Evening star., 1947-06-11
Home
zehay BeCut,
.Hordn Says
Subcommittee Head
Asks Delay in Work
To Study Plan
By Don S. Worren


By Don S. Worren
Possibilities that plans for the
new Receiving Home. for Children
might be modified, to reduce its
size, were advanced today by Chair
man Horan of the House subcom-
mittee in charge of the District
supply bill.
He repeated his statement Of late
yesterday that he was asking the
Commissioners to hold up ground
breaking for the $4,000 plant until
his subcommittee has completed its
study. After years of effort to get
the sufficient appropriations and an
agreement on plans, construction of
the building was to have been start
ed soon.
Mr.. Horan said last night his
subcommittee was seriously con.
sidering abandonment of the prof.
ect, but later said that this was not
likely. Definitely, efforts will bs
made to keep nondelinquent chill
dren out of the home and to place
them, instead, in foster homes, Mr..
Horan said after this mornings ses-
sion. He said increased funds prob
ably would be recommended for the
welfare division in charge of foster
home care.
Wants Opinion Of Public.
Since the new Receiving Home
probably would be used only for
wards Of the court or delinquent
children, he said it appeared pos
sible a different type Of construc-
ton might be called for and that
the building perhaps need not be
as big as now planned.
He said he wanted an express
sion from District people on these
questions.
z The sudden turn of events left
District officials bewildered, since
they had expected to see work start
ed soon on the site purchased near
Galaudet College in northeast
Washington.
There was worry also over a ris-
ing question as to whether legis-
lative action could be completed on
the big District, budget in the 20
days remaining before the end OF
this fiscal year.
Emergency Move Possible.
Many divisions of the municipal
government still are to be exam
ined by the Horan subcommittee,
and thereafter we'll over 100 civic
witnesses want to be heard. The
bill then will have to await House
action, consideration in the Sem
ate Appropriations Committee, ac-
tion by. the Senate and probable
reference to House-Senate con-
ference committee to iron out diff /
ferences between the two chambers. (,
An emergency resolution merely
providing essential payroll and
other funds may be necessary, it
was said, to keep the District from
going fundless July /.
There were indications the Dis
trict subcommittee might devote
the rest of this week to considera-
ton of the welfare budget. Chair
man Koran has more questions to
fire at welfare officials in his drive
to chop down on their outlays.
Many we're amazed over the sud-
Cen haltihg of the Receiving Home
project, since Mr.. Koran recently
condemned the old training school
location and ordered quick changes
made. His staff of investigators
yesterday charged their corrective
measures were not being carried
out and that some remodeling funds
were being poured down the drain"
Want Work Continued.
After the closed-door hearings
were adjourned at pm, Mr.. Horan
told something about the debate
and commented that his substitute
proposals did not meet with unani-
nous approval. The Commissioners,
it was said, wanted to 60 ahead
with the project.
Reports also showed Mr.. Horan
had demanded to know what had
been done to correct "intolerable
conditions" committee Investigators
found recently at the present Re-
ceiving Home.
What the responsible officials re-
piled was not made known. Com
ments by the Horan staff investi-
gators, however, we're made public.
These remarks charged the present
management of the home was
completely incompetent"
The investigators reported delin-
quent children up to the age of II
were kept under lock and key in
rooms having capaciy of from
two to eight persons. The staff said
it had based its recent recommen-
dations for closing of the present
Receiving Home partly on the ''hor-
rible consequences" of the room ar
rangement.
Many Delinquents Are Aggressive.
Many of the inmates are aggres-
sive sex delinquents and, they said,
depraved acts are a daily occur
renee. They charged the homes SUI
perintendent with belittling this but
also quoted him as saying the home
was "the worst hell hole in the
country"
The released report continued:
"As a preventive measure, 1t was
suggested (by the Congressional in
vestigators) that all room parti-
tions be removed, making one large
dormitory, so that one attendant
could keep the inmates under con-
slant surveillance.
This is not being done. The
money now being spent, bricking up
transoms, and so forth, at Shaw
House, is being poured down the
drain. It Is submitted by the staff
that the present management k
wholly inadequate"