Evening star., 1945-11-09
Fowler Denies Office
Delays Classification
OF Welfare Personnel
BY JULIA EDWARDS.

Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
today disclaimed responsibility for
delay in reclassifying personnel of
District children's institutions and
said his office was ready to act i'm
mediately on a request by the Board
of Public Welfare.
The budget Office was blamed for
an eight-week delay by G. Rowland
Shaw, chairman of the committee
on institutions of the Council of
Social Agencies.
Redistribution of positions at the
Industrial Home School, 2453 Wis
consin avenue NV, was recon-
mended by his committee July 80.
The Board of Welfare submitted
its application to the District Per-
Sonnel Board September IA. AS
budget officer, Mr.. Fowler is chair
man OF the personnel board.
Biames "Bottleneck."
Little can be done to improve
sorry conditions" in welfare insti-
tutions here until Redistribution
raises salaries and attracts more
competent personnel, Mr.. Shaw said.
The Civil Service Commission
will 60 right ahead. The trouble is
that the budget office WON'T" he
commented. That is where it
sticks"
The r,erSonpol hoord ra,a;,,,os ~.
application and returned it to the
board Of welfare for corrections Oc-
tober IL, Mr.. Fowler reported. The
request was returned to Mr.. Fowler
October Is, and a hearing was set
for November 2. He said the board
OF welfare withdrew the request for
a hearing because Ray L. Huff,
director of welfare, could not be
present.
ASK him where he was on No
vember g." Mr.. Fowler said.
i was in Emergency Hospital
until 12;45. Then 1 went home, F."
Mr.. Huff replied.
Available Today.
Mr.. Huff explained he had under
gone an operation but said he would
be available for hearing this after
noon. If the Personnel Board ap-
proves, the request will 60 to the
Civil Service Commission.
The new positions for the Indus
trial Home School will provide a
basic pattern for reclassfying per-
connel in oil chjldror,c ;,,ek,t,,&;o-z
Mr.. Huff said.
Mr.. Shaw's committee recon-
mended immediate reclassification of
personnel at the Receiving Home for
Children, 5000 Little Falls road NV
in report published yesterday.
Asked if he thought immediate
submission of an application on the
Receiving Home would speed re-
classification, Mr.. Huff said: 81
doubt it. I believe, one action will
suffice"
He admitted it was technically
true" that he eventually will have to
submit a separate application on
every position but said acceptance
will be a simple matter once new
ratings for work with children are
established.
Separation Delayed.
Mr.. Shaw said 1t would be diff
cult to separate delinquent from
nondelinquent children at the re-
ceiving home, a major recommends
| ton of his committee, until the re-
classification is obtained.
Boys are sent out into the yard
at one time, girls at smother. They
sit around with nothing con.
structive to keep them occupied
They should be kept busy constant
ly. It will require trained recrea-
ton and social leaders to give them
more than custodial care"
The superintendents of all the in
tstitutions are doing their best, but
ARE hamstrung by inadequate stats
.lhe commented. Mr.. Shaw said
Daniel Ahern, who resigned Mon.
.Iday as superintendent Of the Wis.
lconsin avenue school. took a lot ol
punishment in his desperate effort.
Ito hold the situation together"
II don't see how he stood 1t q,
llong d he did" Mr.. shaw added