Evening star., 1950-03-17
.SenatorsA Agree
On Rebuilding
We|fareUnits
Hunt and Hill Support
OutIoys for Replacing
Rundown institutions
By Don S. Worren

Members of the Senate sub p,
committee in charge of the Dis
trict's 1851 budget today agreed
with city officials the time had
come to make a start in re-
building rundown welfare institu-
tions.
They had before them esti-
mates of the Board of Public
Welfare which propose outlays of
about SIG million to begin a
welfare institution building pro-
gram.
Notable items in this list are
$500,000 to begin construction Of
expanded utility services at the
site of the new children's center
at Laurel. Md: $750,000 to be-
gin construction of a new in
firmary and a laundry building
at the Home for Aged and In
firm; $4,000 to draw plans for
new Industrial Home School for
white children at the Laurel
Center. and $4,000 to build a
new central kitchen for the In
dustrial Home School for colored
children at Blue Plains.
Sees Progress Made.
Senator Hunt, Democrat, of Wy
oming, Democrat. brought out
that the welfare institutions had
been below standard in past years
and wanted to know if progress
could be made under the new
budget.
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
assured him this was the case and
added, II think we will be making
more progress in the welfare field
than we have made in many past
years"
"That should be done" said
Senator Hunt and prompt agree
ment was voiced by Senator Hill.
Democrat, of Alabama, head OF
the appropriations subcommittee.
The review of the welfare esti-
mates noted that the cost for $500
District patients at st. Elizabeth's
Hospital for next year would be
8,1O5, 900.
Senator Hunt asked if it was
possible to transfer 200 of the st.
Elizabeth's patients to the Home
for Aged, where the cost of care
would be much cheaper. Mr.. Fow-
Ter said that might be done when
the new infirmary has been built
and stated, but that the super
intendent of st. Elizabeth's
wouldn't approve a transfer while
the Home for the Aged was in
its present condition. Conditions
there now, he said, are "intoler-
able"
Questioned on Cuts.
Welfare Director Gerard M.
Shea said the transfer could net
be made now any way, because
the institution didn't have enough
space.
Subcommittee mebbers also in
quired if the money requests Of
the Welfare Board had been re-
duced by the Commissioners. Mr..
Fowler replied that the Commis-
sioners had found it necessary to
make cuts in welfare requests as
in all departments.
The welfare budget calls for
an outlay of $16.6 million or about
81 million more than was granted
for this year. Welfare officials had
asked for a 1851 outlay of $18.6
million.
During the discussion of the
Home for Aged and Inf1rm, it was
brought out that the average daily
cost of caring for patients there
was $3.50 as against about ST a
day in the children's protective
institutions.
Senator Hunt remarked: 1T is
obvious that you haven't been CIV
ing the old people adequate care
If you have been spending only
$3.50 cents day at the home.
Supplemental Request.
A'Ai' Ao"ACA OAHU UllE SOlllLlllS@
sioners were sending up supple
mental fund request for the next
year for $4,000 for welfare. He
said this would be to pay tuition
to Maryland and Virginia for child
wards of the District who are
placed in foster homes located in
nearby Maryland and Virginia.
The subcommittee devoted con-
siderable time to justifications
for increases in personnel for the
welfare departments services and
the staffs of its institutions. In
this, Mr.. Shea was given solid
backing by Mr.. Fowler. This is
the first time since the war that
the Commissioners have recon-
mended an increase in the well
fare staffs.
Mr.. Shea said that with the
extra help his department should
be able to cut down the waiting
period for applicants for public
assistance. They now have to
wait four of five weeks before they
can be granted relief.
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