Evening star., 1896-09-22
DESERTlON OF CHILDREN
Attention Called to a Practice in Industrial
School Report.
Children Cared for During the Year
Necessity for a New Law to
Protect Little Ones.

ayers of the Industrial Home School was
made public today. During the year forty
four children were admitted to the institu-
ticn and thirty-fise discharged. The total
number cared for during the year was i43.
which Includes the ninety-nine left over
from last year. The institution cannot ac-
commodatc more than ln6. although there is
a demand for admission beyond the capaci-
ty. TIE total receipts for the year were
Si3 $3.50 and the expenditures. s14. - 80.
The cost per capita for maintenance was
sl3l.o4 per annum. During the year the
committee on admission was compelled To
reject qrite number Of children in conse-
quence of impaired and defective intellect.
The committee discusses at length the
subject of deserted children and says.
among other things:
Deserted Children.
'The committee in charge Of admission
and placement of children request earnest
attention to the numerous cases of doser-
tien OF children by parents. especially by
fathers. The question does not apply solely
10 our home, but to every Institution in the
District that gives shelter to children who
tave been deprived of and guardian
snip which is their natural hirthright. APP
plicatons have frequently been made TO
admit wards into our home, by weeping
mothers, who have been abandoned by their
husbands. thus leaving the deserted family
without aid and support, although in some
instances such men are earning a living
and are, 10y our present laws, left free TO
spend their money for improper purposes.
1T Ii beyond the scope of our institution
to take any measure that will compel such
parties to give parental care to their of
spring, hut some action should he had and
mean5 he adopted whereby the evil hereby
pointed out may he abated. The abandon
ment of children by parents should be mad-
penal oliense punishable through the Dis
trict courts, and IL separation OF family re-
lations continue, the court should have
power and authority to compel the parent.
male or female. to periodically pay over
some portion Of money earned FOR the care
end support of their progeny.
w hen nuptial ties are severed by divorce,
the payment of alimony Is part OF the de-
zee. Why should not analogous practice Dc
followed when voluntary rupture of welded
contracts ensue or when the family union
is violently OF corruptly severed? If il be-
comes the practice to adopt children aban-
doned by either or both parents i'm institu-
| items such as ours, without calling such
parties to strict account before a tribunal,
| having due authority in such matters. IL
follows, as matter of course, that. in ef
| feet, such evil acts are, in measure, sup
| ported and encouraged; and not only are
| public expenditures being thus most unjust
| ly drawn upon but the essential ruk-s OF
morality and religion are openly violated.
| Whenever efforts are made to secure al
mission into any of the noble charitable in
Stitutions Of the District OF Columbia for a
child who has been abandoned and desert
| ed by one or both parents. immetl .at..
| investigation should be made, through the
police force, and such derelict parent be
called to account in such manner herein
| before pointed out, or by any process that
may be appropriate to stop such private
| and public cruelty. The result would be
| that, on careful reconsidera lion. the pledges
| that We're made on the union of hands and
| union of hearts may he more faithfully
| observed
| ~ hile there is necessity of having a
| place where a house of refuge can be found
1 homeless children ,..,,s
| should be given TO dismem5er family rela-
| tiCns.
| AT any rate, something should he done
| ana done Immediately, TO check the free
| dom with which fathers can abandon their
| homes and children and throw the latter
| upon the common charity into the pub
licIs,supported chiidren's homes. whic n
| conduct our present laws virtually sug-
| Sest TO unnatural fathers TO do since they
| see no objection raised 10 caring for ahan-
| doned children; the cause of their abandon
ment never being seriously considered a ha,
| cost.
| In Pennsylvania, June II, 1874 a Law,
was PISSED which contains, among other
| excellent provisions, the following:
| Any Person having th.. care custody or
| con'rol oil any minor cli!d. who shall will
| ltily abandon or neglect the same shall ha
| guilty of 4 misdcmeanor, and uron ronvic-
| ticn thereof, before any Justice OF tn
| Peace, IN ml;sistrate. or court of record shall
be lined by such Justice, magistrate. or
| court OF record, not less than SO nor NOR.
| than 81" for each ofense
| our neghhorinS state Maryland or
| March ~. 1876, enacted a law which Il
| followed 10y an act of Congress applical.I.
| to the District of Columbia. would meet an
emergency that not only APPLIES 10 Grim
| maj acts. but. as recently remarked ty
| Judge Miller of the Police Court involve,
| expenditures that should he aVo.,.el Th.
Maryland law, passed this year. provide.
that any person who shall. without ius,
cause. tcSeri or willfully aeelect to r.rol.;1,
tor the support and maintenance Of hi,
wife or minor child. shall h,, deemed suil;N
OF mi='lem@anor and uTon indiclrnant
and conviction in any court OF the stat.
having criminal Jurisdiction shall lie nrcs
rot more than Slop or be imprisoned in IN,
Maryland house of correction not exceed
ing one year, or both, in the diScre lion 81
the court.
| Most all other states have statutes Of :
| similar nature, and the undersigned VIII,
| has for many years been chairman of IN,
| committee Of admission and placement o
| tie Industrial Home. invites attention D
, | the committee on legislation t0 the impor
tance of similar laws applicable to thi
| lCcaiity'