Evening star., 1940-03-27
Items for Scott Circle Undepas Study Included in Supply Bill
Replacing of ? Superintendents,
New Welfare Post Asked in Bill
DC Budget Ignores Five-Ye Building Plan;
New Official Would Be Responsible

Replacement Of two superintend-
ents and creation Of a new job to
tighten supervision over welfare in
stitutions were called for In the Dis
trict supply bill reported out today.
The District Appropriations SUBJ
committee, however, virtually ignored
the five-year building program
recommended by the Public Health
Subcommittee Of the House District
Committee after its recent investi-
CATION of the institutions and COM
piled only to the extent of pro-
viding additional funds for repairs
and making some increases in per-
sonnel. particularly at the Home for
the Aged and Infirm.
With its attention focused on the
institutions by Mrs. Roosevelt's s
criticisms and the Public Health
Subcommittee probe, the appropria-
tions body urged revamping of the
administrative system from the in
stitutions to the Board of Public
Welfare itself by calling for two new
Superintendents at substantial in
crease in salaries and creating the
post of principal assistant director
of public welfaie" at a salary of
S6,5OO.
Superintendents Involved.
The two Superintendents whose
jobs are menaced by the bill are
Miss Anne Andruss of the National
Training School for Girls and Frank
Haskell of the Home for the Aged
and Inflrm, Blue Plains.
The contemplated shake-up will
not result in dismissal of Mr..
Haskell from the District service; it
was announced today by Chairman
Caldwell of the House subcommittee
in charge of the supply bill.
Representative Caldwell disclosed
Mr.. Haskell would be removed from
the Home for the Aged and Infirm,
but added he would be given another
position at his present salary pend
ing his retirement in December,
l94l.
AS for Miss AndruSs, who also is
slated to be replaced, Mr.. Caldwell
said:
mo provision has been made for
her future USE"
The subcommittee, the chairman
explained, wants capable and
trained individuals" to head both of
these institutions No one has yet
been recommended for the jobs, 1t
was said.
Replacement Urged by Bondy.
The replacement of Miss Andruss
was suggested at a hearing of the
Appropriations Subcommittee by
Public Welfare Director Robert E.
Bondy in a statement asking provi-
sion for "a person of more compe-
tence" at an increase in salary. The
bill provides salary of $500.
Mr.. Haskell was commended for
"efhcient service over long period
of years" in the report accompany
ing the bill, but it was stated that
the burdens Of the work have in
creased to a point where it is i'm
perative that additional supervisory
personnel be provided" The COM
mittee expressed the belief that
most of the criticisms leveled
against the institution can be cor
rected by improvement in the super
vision and direction of affairs at the
home. and by a modest increase in
personnel to meet existing def1cien-
cies." The superintendent salary
was stepped up from $500 to $4,000.
Buck Passing"
The report asked for the assistant
welfare director "for the purpose of
providing an officer who will devote
his entire time to the inspection and
administration of the public well
fare institutions of the District
which will be under his immediate
supervision and for which he will
be responsible"
Provision for the new official who
would keep in constant touch with
the institutions and visit them at
regular and frequent intervals" OBJ
vi0usly was the result of the COM
mittee's belief that some buck
passing was going on. The question
of fixing responsibility for conditions
at the institutions was raised more
than once during the hearings.
The committee feels" the report
stated, that the fixing of RESPONSE
bility on one qualified official who
will devote his entire time to this
duty will 60 a long way toward
eliminating unsatisfactory condi-
tions which have existed in several
of the institutions for some time"
Paul Kirby. now assistant welfare
director, who was directed by Con-
gress last year to serve as co-ordina-
tor of child-caring services as well
as assistant welfare director, under
the new arrangement will devote all
his time to his duties as co-ordina-
tor The Welfare Board had re-
Gently suggested hiring consultant
to act as co-ordinator.
Other Ma jor Features.
Other major features of the well
fare provisions not in the Budget
Bureau estimates follow, by institu-
tions.
National Training School for Girls
Raised per capita annual cost limit
from $500 to $575. Welfare officials
had protested former figure was too
low. Also provided for an instructor
in vocational education. The COM
mittee, further. granted the request
for a night watchman and parole
officer. stressed during the hearings
as major needs at the institution.
Children's Receiving Home-An
appropriation of 5000 for the con-
tinuous maintenance and operation
of two foster homes for temporary
or emergency board and care for
non delinquent children as means
of separating the delinquents from
the non-delinquents now housed to-
gether in the home.
Industrial Home School for white
children-Replacement of teachers
from the public school system by
four resident teachers, including
part-time vocational education in
structor. Also provided was 81 800
n