Evening star., 1945-07-29
Board Split
Over Improving
Juvenile Home
Welfare Members
Differ Over Course
To Be Followed

Of opinion among its members be-
fore 1t decides what improvements
1t should seek to have made now
at the Industrial Home School for
juvenile and what should await
construction OF a new institution,
poll Of members revealed yester-
day.
On Wednesday the board will re-
open the much-discussed case Of
the home, now located at 2453 Wis
consin avenue. At that time it will
take up report by joint COM
mittee of the Council of Social
Agencies recommending steps be
taken Immediately to correct its
program and improve personnel.
Three of the seven members said
yesterday they had not read the re-
port. All of them, familiar with
accounts of inadequate conditions
made in newspapers and before
Congressional groups, said they
were aware conditions are bad.
Three said immediate improve
ments can and should be made and
agreed with the report that the first
step Is to reclassify the Civil Service
positions at the home to raise SAL
aries and attract adequate personnel.
Four Want New Home.
-Four, while promising to consider
the recommendations, doubted any
substantial improvement is possible
until the time comes when they can
replace the home with an entirely
new institution. They agreed with
a statement OF Ray L. Huff, director
Of public welfare, that present con-
ditions indicate men simply are, not
available, regardless of classif1ca-
ton"
The ultimate goal of the board is
to establish a Children's Center at
Laurel, Md, and to regroup the chill
dren at the Industrial Home and
other District institutions according
to their mental abilities.
There won't be any drastic i'm
provernent until we get it," said Mrs.
John j. Hasley. II think We should
concentrate on our goal"
Edgar Morris, chairman, and A. J.
Driscolls head of the institutions
committee, agreed. They could not
predict, however, how long it will
take to get the new center.
The board decided to move the
home In November to the building
now occupied by the National Train
ing School for Girls on Macarthur
boulevard after the Navy ordered
it to vacate the Wisconsin avenue
building. Members agree this is a
temporary expediency and little bet
ter than the present location.
Welfare Board Opposes Move.
The Commissioners have wanted
20 move the home temporarily to
4O-acre site at Muirkird, Md, re-
Gently vacated by the Army, but the
Board of Welfare has opposed such
a move.
This Macarthur boulevard build
ing is terrible" Commissioner Guy
Mason said. "At least Muirkirk is
clean enough for troops. The Board
OF Welfare was afraid If they went
out there, they wouldn't get their
new center at Laurel. That was
silly because we already are commits
ted to developing the center"
Mr.. Morris replied that the Board
OF Welfare vetoed Muirkirk because
it would cost from 50,0O0 to s70,0
to prepare it for even temporary
use.
I'VE aren't dissipating the tax
payers money Mr.. Morris said. IF
We move around on different pieces
OF property we never will get what
We want"
Although he had not read the
Council Committees report, Mr..
Morris noted that the board is con-
sidering the needs of the institution
now III preparing its 1947. budget.
These recommendations cannot be
made public. however, until they
are presented to the commissioners,
he explained.
Mrs. Raoford Moses and DR.. Ethel
Nixon, board members, expressed
the opinion that higher salaries
would attract better personnel and
help to fill II vacancies at the home.
Our hands are tied until we have
a staff to carry out a program" said
Mrs. Moses. I'VE repeatedly have
asked the Commissioners for a gen.
eral reclassif1cation, and we hope we
will get 1t this year"
MIR. Mason said no request for
a general reclassification is before
the Commissioners and he could not
discuss 1t without seeing it.
Paul Kirby. assistant director of
public welfare. said no general re-
classification has been ATTEMPTED
since the war began but that sew
eral individual reclassiflcations have
been made.
What is the use of asking for
money If the manpower isn't there"
Mr.. Morris asked.
Mr.. Driscoll added that a new
center, modernly constructed and
operated, would automatically at.
tract the needed personnel.
Praises Committee Report.
The Investigation COMMITTEES
gave very good report. But there
are things in it we won't be able to
correct until we get a whole new
building" he commented.
The hampering effect of made.
ouate facilities also was empha-
sized by Fred S. Kogod, another
committee member.
Mrs. Hfsley welcomed a sueees.
tion In the report for an inde.
pendent group to go to bat for the
institution. 1t should not be set up
BY the Board Of Welfare, she said.
for fear the public would think il
was q rubber stamp.
Although he had not read the re-
port, Rowland S. Marshall warned
that 1T you sit down and wait for
the ideal. you may dry-rot." Ex-
pressing concern at the condition
OF washington institutions, he said
he was "wholeheartedly behind" any
move to improve them.
I. AL the members voiced a desire
to see improvements In the educa-
tional, recreational and medical
programs Of the home, but said they
would prefer to discuss the recom-
|mendations of the council commit.
kAASr