The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-19
COUNTY HOME.
Mr.. McDermott to Introduce
a Bill Relating to Pauper
Children.
INDUSTRIAL INSTRUCTION
Indenture and Almshouse to
Give Place to Solid
Teaching.

Senator NdoDermott will introduce in the
Senate today or to morrow, olH pro
viding for the erection OF lndustria
schools Tor pauper children IN countles
where the Boards of Freeholders nave
charge of paupers. This bill provides Iol
the education of the pauper, the acqulsl-
tion of lands for the erection OF pulloihss
remote from the quarters OF adult pau
pers, and the issuance; of bonds TO pro-
vide for the industrial training Oh sucn
children. The measure provides Tor the
instruction of these children in sucn use
ful knowledge as shall be adopted to thelr
age and capacity and also to cause them
to be instructed in some regular course
of labor, either mechanical, manufactur-
ing, agricultural or horticultural, or a
combination of these as shall be best suit
ed to their age and strength. The Boards
of Freeholders are empowered to provide
competent teachers in the various depart
ments.
1T shall be the duty of the Board OF
Freeholders," says the act, ito cause all
such children under their supervision to
receive religious instruction and training
in accord with the religious faith OF the
parents of such children. In case the
religious faith of the parents is unknown,
the instructions shall be such as the child
desires"
Another clause of the act says:-
I'm case any money paid into court shall
belong to any infant, insane person OF
idiot, said money shall be paid over by
such court to any guardian appointed to
take charge of such infants, insane per-
sons or idiots estate when it shall appear
to the court that such guardian has filed
a good and sufficient bond to cover SAID
amount with the Court or Surrogate ap-
pointing such guardian, or the money
NAV. by said court be ordered to be IN
vested by the clerk of the court for the
benefit of such infant, insane person or
idiot
IF any person shall have a mortgage,
lease. life estate, or any other less estate,
than fee in any lands taken,
said estate shall be appraised by the Com
missioners, or in case of an appeal, by
the jury. and deducted and paid out of the
amount assessed or awarded for the
whole fee.
Tie said Board of Freeholders of any
coraty. which provides for the industrial
training of pauper children, as herein pro-
vGed for. may and they are hereby au-
tbori-ed from year to year as soon as
requisite and whenever it shall be neces-
sarv for lnem SO to do, to provide the
necessary monies and funds requisite and
necessary and which may be needed to
fully carry out the purposes and object
of this act, and to support and maintain
the said Industrial school and for that
purpose, may appropriate such sums of
01a6 n q
for the same, by placing the same in the
taxlevy for any fiscal year.
The bill is the result of several years of
labor on the part of a number of promi-
nent Jersey City charity workers. The
measure has the support of City Collec-
tor Robert Davis, Samuel d. Dickinson
and the majority of Hudson's legislators.
Ex-Judge Robert Hudspeth is much in
terested in the subject, and has devoted
much of his time to its consideration. The
recently enacted State Guardian law,
which owes it's life to the efforts of Mrs.
Emily Williamson, is the real object OF
attack, as those responsible for this new
bill have repeatedly condemned many OIL
it's features, and have frequently stated
that they could see no redeeming features
in it. The clause affecting religion IS one
of it's most Objectionable features, and an
evil which should have been remedied
some time agao the workers say. If this
new measure should pass the power OF the
State Guardians will be curtailed and per-
haps taken from them. 1t is the opinion
of Judge Hudspeth that the State Guard
ian act may become dead if the new bill
becomes a law, and the many controver-
s:es between the various Boards of Free
holders and the State Guardians will be
heard of no more. The Board of Free
holders have questioned the authority of
the State Guardians to assume control OF
pauper children, and the matter is now
pending in the Supreme Court.
The care of the county's children is
subject that has received the attention
of the county's good Samaritans for
years. Repeated efforts have been made
to provide a County Industrial Home, at
which children of all nationalities and
sects may receive a proper training and
education to fit them for the later
struggles of life. The above bill covers
the subject in detail. Fathered by Sena-
tor MdDermott and backed by the stall
warts, of both political parties, the bill
should become a law, in the event OF
which a site in Gutenberg, on the Pali-
sades, overlooking the Hudson River, will
be purchased.