Evening star., 1952-03-25
Provision in Budget
For Children S Center
Plans Funds Sought
City Hsods Ask Fowler
To Find il Other Items
Con Be Reduced

The District Commissioner to-
day ordered their budget officer toI
find out If funds could be made
available to further plans for the
Children's Center at Laurel BY
making other cuts in the District
budget.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue raised the question of the
Children's Center at the Commits
sioner's meeting today. He began
by calling attention to the article
In last Sundays Star showing the
need for new buildings at the pro-
jected Laurel center to replace the
antiquated city structures for the
city's child wards.
He pointed out that the House
Appropriations Committee was
making cuts in the District budget
which might make funds available
for planning the National Train
ing School for Girls. The $685.
900 requested by the welfare de-
partment to plan a new home for
the training school at Laurel was
eliminated by the Commissioners,
before their estimates went to the
Budget Bureau.
Community and welfare leaders,
prompted by last Sundays article,
have urged inclusion of the $780,
600 as the next step in developing
the children'S center.
46th ON Priority List.
When Commissioner Donohue
asked Budget Officer Walter
Fowler at the Commissioners
meeting if there we're any way to
get the money, Mr.. Fowler said
he would look into it and see what
could be done.
MIR. Fowler went on to say that
the general thing was to blame
the Commissioners for the neglect
Of the Districts child care institu-
tions but he was passing the blame
back to the Board of Public We'll
fare.
He said the $4,000 item was
10th on the priority list Of needs
prepared by the welfare depart
ment. Since the Commissioners
had not included the planning
money in the 1852 budget and
since 1t was so far down on well
fares list, he said, it was not in
cluded in the 1853 budget.
Asked later by The Star what
the other As items included, Mr..
Fowler said they included every
thing increases in stats and
equipment for the entire welfare
department as well as capital out
lay.
In another development, Engi-
neer Commissioner Bernard l..
Robinson said If citizens groups
want funds for the Children's
Center included in next years
budget they could try to get it
added to the budget in the Sen
ate.
Would Speed Construction.
Gen. Robinson said II the $685.
900 fund were included in the
budget, it would speed ultimate
construction Of the training school
by ct least six months.
At this point. he explained. the
only way the Commissioners could
get the $50, 900 would be by in
cluding the item In a supple
mental or deficiency appropriation
request. They could not urge its
inclusion In the 1853 budget, he
Explained, because that is out Of
their hands.
IF citizens groups want It,
however" he added. "they could
Igo before the Senate ApprOpria-
|tions Committee OF. interest some
|members Of Congress who might
he willing to work for It,"
Commissioners ponohue and
Robinson agreed on the need To
get the city,s Dependent, neglected
and delinquent children out of
their present oyercrowded and
shabby quarters.
ITS q human reaction on the
part Of the public that what they
don't know. they are inclined to
forget about" Gen. Robinson
commented. "They can see where
their money goes when It comes
to bridges. highways or schools.
They don't know about welfare
needs until these dire needs are
lcaIled to their attention.