Evening star., 1947-05-12
WeIfareBoard
Asks District 10
Back Autonomy
Commissioners Told
Time Is Right to End
Divided Authority

Time Is Right to End
Divided Authority
A battered Board Of Public Wei
fare rose to its own defense today
and called on the District Com
inissioners to support legislation to
make the board autonomous.
Chairman Edgar Morris took the
stand briefly alta public hearing at
the District Building to tell the
Commissioners the present divided
authority should be cured by giving
entire authority to the board"
"Now is the time to get this
matter Strengthened out, he de-
clared before turning over the Wit
ness chair to A. Harding Paul, vice
chairman, who made q lengthy
statement In the boards defense.
Social Agencies Support Plan.
He was supported by the board of
the Council OF Social Agencies: the
Federation Of Parent Teacher As
sociations: the Association OF
Oldest Inhabitants; the Federal OF
Civic Associations; the Mid-City
Citizens Association; the Society
of Natives; Progressive Citizens
Association of Georgetown and the
Jewish Social Service Agency.
Powerful civic groups, however,
opposed an autonomous board and
urged that welfare administrator
be centralized In a department ur-
der the Commissioners. continuing
the board in an advisory capacity
only.
Opponents included the Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations; the
District League of Women Voters;
the Washington Taxpayers Associas
ton; the Southwest Civic Associa-
ton; the Eastland Gardens Civic
Association; the Congress Heights
Citizens Association and the Chill
drens Protective Association.
Administered Under 1926 Act.
public welfare now is administered
under an act of 1925, which divides
authority between the board of Com
missioners, particularly with refer
ence to hiring and firing OF per-
sonnel and construction Of welfare
institutions.
Al year ago the two civilian Com
missioners abandoned four-year
campaign to centralize welfare
functions under themselves and
agreed to support a bill for an
autonomous board. The action
came as surprise to Engineer Com
missioner Gordon r. Young. who
refused to go along with his col
leagues.
It was believed the civilian Com
missioners abandoned their earlier
stand to forestall opposition by the
board to separation of the prisons
from the board into department
of corrections.
Autonomy Bill Pending.
A bill for an autonomous board
now is pending and hearings are
expected to be called at the Capitol
now that tcdays session has been
completed. The hearing ended
shortly before noon.
Mr.. Paul surprised the hearing
with the announcement he has sub
mitted his resignation to the Com
missioners because of the excessive
time demanded by board duties and
the extra duties occasioned by the
present statute which produce con-
flict and divided authority"
"It hasn't been accepted yet,' OBJ
served Commissioner Guy Mason.
DR.. Ethel Nixon, another member
of the board, took the stand briefly
to say she would resign If the board
Is reduced to advisory status.
Mason Congratulates Paul.
At the end of Mr.. Paul's statement
Commissioner Mason congratulated
him on his service to the board and
said the resignation would be acked
on at the Commissioners meeting
tomorrow.
Two other organizations gave sup
port to either of the proposed solu-
tions, providing it meant an end OF
the present split jurisdiction. The
District chapter of the American
Association of Social Workers urged
that clear legal base be established
for the organization of public well
fare, including a "crystal-clear
definition of authorities involved.
The Washington Industrial Union
Council said that If authority could
not be centralized under the Com
missioners at this time, it favored an
autonomous board.
Many of the supporters OF Com
missioner control looked to this as
a temporary step prior to eventual
establishment of local self govern
ment, under which a general re-
organization would integrate all
local administration.
No one supported continuation
Of the present situation.
In supporting an independent
board. Mrs. Arthur H. Fawcett Of the
board of the Council of Social Agen-
cies urged that board meeting be
opened to the public to the fullest
extent permissible under the law.
Stresses Responsibility to Public.
Performance of its functions be-
hind closed doors has been critic
ism directed at the board for many
years.
Mr.. Paul contended that the Well
fare Board is better able to admin
lister public welfare than the Com
missioners because it is more re-
sponsible to the citizens. The Com
missioners are political appomtees
of the President, he said, and do not
have the same close contact with the
community.
Mr.. Paul took the position that
where there has been transfer OF
former welfare activities to the
Commissioners, such as the public
hospitals in 1887, costs have risen
and dificulties have continued.
"I do not believe the transfer OF