Page images
PDF
EPUB

I have testified for the Children's Bureau, for the national school lunch program, for the work of UNICEF. I have seen work of UNICEF all over the world, so I am interested in the welfare of children and I think this is one of the most important things for the Congress of the United States to do, to authorize.

Mr. GIAIMO. That is all.

Congresswoman GREEN. You state on page 2 that this bill would enable the country to swing quickly into a concerted nationwide effort with a minimum of delay and just a minute ago you said there were lots of projects going on that needed a little bit more money. I should think if that is true then you would be backing a statement for grants-in-aid to the States to have money for the programs the States are pursuing.

Mr. HECHT. We backed such a bill for 2 years and for two sessions and many of the things that the States are doing themselves are excellent and need support. This bill does not say that you cannot give money to State activities. It says in addition to State activity this bill will help finance worthwhile private efforts and many of the agencies in this country, organizations like the Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, many private agencies are doing fine work.

Congresswoman GREEN. We have no quarrel with private agencies versus public, I am sure of that.

Mr. HECHT. Grants-in-aid do not provide for aid for private agencies.

Congresswoman GREEN. My question would be, would you support that kind of program?

Mr. HECHT. I would support such a program, too; but this bill' thing to my mind comes first and would be the most useful. I cannot think of any way that the Federal Government could spend $5 million a year more advantageously.

Congresswoman GREEN. You say you have spent a good deal of time on this program. Let us have a specific.

What do you think the Federal Government ought to do with the money? Name me one project you think is urgent and necessary at this time where the Federal Government can make a real contribution? Mr. HECHT. I am going to let Mrs. Stough answer.

Congresswoman GREEN. I am directing my question to you as the chairman of this committee.

Mr. HECHT. Well, I would have the studies made of the effectiveness of probation officers working with delinquents, I would have counsel services for mixed up children in the early years when teachers report that they are having children who are getting out of hand. I would have trained counselors to consult with them and with their parents and investigate home conditions. There are also some new tranquilizing drugs that have been especially effective with mentally disturbed children. I would like to know much more about the value on a permanent basis of these tranquilizing drugs we administer to children who have delinquency tendencies. Congresswoman GREEN. Thank you. These three now that you have mentioned, a study by the Department of Health, Education,. and Welfare of how effective our probation officers are, this is your first one?

Mr. HECHT. I said a project for a study of that kind. These need to be done in various types of communities, rural and big city, and

I think we need to know a lot more about the effective techniques, the best techniques of probation officers.

Congresswoman GREEN. Your second was counseling, which I think is done in almost every school of the country.

Mr. HECHT. I wish it were. There are many, many schools that have no counseling for disturbed children.

Congresswoman GREEN. Then, tranquilizer drugs. I think this is a function of the National Institutes of Health rather than the Children's Bureau.

Mr. HECHT. Many of these disturbed children become juvenile delinquents and tranquilizing drugs have had, as I understand, in some cases beneficial effect if administered skillfully and at the right time. Congresswoman GREEN. Is that not a problem for the health departments that are already set up and making these studies; wouldn't this be a duplication of time and energy and effort?

Mr. HECHT. I think the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare could be trusted in not giving money for any demonstration that duplicates in any way the work of the National Mental Institute of Health.

Congresswoman GREEN. These are the three projects you would recommend?

Mr. HECHT. I just took took them out of a hat. Mrs. Stough is best qualified on that.

Congresswoman GREEN. Well, I asked you because you said you had given a great deal of study and time to the matter.

Mr. HECHT. Well, I have.

(Supplemental statement of the witness follows:)

Hon. CARL ELLIOTT,

THE AMERICAN PARENTS COMMITTEE, INC.,

Chairman, House Subcommittee on Education and Labor,
House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

March 24, 1959.

DEAR MR. ELLIOTT: In thinking about my testimony before your committee on March 18, I concluded that Mrs. Green's question about this organization and its members was not fully answered. Therefore, would you insert this additional statement in the record following my testimony?

The American Parents Committee is just what its name implies, a committee of persons interested in better Federal legislation for the health, education, and welfare of children.

Members of the national board and council are in many instances prominent workers in other organizations, but it is clearly understood that they serve on the American Parents Committee as individuals.

The officers, directors, and national council members of the American Parents Committee, Inc., may not personally endorse (nor are the organizations with which they are associated in any way committed to) all legislation favored by the APC. The APC's position on Federal legislation for children in which it interests itself is determined by its board of directors, which gives its approval only if a majority of its members concur.

As this paragraph states, the majority vote of the board determines the principles on which the organization will support or oppose legislation. When possible, the board acts on actual bills. In most instances, the officers determine what specific bills are to be supported (or opposed) to best carry out the principles voted by the board.

The organization is financed by contributions of its members and other interested persons.

Cordially,

GEORGE J. HECHT, Chairman.

Mr. ELLIOTT. The House is now in session.

I thank you very much, Mr. Hecht. The first witness tomorrow will be Mr. Danstedt, director of the Washington office of the National Association of Social Workers. The second witness tomorrow will be Miss Sally Butler, General Federation of Women's Clubs, and the third, Miss Germaine Krettek, and then we go to the witnesses who were originally scheduled for Thursday. The staff will so inform those witnesses. We have set up hearings for Monday and Tuesday of next week, and will continue to push right along.

Until 10 o'clock tomorrow the subcommittee will stand adjourned. (Whereupon, at 12:25 p.m., the committee recessed until 10 a.m., Thursday, March 19, 1959.)

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND CONTROL

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1959

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION OF THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR,

Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to call, in the caucus room of Old House Office Building, Hon. Carl Elliott (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Present: Representatives Elliott, Green, Daniels, Giaimo, and Lafore.

Also present: Mary P. Allen, subcommittee clerk, and Charles Backstrom, research assistant to the subcommittee.

Mr. ELLIOTT. The subcommittee will be in order, please. Let us spend a minute arranging our schedule for today.

At the time we announced the list of witnesses yesterday we did not know, of course, that the House would go into session at 11 o'clock today. It appears that today will be a rather busy day on the floor of the House, and therefore we cannot meet this afternoon. So whatever we do here this morning will have to be done within the next hour.

Now I am going to take the liberty of asking the consideration of the witnesses who live in Washington here, if they would allow us to reschedule them, say tomorrow morning. If you will do that I will appreciate it very much.

That brings us to Judge Thomas J. S. Waxter, of the American Public Welfare Association.

Judge Waxter, may I say to you that we are very happy to have you this morning. May I say that the members of this subcommittee are generally familiar with the subject matter pertaining to juvenile delinquency. Maybe that is what we lawyers call a self-serving statement. We have been over the ground, and if you care to summarize your statement and I do not insist that you do but if you care to summarize it-then we will put your entire statement in the record as it is written. But you may proceed in any manner that you care to do.

STATEMENT OF JUDGE THOMAS J. S. WAXTER, AMERICAN PUBLIC WELFARE ASSOCIATION

Mr. WAXTER. Mr. Elliott and gentlemen, my name is Thomas J. S. Waxter. I am director of the Maryland State Department of Public Welfare. I am also chairman of the National Council of State Public

« PreviousContinue »