The morning call., 1891-09-06
A BOOM FOR THE
REFORM SCHOOL.
Schemes of Parents to Be Rid
of Their Children.
The District Attorneys Besieged With Appli-
cants to Have Naughty Boys and Girls
Seat to Whittier.

The Whittier Reform School appears to
be developing some new phases in domestic
economy-at least, if not new, never before
so shockingly conspicuous; and the District
Attorneys Office is being made the focal
point of these developments. The attaches
of that department are so disgusted and
Mortified at what they fancy an incipient
boom in the deportation of children that
they are crying out against it in a loud
voice, and think the fire OF public condem-
nation should be turned upon it to squelch it.
There are many parents, it appears, who,
instead of cherishlng the natural parental
affection for their offspring, find them a
great inconvenience, and are glad of an op-
poItunity to be rid of them. They seem to
have conceived the idea that a great State
refOrmatory is the very place for such, and
a disposition, almost epidemic in its nature
and extent has sprung up among them to
have the little fellows railroaded to Whit
tier.
THE LAW is AwKwARD.
For this sort of practice the law is rather
awkwardly framed. No one can be sent to
the State Reformatory except by Judge
and only then after process similar to
criminal trial. The young incorrigble must
first be complained against by the District
Attorney, and then the Judge inquiries into
the case, finally deciding whether or not
the complaint is well founded. or course
all this process necessitates more or less
publicity, and parents with particle Of
shame would naturally shrink from it,
whether their course had any merit in it or
not. But it appears there are many who
fear the public gaze and criticism less than
the burden of their children, and they con-
stitute the class just now stormlng the Dis
trict Attorneys office.
A woman called there yesterday with two
sons, declared by those who saw them to be
uncommonly bright and promising boys.
One. she said. about II years old, was very
bad. He had played truant two weeks and
consulted with her brother in-law, and he
advised her to have the little fellow sent 10
Whittier. She desired the District Attor-
ney to take the necessary steps.
Assistant Love looks after all such cases.
He patiently heard her plant, meanwhile
casting an occasional glance at the youth.
What he heard and what he saw were
wholly irrecoEcilable. There was not a
trace OF vciousness in the boys face he
appeared bright, open hearted and little
mschievous, but not bad. The little
fellow was asked whether he was tired of
his home or whether his stepfather i'll
treated him. His answer was proupt and
frankness itself-he liked his home and
was always kindly treated by his step
father.
MR.. LOVE AMAZED.
Mr.. Loves amazement at the picture be-
fore MIN was beyond expression. He cut
tho scene short, however, by telling the
mother pointedly and emphatically that he
would not grant her wish. He told her
that with ordinary maternal care and affec-
ton she had the making of a noble man,
whereas II she turned him into public den
of vice he would be lost to her and the
world forever. The woman departed not
altogether satisfied, perhaps, but certainly
in much more thoughtful mood.
Before the day closed a man entered the
Office accompanied by his little nine-year-
old son, bent ON similar errand. He gave
the name Of Martin Siftington. and said he
was boiler-maker residing in Oakland.
Pointing to the little scion he said he wanted
to have him sent to the Whittier Reform
School. The man Is not foreigner, but a
native OF New York, 46 years old, able
bodied and apparently well to do. What
his reason was for wishing the State to take
the boy off his hands was not apparent,