New-York tribune., 1896-09-30
TO INTERPRET THE LAW
PAYMENT FOR DESTITUTE CHrI.nrrv IA,
QUESTION
OF LITTLE ONES

WITH THE COMMITMENT
OF LITTLE ONES
Proceedings are soon to be begun In the su. I
preme Court to determine the official acts neces
sary under the law to be performed by the Char.
tiles Commissioners In connection with the COM
mtment OF children to the various institutions
maintained for that purpose The county has
been paying S35OGU year for the support OF
such children in the various institutions. and
the auditor has refused to audit certain bills
of the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
Children unless the Charities Commissioners
first certify 10 the propriety Of the commitments
In accordance with a special act relating to
Kings County.
4 The law of the State generally gives the power
70 magistrates to commit children to institutions
If they their parents are drunken or destitute.
or if their mother does violence to them. The
special law which is 70 be In question in the pro-
sposed proceedings relates to Kings County par
ticularly and provides that the Commissioners
Of Charities must approve the commitment OF all
children to the various institutions for their care.
certifying that the children are proper county
charges Children have been committed regu-
larIy by city magistrates for years. but the
| Charities Commissioners have never given this
certi1cation.
The purpose OF the special act was 10 ESTABLISH
in each case whether the county or the state
should properly take charge Of the infant. The
county has been paying S3JO.v0 for the support
Of children in various institutions. averaging s9'
wear for each child. or between - and ~ cents
a day each. 1t is asserted that In the past on
i account Of these indiscrmnate commitme ts.
the county has been compelled 10 pay mucn
money for the support OF children who should
hoo
the auditor refuses to audit any more OF the oiiis
of tho institutions unless the commitments bear
tho certificates of the Charities Commissioners:
Therefore the Society for the freNsh..on oi
Cruelty 10 Children is anxious 10 o oeteIlI'ne
whether ii is always necessary ior 'he .h.
| eionars to certify commitments 1t Is SAID tnat
SlJOOuO year will be saved 10 the county w
the enforcement of the law 1,,.
4 part Of the duty Of the Charities CofnHiis-
sioners as laid down in the special act Is closey
to investigate the financial circumstance VI
| the parents or guardians Of the chidreh Will ,
it is sought to commit IN order 10 a. nav or
| whether or not they are In a position 10 oay VI
partly 10 pay for the support OF ne ,'hllu' en II,
The case in which an tttempt WIZ oe ma, ma
| TO test the law is that Of John t1nneean, '"si's
wears old who lived with MS foliei ioi q
| feu, davs AZ No 12O State-st. The ri"tncr pe-
| came sick and went TO the Charities Coilnlis- ms
! sioners asking to be sent TO hospltdi; one
! was told that her case would De mEesusa.eu
! and she would learn what would be done WIN
| her in a week In the mean time, ho"cVe,' NJ
! landlord threatened to dispossess her' anu si.e
went TO the Society for the Prevention OF
| Cruelty to Children with her boy. the society
| took the boy temporarily and the mother ais-
| appeared Investigation has shown thdt tne
HOY has grandparents living on farm IN CON
| necticut who are not at all destitute ana MS
mother admitted before she disappeared NAT @ sne
| had been in the city only rev days. ms
| case will be brought before the supreme NuuIe
| ON mandamus proceedings to compel the auditor
| to pay the bill for his maintenance ana SUPER
| intendent Wkn of the Society WEI ippea,
! for the petitioner. The question OF the s2eciai
act will be brought to the attention OF Tue
| Court and passed upon.