Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-02
Problem Of Fugitive
Fathers Discussed
Al Welfare Session

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Fugitive fathers who skip from
State to State ahead of the law
may end up in "skid row." group
of public welfare officials meeting
in the Hotel Statler were told
this morning.
IF fugitive father is once per-
mitted to escape responsibility by
moving to another State he'll
marry again and repeat the process
over and over until he ends up on
skid row." Fred Steininger, di-
rector of the Lake County Indo
Public Welfare Department,
warned the group.
Mr.. Steininger said the problem
pappies" are mental hygiene
problem and should be helped to
face reality. He added that fugi-
tive fathers show immature per-
sonalities and suggested the Fed
eral Government should step in
with interstate laws to prevent the
father from moving out OF his
States jurisdiction.
Joseph E. Alloway, executive
director of the Board OF Child
Welfare, said the problem is caus-
ing an outpouring of Government
funds to care for the deserted
families.
Law in IL States Cited.
He explained the fugitive father
law now in existence in IL States
and the Virgin Islands might be
a solution to the problem.
The law, which is reciprocal,
allows the deserted wife to present
her case in court in one State
which in turn contacts court
in another State in the jurisdic-
ton where the deserving father is
residing. The father then pre-
sents his side of the picture there
and the court decides what sup
port should be made.
The hitch to the law, Mr.. Allo-
way said, is that not all States
have enacted it. And the biggest
problem is finding the fugitive
father. BY the time he is located.
his wife's testimony is often so
old the court may not accept it.
Yesterday DR.. Eveline M. Burns.
professor at the New York School
of Social Work. charged that or
ganized labor is moving In on
public welfare work.
DR.. Burns told the welfare
workers that labor unions, for
merly concerned with wage rates
and working conditions, have
moved into the social welfare
field in the last months. This,
she said, will tend to weaken
public support for public welfare
activities because it will foster the
belief that workers are quite able
to take care of themselves"
"Fills a Vacuum"
DR.. Burns emphasized, however.
that, before crying unfair COM
petition we must remember this
area is coming to be occupied by
the unions largely to fill a vac
uum." She pointed out more ade-
quate public welfare programs
would have restricted the harm
full effects of this new develop
ment." -. :4s,s 7=r-~-n- ---
At another session, yesterday.
Mrs. Val Heating. public assist
ance representative of the Social
Security Administration, declared
the aid to- dependent children
program is being publicly crit.
cized because it is temporarily
carrying a load which WOULD not
belong to it if some of the other
basic functions of industry, med E.
icine, education and government
were functioning more completely.
Other speakers included Miss
Mildred Stoves, director of the
division of public assistance of
the Tennessee Department of Pub
lie Welfare; Miss Gladys Fischer
of the New York Depart
ment of Social Welfare, and Har-
old Smith, director of the Bu-
reau of Social Service, Idaho De-
partment of Public Assistance.
/ DR.. Alva Myrdal, Swedish spe-
cialist and ranking woman mem
Der of the United Nations staff.
will give the principal address at
the associations annual banquet
at Z o'clock tonight in the hotel.
The conference attended by more
than 1000 officials will end to-
morrow