The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-01
HUDSPETH'S NEW BILL.
It Provides for the Es-
tablishment Of Indus
trial Schools.

Senator-elect Robert s. Hudspeth and
Counsellor John Griffin of the Board of
F'reeholders have drawn up a bill which
Senator Hudspeth will introduce in the
Senate this winter 1t provides for the
establishment of industrial schools for the
pauper children of this county. The bill
was framed through the instrumentality
of Mrs. Mary Hudspeth-B Benson and Miss
McCartin, who have been laboring indus
triously for many years to provide good
homes and education for the homeless
waits.
The bill was to have been introduced
by former Senator McDermott last spring,
but owing to- the rush of business that
devolved upon the legislators during the
closing days the measure was overlook
ed. The trainers of this bill have over
looked nothing that will better the con-
dition of the young county charges. 1t
provides for the erection of separate
buildings for boys and girls and for the
trades they are to be taught that will fit
them for the many Hard battles of life.
The Senator will make an earnest fight
to have the measure passed and signed
by the Governor If it should become a
law the State Board of Guardians goes by
the board.
Mrs. HudspethIBenson and Miss Nc
Cartin have condemned the operation of
this board time and time again. The
former in speaking of the new bill and
the question of securing industrial schools
said that this was the only hope for the
little ones.
Miss McCartin and I were at Snake
Hill a few days ago." said Mrs. Hudspeth-
Benson. 1--WE found one hundred and sew
enty-five children in the almshouse. This
proves conclusively that the system en-
ployed by Mrs. Williamson and her as
sistants is positive failure. I know of
dozens of children who have been taken
away, indentured, and sent or brought
back numerous times. This shows lack
of care in providing homes for them.
The question of religion is an important
lone and in many instances the sole factor.
I'VE are of the opinion that the estab-
Hshment of industrial homes is the only
practical remedy for the present existing
| evil. I do hope that the bill will be
passed. This will be crowning success
for us and an incalculable benefit to the
poor children who are deprived of all lifes
pleasures. These schools will fit them for
the world and make of them good men
and women"
Mrs. Hudspeth-Benson said that at pres
/ ent the Board of Freeholders did the in
denturing, but the Board of Guardians
found the homes for the little ones.
| If the bill mentioned above is success
fully passed the present controversy be
| tween the Board of Guardians and the
Freeholders will end. Some time ago the
/ Freeholders took decided stand against
the Board of Guardians and the methods
employed in placing children in various
homes. The Board of Guardians pre-
| ferred to wait until the recently elected
Board of F'reeholders went into power
before beginning an attempt to secure the
rights conferred upon them by the bill
creating the board. How the present
| Board of Freeholders will look upon the
matter is yet a question. In all proba-
bility the nine members will stand by the
decision of Counsellor Griffin and uphold
the old Boards actions. 1t is also quite
| likely that the Board of Guardians will
| erldeavor to prove that their powers are
constitutional. If such an effort is begun
! the Board of Freeholders, through its
counsel, will also try to prove the bill
unconstitutional. Should Senator Hud-
speth's bill be passed in the meantime
| the fight will have to be dropped.