New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-16
TIE "pLAciYG OFT" OF CHILDREN
OBJECTIONS TO THE PARSONS BILL AND
ARGUMENTS FOR THE CANTOR
SUBSTITUTE.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The Committee on the Judiciary Of the Sem
ate has two bills before II about the placing our
of children One OF these introduced by Mr. Par
son. (senate nil No 1897 emnnates from the State
Board Of Charities and gives that Board very great
and unusual powers Tho other bill tSenafe Dill
No Co., lately introduced by Mr.. Cantor emanates
from seven well-known and much-respected chasi-
table societies Of this city, and also grants ao'
ditional powers to tho State Board OF chariues'
but not so extensive by the hrst BILL The OBJECT
Of both bills Is to enable the State Board OF char'
tiles TO stop abuses connected with the placing
out" OF children by a certain individual IN the
Western part Of this State-a most mcrtorious oo'
ject and ono for which additional legislation seems
necessar;'.
Mr.. Cnntor's bill has been prepared and miro
duced as a substitute measure for that OF the STATE
Board md IN nv Judgment II q much better BILL
I sincerely hope II may become law Iherc u 10
opposition 10 Il except from the State Bcarh ""o'
perhaps not unnaturay desires larger powers anu
It gives the Board power to stop the specnc house
complained OF and all other abuses connected Win
the placing out Of children.
NV objection TO the State Board bill IL that u
gives the Board power 10 regulate IN every defan
the work OF ali societies engaged In placing ou'
children. through general rules and regulations OF
the Board Should these not be obeyed. the onence
Is made n misdemennor. punishable by nne OF
from $50 10 $3.50. This also apples 10 individuals
VINO place out" children
The question AT once arises. IL II best 10 destroy
the freedom Of action OF we,l-known charitable so
ceties OF this city and Of all over the state many
OF them with experience OF over quarter OF
century. and all OF them engaged In doing most
benehcent work for children? Each society - 90
ing it's work in different way, under rules ana
regulations OF rs own framed 10 meet It's especial
needs. Uniformity In the work OF all these societies
is not desirable nor for the bs', Interests % the
children. The 'fresh-air fund societies WISH 10
other societies like the chdren's Aid Society. the
Nursery and Childs Hospital and Others make
more permanent arransements. Some children are
boa o be no hars and s
rules about placing out Children FOR me aereSv
in aceopdance With the needs Of the individual child
Surely different conditions are required to care
p ep young eF and 1St those much older for feeble
minded and children who are sound IN mi Ion an"
o Te to sTs this rs s q
power 10 stop The placng-out work Of al :ccssi::
bill gives them but not power interfere with
the management OF those societies which are do
Next as regards limiting the freedom Of individ:
ua Hundreds OF o OF 81 re
existence Of State Board OF Charities. They sec
e a nd sick n Ans
tho child to family In the country personally
to TO s aGF
parents die and the little orphan must be cared for
ans pa s TEafa and Ph the child Is looked
| grown up and started In life. And then some one
| tells you that you mustn't do such things unless
you first get permission from an organization called
| the State Board OF Charities. and unless YOU
| do and do what they tell you. you may get into
! great deal OF trouble and have 70 pay mo or
$3.50"
Is this best? Are We TO reverse the traditions ~
| our country and adopt system or paternaHsm
which limits the freedom OF action TO such an ex-
tent that IT even strikes at the roots OF prvsa.SS
In public office every kind act their heart prompts
| them to do? Is there any danger that people VIII
spend their own money to tnjure a little child!
| This interference with individual bcneyoence 10.
| to my mind. reason enough to condemn the state
| Board bill. . ..
| The following named institutions: through ther
! representatives, unite In support OF the SUBSTITUTE
| bill: The New-York Juvenile Asylum, the New
| York Orphan Asylum. the Childrens Aid Society.
| the State Charities Aid Association. the American
Female Guardian Society and Home for the Friend.
| less the Brooklyn Chidren's Aid Society and the
Nursery and Chlds Hospital They feel that IN, IN,
power given the State Board by the parsons ptii
extensive that no discretion or control IN me
difficult questions which arise in placing out cnlI-
dren might be left to the societies or 10 the super.
intendents Of the poor other officials engaged IN
| this work II Is their opinion that rui?s and reg
| ulations however carefully worded. would ertainly
| hamper this important work OF placing orphan ano
dependent children In homes and therefore thas fne
bill in question is opposed to the best interests Of
| poor children. "
| NeW-YOrk March 10, 1888