Evening star., 1950-06-01
Day-CareBi||
Is Debated at
HouseHeariinq
Witnesses Describe
Failure to Get Aid
From Privute Group:

The Senate-passed bill to con-
tinue permanently the Districts
day-care nurseries was sharply
criticized and strongly defended
today before House subcommit-
tee.
Chairman Abernethy of the
District Subcommittee on Health,
Education and Recreation serious
ly questioned the advisability of
continuing the system for the
care of children of working
mothers.
Mr.. Abernethy announced at
the conclusion of the one-day
hearing that the subcommittee
would meet in executive session
in the next few days to act on the
measure.
He pointed out that Congress. in
continuing the center for this
year, had specified in the law that
the centers should operate until
June 80, 1850, land no longer" !"
Passage OF Bill Urged.
In reply to his repeated ques-
tions as to what had been done
to take this tax burden off the
city, District officials said efforts
to get private enterprise, includ-
ing the churches. to operate the
system had been unsuccessful.
Representatives of about Is or
ganizations. including mothers
whose children are cared for in
the centers, pleaded for enact
ment of the Senate bill.
Corporation Counsel Vernon
West said the city heads were not
in favor of the measure but will
not oppose its enactment.
Board of Public Welfare officials
testified that the board, which is
given authority to continue opera
ton of the system, had formally
declared that the responsibility
does not belong to it.
Other Efforts Fail.
Gerard Shea, director of public
welfare. and Assistant Director
Raymond F. Clapp, explained
efforts have been made to get
other agencies to handle the prob
lem. but without success.
They presented numerous fig
ures to the subcommitte contend
ing it would be better to spend the
money for aid to dependent chill
dren so the mothers could care
for their children at home.
Mr.. Abernethy fatty declared at
one point: "It was brought out
last year that 1t is the desire of
this committee and of the Dis
trict Commissioners to discontinue
this wartime activity"
Mrs. Irene Raine said the moth
ers are asking for continuance of
the program 80 that we can re-
main self-suficient. to bring up
our children with dignity to be-
come good citizens and avoid the
stigma of coming public
charges"
Other Groups Testify.
Leonard Edmonds, chairman of
the Advisory Committee of the
Child Day-Care Program, pleaded
for the legislation. He was Sharp
ly cross-examined by Mr.. Aber-
nethy as to the eventual cost of
the system. especially since the
Senate bill provides for an un-
limited appropriations.
Among others asking for pass
age of the legislation were Miss
I. Evelyn Smith of the Federal
Security Agency; Mrs. D. L. Cor
don, District League of Women
Voters: Glenn Watts, District In
dustrial Union Council, CIO; Park
M. Clifford. American Federation
OF Labor, and Charles C. Beckett
Of the Washington Urban League
and Interdenominational Minis
ters' Alliance.
Other agencies favoring the bill
whose support was placed in the
subcommittee record without tes-
timony included the Catholic
Charities of Washington, B'nai
Birth, Federation of Civic Asso-
Citations. National Association for
Advancement of Colored People,
the Congress of Parents and
Teachers Association and Amer
leans for Democratic Action.