Evening star., 1952-03-30
Senator's Pledge
Funds Aid for
Laurel Center
Lawmakers DepIore
Existing Facilities
For Children Here
By Miriam ottenberq

TOT AnIIOIeU HSTe
By Miricm Gutenberg
Senators who will work on the
District budget gave assurances
yesterday Of their support of an
500. 900 fund to further plans for
the Children'S Center at Laurel.
Md.
Most members Of the Senate
Appropriations District subcom-
mittee said the conditions at the
Districts institutions for children.
as described by The Star last
Sunday, should not be tolerated.
The $500 item was not re-
quested in the House but the
Commissioners expect to send the
request to the Senate as a new
need. Community and welfare
leaders have called for the plan
ming money to carry on the de-
velopment Of the Children's Gen.
ter-where four Of the six District
children's institutions ultimately
are to be located.
Could Begin Plans.
With this $4,000. architects
could draw UP plans for the Ma
tional Training School for Girls.
Engineer Commissioner Bernard
L. Robinson has said that getting
the plan money in the 1853 budget
would save at least six months
toward the ultimate construction
of a new institution. It would
replace the aged and unsuitable
quarters now occupied by the girls
lon Loughborough road.
Senator Hill, Democrat. OF Ala
|bama, chairman Of the District
Appropriations Subcommittee. told
The Star yesterday: "This Is a
situation that should be corrected
Just as soon as possible and ! shall
do everything I can to get this
$50, 900 appropriation to carry on
this plan"
II want to commend The Star
for bringing these facts to the
attention of the people Of the Dis
|trict, officials and Congress. These
children can't speak for them
selves. When nobody speaks out
for them and tells their story, we
don't know about It,"
Ferguson Pledges Attention.
Senator Ferguson, Republican,
of Michigan promised to give the
request for planning money very
careful attention"
"It's shocking to see what's 60
ing on" Senator Ferguson added.
why hasn't something been done
before? These are horrible condi-
|tions. I'm surprised the courts
allow 1t to 60 on when they must
commit children to these places. I"
Senator Ferguson said he thought
The Star article should be made q
art Of the official record Of the
hearings $50 we will have knowl-
edge Of the facts" He said he
would also ask District officials for
Ia thorough explanation Of what
efforts have been made to improve
conditions and how much personal
supervision Is given to these in
|stitutions.
Senator Hunt, Democrat, of
Wyoming, explained that bring
ling institutions up to accepted
standards had been a project Of
his both as Governor and as chair
man of the Wyoming board in
charge Of welfare institutions.
"The conditions I find here" he
said, Should not be tolerated in
the United States today and, of
all places, in the Capital city
I've always believed that the en-
vironment, living conditions and
surroundings of children have a
lgreat bearing on molding their
attitudes. temperament and
character. We must expect a
lproduct to come out Of these in
lstitutions not above the conditions
under which they are forced to
live at an impressionable age"
Senator O'Mahoney. Democrat
of Wyoming, and former chair
man Of the District appropriations
subcommittee, said there is nc
doubt about the need for more anC
better facilities for the Districts
wards.
There ought to be proper
facilities for dependent children
who through no fault Of theil
own are dependent on us, "Sena.
tor O'Mahoney went on. "Those
facilities ought to be separate
from institutions for delinquents
The United States Government
has an obligation here to make
certain that District institutions
are operated as q model for COM
munities all over the United
States"
Senator Mccarthy, Republican
Of Wisconsin. declared:
"If we can spend 50 billion ir
Europe" he declared, I'VE Ger.
tainly should be able to afford
/ $50, 900 to improve the lot oi
these children. I'll definitely vote
for it."
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat
'lof Arkansas, said he didn't want
Ito make q final commitment but
e'the request for $4,000 has tht
appearance of merit and possibly
1--we can support it If the money Il
Ito come out of District funds"
Ln1nzinn EirahlIn