Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-29
Receiving Home
Plans Accepted
ByCity Heads
Welfare Boards
Proposals Given
Reluctant Approval


In a strongly worded statement
disclosing the decision, however, the
city heads assailed the plan for
failing to provide adequate segrega-
ton between delinquent and nom
delinquent children, thus lining
themselves up solidly with the civic
and social worker opposition to the
welfare plan.
The decision follows breakdown
of the Commissioners efforts yes
terday to change the mind of the
board on the matter. The city heads
said they had made two alterna-
tive MISUNDERSTANDING the
present proposed single building, to
increase segregation or construct
ing two smaller separate buildings
for the two types-and offered to
support requests for additional op-
Grating funds if needed.
Both Proposals Rejected.
Both of these proposals, they said,
the Welfare Board rejected.
While under the letter of the law
1t is arguable that the Commission
ers could simply forbid construction
of the home as designed by the
Board of Public Welfare, the Com
missioners continued, the whole
spirit" of the present law, which
places responsibility and control OF
welfare matters under an autono-
nous board Independent of them, sis
contrary to such action"
"As long as the Board of Public
Welfare has this responsibility" the
Commissioners declared, 1--WE cannot
reasonably deny to it the facilities
which it insists that it needs"
The Commissioners said, however
they foresee most undesirable con-
sequences" for the future if the
home is operated as the board con-
templates. They said they propose
further efforts to supplement the
home by other facilities, including
foster homes, which may eliminate
in practice its dangerous posi-
bilities"
Single Building Planned.
Under the board plans the new
institution will consist of a single
building for 96 inmates, to be built
at a cost of $285 900 on land ad-
jacent to the Columbia Institution
for the Deaf.
Most of the inmates would be
bedded in dormitory, although ID
single rooms are contemplated.
The institution also will house a
classification center to determine
whether children brought there are
delinquent or nondelinquent.
Complete segregation of the two
types of children, the Commission
ers said, is a fundamental end"
and the structure designed for the
board will not accomplish this
end"
ut is impossible to effect ade-
quate and complete segregation in
such a building" the city heads
insisted, land the limited staff
contemplated by the board would
make it doubly impossible"
They said their stand on their
segregation question does not re-
quire any expert knowledge of vel
fare work or the social sciences.
Endorsed by Experts.
ats reasonableness should be OBJ
vious to any one who remembers his
own childhood, or who knows chill
dren," they added.
The Commissioners said further
they were glad to know their posi-
ton is Endorsed by many experts
including the Council of Social
Agencies, Washington Federation OF
Churches, the Children's Protective
Association, the District Chapter OF
the American Association of Socia
Workers, the National Probation
Association and Judge Fay Bentley
of Juvenile Court.
They also took occasion to expires:
their appreciation of the co-opera-
tive and open-minded attitude" OF
Welfare Director Ray L. Huff in the
discussions, thus placing full re-
aponsibility for the decision on the
board.
Referring to charges that the long
discussion over the institution have
delayed its construction, the city
Eeads said the statements were
doubtless printed "in all good faith -
by newspapers.
However, they are completely un-
true" "hey declared. 1--WE have no
intention Of advertising for bids for
the home for some weeks at least,
because the present unsettled state
of the construction industry makes
1t impossible to get reasonable bids.
Therefore, there has been no delay
whatever resulting from recent dis
cussions."
The plans approved by the Wei
zare Board were ready to be adver-
tlsed for bids last November, but
were held up by the Commissioners
after heavy protest from social
workers and clubwomen headed by
Mrs. Eugene Meyer, wife of the
publisher of the Washington Post.
Compromise Agreed On.
Mrs. Meyers group commended
that the institution should be a
small one for delinquent children
awaiting Juvenile Court action, and
contended that if the home were
constructed On the large scale con-
templated by the board, nondelin-
quents would be thrown in with the
delincuents. They asked expansion
of the foster home service to provide
for the nondelinquents.
The opponents conferred with the
welfare board on December II, but
were unable to win its support. The
Commissioner then referred the
issue to Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner Joseph D. Arthur, jr., to work
out compromise if possible.
At subsequent meetings with Col
Arthur, compromise was agreed on
designed to cut the capacity of the
home to Sc, increase the number of
single rooms, provide segregated
dining and play facilities and retain
the classification center.
Although Welfare Director HUFF
was present when the compromise
principles were agreed on, the board
refused to accept the proposed modi-
1caticns and rejected the revised
plans prepared by the municipal
architect embodying the compromise
The members further cold tba,,