Evening star., 1953-05-25
Shea Predicts
Aid Of Congress
.InChiIdW
Junior Village Visits
BY Representatives
Cited in Statement

Welfare Director Gerard Shea
today predicted that the growing
recognition by members of Con-
gress of the inadequate facilities
for the Districts child wards
will remedy the situation criti-
cized by the Junior Villages vol
unteer workers.
His statement came after two
of the volunteer workers at the
institution for homeless young
Sters wrote New York District
Attorney Frank Hogan describ-
ing conditions at Junior Village.
The letter went to Mr.. Hogan
after he expressed concern for
Clifton and Diane Bradford-the
two youngsters kidnapped by a
carnival worker here, recovered
in New York and now lodged at
Junior Village.
Cite Lack of Facilities.
1--WE understand, Mr.. Hogan,
that when your workers from
New York saw Junior Village,
the 80-year-old crumbling build
ingS, the floors disintegrating,
the children dressed in caSt-off
clothing and playing with cast
of toys. they implied that you
don't do things that way in New
York" wrote the volunteers.
obviously, this situation
needs help. but we have no
representatives in Congress-"
they added. "The future as well
as the past of the Bradford chill
dren should be upon the con-
science of every voter in the
United States"
The letter was signed by Mrs.
Deborah Wilson and Mrs. Eliza
beth Hamilton. It emphasized
the understanding of the Dis
trict's welfare agencies and the
lack of both staff and facilities
at the Junior Village and criti-
cizes lack of congressional in.
tereSt.
Mr.. Shea, in his statement,
paid tribute to the volunteers
who have made possible a pro-
gram for the care of dependent
children which it is believed
needs no apology"
Representatives Visit.
THAT the Junior Village pro.
gram has been carried on under
conditions in regard to physical
plant which are recognized by
all as being next to impossible
is a compliment to the staff and
to these volunteers" he went on.
ut is believed. however," Mr..
Shea declared, that the grow
ing recognition of these made
quate facilities by the members
of Congress will remedy this
situation"
He cited the visits made to
Junior Village by Representa-
tive Miller, Republican. Of
Nebraska, and Representative
Wilson. Republican, of Indiana,
and the House Appropriations
subcommittee headed by Mr..
Wilson. These visits, said Mr..
Shea, and the resultant SYM
pathy of these members of Con-
gresS toward the welfare plan
for new facilities have "shed a
ray of hope for the community"
This plan calls for a new in
Stitution for colored children at
the Children's Center in Laurel.
Md, and the transfer of the
Junior Village to the Blue Plains
institution now used by the coll
ored children.
BradfOrds Visit Children.
Mr.. Shea expressed his belief
that the recognition of the prob
lem of these children and the
concern expressed by the visit
ing legislators would be reflected
in the 1854 appropriations. In
the pending budget is a request
for $3.7 million to build the new
institution at Laurel.
Meanwhile, the Bradford chill
dren. who inspired the latest
agitation over the Junior Village.
were visited for the first time
yesterday by their parents. The
visit lasted 10 minutes.
The Board of Public Welfare
has filed a petition with Juvenile
Court to assume custody of the
youngsters, and has asked that
the case be heard Wednesday.