Evening star., 1938-03-27
Old Court Building and $4,000
Create Ne,u Welfare Problem
Antiquated Structure Is to House Women
and Children, but Funds Are insufficient
to Make 1t Serre Merged Il gencies.

Abandonment Of the antiquated
Police Court Building was followed
yesterday by sudden orders to prepare
the structure for occupancy by the
Woman's Bureau, Women's Detention
Home and Children's Receiving Home
under congressional reorganization
plan that is being received with con-
sternation in municipal circles.
Dismay of officials over the plan
grew by leaps and bounds yesterday
when it became apparent that only
$4,000 is to be made available for
repair OF the decrepit insanitary and
poorly ventilated and lighted court
building at the corner Of Sixth and D
streets
Municipal Architect N. c. Wyeth
had estimated that at least $4,000
would be required to place the struc-
ture in condition to accommodate the
agencies.
Mixing Of Inmates Opposed.
Intense opposition also was voiced
yesterday to the housing under one
roof of children and delinquent adults.
This feeling was shared by the Board
OF Public Welfare. which now has con-
troll of the Children's Bureau: by the
Police Department. which would be
given supervision under the proposed
merger. and by numerous social well
fare organizations and workers.
The municipal architects ONCE was
directed to make immediate plans for
repair and remodeling Of the building
after word was received that House
| and Senate conferees on the pending
District appropriation bill had agreed
on the consolidation scheme and on
the $4,000 repair item.
The merger of the women's and
| children,s agencies would not become
effective until January !, 1899, under
| the plan of Congress. but Mr.. Wyeth
has been instructed to proceed at once
with plans for sheltering the children
on the top floor of the old building.
He is said to regard the allotted sum
as wholly inadequate.
Capt. Milliken Inspects Building.
Capt. Rhoda Milliken, head of the
Woman's Bureau. conferred yesterday
with Elwood Street, director Of public
welfare, concerning the plight OF the
agencies. She also was in consulta-
tion with Mr.. Wyeth in an effort to
work out plan for remodeling the
building within the cost limits i'm
posed.
Enormity Of the problem was i'm
pressed on Capt. Milliken when she
inspected the gaunt structure and OBJ
served its many defects as a detention
headquarters for women and children.
Its like jumping from the frying
pan into the fire." she commented yes
terday.
She believes the building could be
made fairly serviceable for the
Woman's Bureau and Women's De-
tention Home by expenditure of q
considerable amount of money fol
improvements, but she regards it as
totally unsuitable, under any circum-
stances, for a children's detention
home.
| Present Home Criticized.
| The Woman's Bureau and the De-
tention Home now occupy the old
second precinct station, at 1924 Fifth
street. The Police Department plans
to reopen this precinct in order to
cope with the crime situation in that
area.
The Children's Receiving Homie il
in an apartment building at 8l6 Po-
tomac avenue Sc. opposite the Navy
Yard. This building has been criti-
cized for its lack Of proper dormitory
and recreational facilities and for
other reasons.
Until 1928 the Children's Receiving
Home and the Woman's Bureau were
under single management within the
Police Department. Persistent pro-
tests by welfare and civic groups led
Congress to separate the two in that
year, when the supervision of the
children was turned over to the Board
OF Public Welfare.
Three classes OF children are cared
Tor at the home: L. Boys and girls
under " who are arrested for various
infractions and who have previous rec
ords of incorrigibility. 2. First Of
tenders, picked up usually for minor
onenses. 3, Destitute children left
homeless by arrest of both parents,
or by eviction proceedings and other
causes.
Proper Segregation Impossible.
The Potomac avenue building does
not have the facilities TO provide prop
er segregation of these classes of chill
dren. creating q possibility of moral
as well as disease contamination. A
small concrete courtyard is the only
place available for outdoor exercise.
Public and private officials have
sought to obtain . new building for
this home. but have been balksd hy