The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-29
DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
tio,s the Chief Purpose Of the state
IL Thwaraed.
NaSntTlgt0n Post.

Washing t0a EgS4.
people do nos understand fae ampof-
,ams,a ~ the suhleet OF esepeaaeut cai.-
tar~u~ said Mr. William ]. Nichols, scf-
Rotary OF the Brooklyn Board OF snars-
ties who has gwen 1--WE years I'D the SKI
vice OF public charities.
III Is obvious that the first and CHEZ
purpose cf The state or constantly II
dealing with such children should ne 10
find coed homes for Them in private fam
files This ~ for the benefit OF the de-
pendent child Itself. Almost any hoFne
that IL not vicious In It's snfusner is bet
ter Tor the child than the very best OF
pubic institutions. Ii is also for the ben
eft of the public. which has u right 10
relieve itself OF the burden Of the child
support as soon aS il can Da done without
injury to the child.
In the State OF New York there are
more than 3J,oo children supported by
the pubic. at a cost OF more than
& 40 0so a year. The state Will be forced
10 support them unieas they are Of age.
at n to.as cost OF many millions possibly
between S20.ev1 90 and $so.uel.fsa. Not oflly
IL the number increasing but also the
percentage. In 1877 there were i6.tso and
In 1876 ;here were 600 They doubled In
less than twenty years. The policy has
become more positive OF keeping the chill
dren in pubic or sectar.an institutions
until they are OF age. out of 1900 in
q,
for Lac. while out OF 900 in 1880, such
homes were found for 1900. In other
words one cut Of every iaa was adopted
In isss and only one oat OF every is IN
iss&. There are parents who readily give
up their children 10 the church. under
tie law which sends "a child 10 a secta-
risn Institution representing the religion
of its parents. The children mostly re-
rnaia here until they are of age at cost
10 the public OF ESQ week usually.
ssThs reason is obvious enough. said
former members of the Wisconsin Board
or charities. while the public pays, COM
monty. $50 a week TO the seetdrIan IN
stitutioa for the support of each depend
eat child. the actual cost 10 the insti;u-
ton IS very much less than that. So the
seefarian school thus cares for the reli-
gioas training OF the children and
makes Il nice proat out of IL. No wonder
the managers are not disposed ~ lind
homes in private families for the chill
dren, but keep them until they are Of
age Undtr the law In most states, Z
child once committed to a seetarisu In
s;itution. and ahou, this the courts have
little or no discretion, i can not be taken
away without the consent Of the mana
gers.
An Wisconsin we have state school
for dependent children. Its object is TO
provide a home for the child only until
a good home can be found for IL In a
private family. This is doap as soon as
ssossib.e. The child II kept under the eve
Of state agents. who report periodically
as 10 its care, But we. aisc handi
capped by the law whsh makes Il nee
essary 10 have the consent of the ms ut-
gers Of seeiarian institution before q
child can b. taken away frosn &c aud put
into private home II New York where
there IS 10 state school. Il serals 10 be
nobodv's particular business 20 find
nomes fer dependent children, - the
state is burdeued with others than those
committed TO the seeiarian institutions.
Considering the eNtravagance Of the sup
port OF the chronic insane and other
wards the people If that state might
well try 10 get rid Of the cost az keeping
many OF the dependent children. espe-
csal.y as the welfare Of the children re-
aulres IL. The Indifference IF the pubic to
this whole subject il surprising"