Evening star., 1940-01-27
bondy Stresses
Need Of Funds
For Aged Home
Commissioners Promise
ToConsider Criticism
Of Mrs. Roosevelt

Need for larger appropriations for
the Districts Home for Aged at Blue
Plains was voiced by Robert e.
Bondy, District director of welfare,
in comment on the declarations
made by Mrs. Roosevelt following
her personal inspection of the home
yesterday, in which she described
conditions as "below standards Of
decency."
Mr.. Bondy refrained from any di-
rect statement that the Commits
sioners or Congress had failed to
provide sufficient funds in the past,
but he gave general agreement to
the views of Mrs. Roosevelt that
larger sums were needed.
Commissioners Melvin c. Hazen
and David McCoach, jr., promised
to give very careful" consideration
to views expressed by Mrs. Roose-
velt following her tour of the in
stitution, accompanied by Mrs.
Henry Morgenthau. Commissioner
George E. Allen was away from his
desk, due to illness.
Good Job for Money"
Mr.. Bondy said: I'VE believe we
are doing reasonably good job with
the money that has been made
available. I agree in general with
the criticisms of the program as
voiced by Mrs. Roosevelt. We will
study details of her comments. We
could use great deal more money.
I hope we can get more funds, which
would provide for better program
and better institution"
Mr.. Bondy took Office as welfare
director last September 16. Five
days before that date, he was called
before the Commissioners to defend
the estimates for the next fiscal year,
beginning next June 30, which had
been prepared by the Board of Pub.
lie Welfare.
Study of the records disclosed that
while the per capita cost at the
Home for Aged was but S2l1 t.,
similar cost per inmate at the Ma
tional Training School for Girls for
this year was limited to $500. where
as it previously had been consider.
ably higher For District inmates
of the National Training School for
Boys the District is charged 81 q
day, or s730 year.
Food Costs Figured.
Further examination of current
appropriations disclosed that food
costs at the institution run to some
s58.7O a year per inmate, not
counting the value of farm produce
raised on the farm. 1t was esti.
mated that these products were
valued at s3l l,470, but that the cost
amounted to some S22,l89.
1t was disclosed that inmates of
the institution now help out with
the operation of the institution on
a voluntary basis. in serving tables
and peellng potatoes and workina
on the farm. Congress has allowed,
but $4,000 year for such tempo
rary labor" and customarily thid
sum is used up within seven monthd
OF a fiscal year The inmates rel
ceive 81 a week for such services,
while the pay lasts.
Urges Better Medical Care.
Mr.. Bondy suggested the need for
better program of medical care
and for clothing for the patients.
The total appropriation for this
fiscal year is S164,110 For the next
fiscal year the Welfare Board sought
appropriations totaling s337 500. The
Commissioners cut this down to
$l59,170 and the Budget Bureau
allowed, in its report to Congress,
a total of S16l ,270.
The Welfare Board had requested
! $4,000 for a new administration
building and home for nurses and
other women; S12,500 for an addi-
ton to the main dining room; S12.-
900 for a colored womens ward );
$4,000 for new plumbing and $10l,-
900 for new power plant equipment.
None of these items was approved
either by the Commissioners or
the Budget Bureau.