Evening star., 1944-05-09

vWU NVSU WIIIQJC
Delegation at Hearing
Coils for Steps to Save
ChiIdren's Museum
Purchase by the District of the
100000 Villa Rosa mansion on
Massachusetts, avenue NV so as
to preserve the Children's Museum
it houses was urged on the House
District Appropriations Subcommit-
tee yesterday as the group devoted
full day to hearing a wide variety
OF civic proposals.
The museum delegate was headed
by Miss Matilda Young, it's direc-
tor, and included Laurence Vail
Coleman, director of the American
Association of Museums; DR.. John
Aldrich, ornithologist at the Smith
sonian Institution, and DR.. Donald
McHenry, president of the Audubon
Society and number of the teach
ers and youthful members of the
museum classes.
Plans Consultation.
Chairman Coffee said he would
consult with Chairman Randolph
of the House District Committee
since legislation would be needed if
the property were to be acquired
by the District.
When Mr.. Coffee asked why the
museum should not be made q part
of the> school system, instead of
being privately operated, Mr.. Cole
man declared the museum plan is
different from the school program.
In answer to question that the
museum was isolated" in one
section of the District, he replied
that similar museums later might
be established In other areas.
Mrs. Slocum Kingsbury sought
approval OF an appropriation OF
$61,779 fsr the employment of So
housepeeping aides by the District
next year to assist INDECENT persons
whose families might otherwise
need more expensive public care
This project also was supported by
Mrs. Thomas Norton of the staff
OF the Council of Social Agencies.
Library Plan Outlined.
The willingness of Cleveland Park
residents TO raise so per cent of
the cost Of buying a site for al
branch library for the area was
outlined by q delegation from the
Connecticut Avenue Citizens AS
sociation including Dean william C
Ruediger, Julian Boiling, Miss
Blanche Weaver, Mrs. w. w. Co
blentz and Gerald Grosner. The site
at Macomb and Newark streets and
Connecticut avenue, is estimated
to cost about 100000, much more
than District officials are willing to
Gay for the purpose. The group
said it already had obtained some
$4,000 towards the purchase price.
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, speaking for
the League OF Women Voters. pro-
tested that but few of the many
recommendations for expansion and
improvement of the District child
care program, as outlined In the
report by Jacob Kepec, Chicago
consultant, five years ago, had been
adopted. Asserting that consider-
able increases In the number OF case
workers were needed, among other
changes, she suggested that one
reason the report was showed
under" was the many changes in
recent years in Commissioners, Wei
fare Board members and welfare
director post.
She said she favored changing
the Welfare Board into an advisory
agency because she felt the board
cannot very well' represent the
citizens when 1t is responsible for
management of the welfare pro-
gram.
Asks Clinic Be Continued.
Mrs. Paul Appleby for the League
OF Women Voters urged that the
psychiatric clinic of the Juvenile
Court be continued as a separate
unit
Robert Sherman of the United
Federal Workers of America as
serted that so employees in the
dietary department of Gallinper
Hospital had been kept IL or 13
hours day at the hospital because
OF assignment to work split shifts.
He urged that 10 more workers be
employed SO that the staff could
be given straight eight-hour day.
Mrs. Florence w. Welch headed
a delegation seeking assignment of
another junior high teacher and
permanent assignment of another
high school teacher for the instruc-
ton of physically handicapped
pupils.
Mrs. Lillian Birney Finkenstaedt,
president of the Board of Managers
of the Home for Incurables, which
is caring for 26 District welfare
patients, asked an increase from
$3.50 to $4,000 for the contract
cases, due to increased costs of
operation.
Mrs. Jenny E. Clarke sought funds
for playground in the Brightwood
area, protesting there are more than
4,700 children in the section having
no play spot but one school ground
and the streets"
James M. Montgomery urged ap-
proval Of proposals for a recreation
center In the east central area.
Hearing on BergdoII Tract