Evening star., 1945-08-28
Congress Get
FWASurveyo on
Child Centers
Communities Told
To Give Number
Aided by Program

Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming, ad-
minlstrator Of the Federal Works
Agency, will report to Congress on
a Nationwide survey of the need
Tor continuing child care centers as
soon as Congress reconvenes, the
FWA announced today.
kilograms were sent late yester-
day to all local communities using
Federal funds to operate child-care
centers asking them to report on
how many of the working mothers
aided by the program are married
to servicemen and how many are
widows.
His action followed White House
announcement that President Tru-
man had asked Gen. Fleming to
present to Congress the problem
created by an order withdrawing
the funds by October 81 and, "if
possible, to obtain authority to con-
tlnue the centers necessary for
Servlcemen's wives"
New Move Pleases d. C. Mothers.
Working mothers in the District,
who have protested the threatened
closing of % District centers, ex-
pressed surprise and delight at the
prompt action of the President. A
total OF 4S centers in the Metropolis
tan Area would be affected by
withdrawal of Federal funds.
Gen. Fleming will make his re-
port to the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor and to the
House Public Buildings and Grounds
Committee. Representative Lam
ham, Democrat, of Texas, chairman
OF the House committee, was the
author OF the Lanham Act, under
which the child care centers were
established.
Authorization by Congress is nee
essary to continue the program, a
spokesman explained, because the
centers were established under
title 2 of the act authorizing the
President to provide essential serv-
ices when shortage "impedes the
national defense activity"
President Stresses Hardship.
President Truman pointed out
that closing the centers would Gre
ate a hardship for servicemen's
wives.
FWA is reported to have S20.OOO,-
900 in Lanham Act funds which it
was prepared to return to the Treas
ury. Up to the end of June it spent
s44 ,685 900 on child care centers.
Although some of the funds were
earmarked for other war activities,
it may be possible to keep part Of
the money for the centers if Con-
gress authorizes their continuance.
the spokesman said.
Gen. Fleming intends to present
the facts and leave it for Congress
to decide whether the program
should be continued in whole or in
part, he added. FWA still insists
that local authorities should pre-
pare to take it over when the emer-
gency ends.
Wants Closing Order Rescinded.
Mrs. Clyde Hunt, chairman of the
Parents Committee for Continuance
OF District Child Care Centers, said
her committee would seek to have
the decision closing school-age CEN
ters here by September Is rescinded
since it is doubtful that Congress
could complete action by that time.
Although FWA gave local COM
until October 81 to liuuidate
the program, the Board of Educa-
ton decided to close the school-age
centers before school opens Septem-
Der II. The mothers say the chill
dren from to II will need care
before and after school.
The Board of Education has nearly
completed its own survey of the lob
and marital status of the mothers.
Out OF 1865 who have answered the
boards questionnaire 209 mothers
either were married to servicemen
or were the sole support of their
children.