
treatment are among subjects under
consideration by both. Federal and Dis
trict officials, it developed.
Experts of the Childrens Bureau of
the Department of Labor now are
completing a survey of the institu-
tions' facilities and responsibilities,
which was started a year ago. This
probably will be used as the basis for
congressional study.
The whole subject was pushed into
the iimelight recently when Chairman
King and other members CT the Sen
ate District Committae made an in
spection of the National Training
School for Girls on Conduit road hear
the District line and sharply de-
nounced as archaic some of conditions
which had been protested by DR..
Carrie Weaver Smith shortly after she
was made superintendent of the school.
King and Copeland Protest.
The situation at the school had
been strongly condemned in a state
ment by the Children'5 Bureau. Sem
ators King and Copeland particularly
protested necessity for use Of six poorly
ventilated and lighted cells for locking
up unruly girls.
Provision of 100000 in deficiency
bill for alterations at the school was
urged by the Commissioners yester-
day when they appeared before the
Budget Bureau and there is likli-
hood a favorable report will go to
Congress. Plans are said to include
two small new buildings.
Legislation would be required for
the suggested changes in jurisdiction
and management Of the several in
stitutions. This may be sent to Con-
greSs this session even if there is
doubt of final action being taken be-
fore next year.
The Department of Justice now
has jurisdiction over the National
Training School for Boys, which is
under the management of a board
of trustees. There are approximately
$50 District boys confined there in
comparison with 100 Federal inmates,
officials said. If jurisdiction were
transferred the District would assume
operation costs and charge the United
States for the care of Federal cases.
There is suggestion that some boys
now there be transferred to the Indus
trial Home School for Colored Chill
dren, at Blue Plains, D. c.
II the old Industrial Home School
IS abandoned girls now there would be
transferred to the National Training
School for Girls on Conduit road.
Some might be placed in foster homes.
Boys at the Wisconsin avenue institu-
ton would be transferred to the Ma
:ionaI Training School for Boys, If not
placed in foster homes, under other
suggestions. An alternative to aban-
donment of the old plant would be to
build a new home for it on District
owned land at Muirkirk, Md, originally
bought some years ago for National
Training School for White Girls. Only
about 20 girls we're placed there. OPP
GRAFTON of the plant was found too ex-
pensive and the girls were taken back
to the Conduit road institution.
Since then Congress has authorized
the District to sell the Muirkirk acre
age.
The District Receiving Home for
Children, 8l6 Potomac avenue, also
may be involved in plans, some said.
There may also be legislative pro-
posals changing powers of commit
ments from the Juvenile Court in some
instances if the Board of Public We'll
fare is given added Jurisdiction over
cases for some institutions.