Evening star., 1947-06-12
.We|fareHeariinQ
Halls Awaiting
District Bill
House Group Sessions
To Be Reopened When
City Heads Report

City Heads Report
Washington's welfare controversy
was tossed into the lap Of the Dis
trict Commissioners today.
The Miller Subcommittee of the
House District Committee deferred
holding additional hearings on pro-
posals to straighten out the well
fare muddle until the Commission
ers are ready with their version
of the solution.
This should be very soon." Chair
man Miller said after hearing sew
eral witnesses on the subject.
The Commissioners have been
working on bill for more than a
month. They are expected to ask
that public welfare be placed In a
separate department under them
and that the present Beard Of Pub
lie Welfare be made an advisory
group only.
Two Bills Before Committee.
Two bills already are before the
committee-one to broaden the au-
thority of the Welfare Board and
the other to consolidate welfare un-
der the Commissioners new De-
partment of Public Welfare. The
Commissioners bill would be a
third.
Mrs. Frances SimSarian Of the
District Chapter of the American
Association Of Social Workers was
today's first witness. She said many
of the aims of the current bill to
broaden the Welfare Boards au-
thority are good and should be in
corporated in any bill the subcom-
mittee finally decides on.
Whatever bill the committee ap-
proves, she said, should provide for
more than doubling the facilities for
training people who care for chill
dren.
A 1,500-capacity institution is
needed, she said, adding it Is "prac-
tically hopeless" to get a child into
the present 600-capacity District
Training School for the Feeble
Minded. ..... ..-.
Home Training Stressed.
Assistant Welfare Director Paul L.
Kirby, who followed her as a wit
ness. said the Welfare Board knows
of 300 to 400 individuals who should
be in the school.
Mrs. Simsarian said the final bill
should lay the groundwork for a
greatly expanded foster home pro-
gram. Institutions cannot take the
place OF home-training, she said
At present. she added, 1t costs a
foster parent $26 out of an average
$35 provided monthly by the city to
feed child. This leaves only about
So a week for rent, laundry. clothes
and other things, she said.
Mr.. Kirby said more foster homes
were needed but were difficult to
find. There will be q continuing
need for institutions as well, he
said.
Restatement OF Law Asked.
Mrs. Simsarian reiterated her
organizations stand that there
either should be a really strong
welfare board or the commissioners
should have complete welfare re-
sponsibility; also that restatement
Of the District welfare law, now
made up Of 18 different acts of
Congress, is needed.
The committee attempted to pin
Mr.. Kirby down on the extent of
confusion in the existing welfare
setup.
when you have a problem do
you 60 to the Commissioners or
the welfare board?" Representative
Deane, Democrat, OF North Caro-
lima, asked.
Sometimes one and sometimes the
other" Mr.. Kirby answered.
Uncertainty Admitted.
which PROBLEMS do you take to
whom?" Mr.. Deane asked.
Mr.. Kirby sal dhe was not able to
answer that.
Then there Is uncertainty?" Mr..
Deane asked.
Eyes," Mr.. Kirby said.
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard, chairman
of the, Welfare Committee of the
Citizens Associations, who followed
Mr.. Kirby on the stand, described
him as man who has his mouth
tapped" on the subject of confusion
and division of responsibility for
public welfare.
She and Mrs. Harold Bannerman,
who represents the Children's Pro-
tective Association, reiterated the
stand of their groups that the Com
missioners should be given full re-
sponsibility for welfare.