Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-04
FOR COMPULSORY SUPPORT
EFFECT OF LAW LATELY ENACTED
BY CONGRESS-
InvestiGation OF the Alleged Failure
of Man to Provide for His
Family.

Agent Douglass of the board of children's
guardians is engaged in the investigation
of case involving the charge OF failure
of the head of family to support his wife
and children. Should the facts show that
the man is really refusing to support his
family he will be reported to the Police
Court under the recent act Of Congress.
The agent of the board will investigate all
such complaints now that law TO prose-
cute delinQuents is in operation. Such a
law. Agent Douglass says. has been sadly
needed in this city for many years and he
is fully satisfied that much good viii be
accomplished by its enforcement. Many
cases of non-support have come to his
knowledge during the past few years, but
because of the absence of an effective law
he was powerless to render assistance.
The law under which such prosecutions
may be instituted provides that ANY per-
son within the District of Columbia. of
sufficient financial ability, who shall refuse
or neglect to provide for any child under
the age Of fourteen years, of which he or
she shall be the parent or guardian, such
food, clothing and shelter will prevent
the suffering and secure the safety of
such child, shall be deeemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be subject to punishment by fine Of
not more than 800. or by Imprisonment in
the werkhouse of the District Of Columbia
70: not more than three months, or both
such fine and Imprisonment"
Compulsory support of Children.
Under another section of the act provi-
sion is made to compel the support of chill
dren who are committed to the care of the
board of children's guardians under the act
of 1892 This section says that when the
evidence tends to show that such child has
father or a mother, either of whom Is
able to contribute to the support of SUCH
nsf 1ay b,-r safh nt~ inc
property or having az income consisting
of wages or salary due for personal services
or labor or otherwise, but fails or neglects
so to do, then the proper prosecuting OF
ficer shall file in the Police Court of the
District of Columbia an information charE-
ing said father or mother, or both, with
such failure or neglect, and upon conyfc-
ton thereof the said court shall REQUIRE
the father or the mother Of such child, or
both such father and mother, to contribute
by stated payments, to be made to said
board of chiidren's guardians, toward the
support of such child such sum or sums,
mont iy weekly or otherwise, as in the
judgment of said court either or bo-h such
father and mother should and may be able
to pay; and the courts aforesaid may at
any time hear and determine any peliIlon
for an order for contribution toward MAIN
tenance of any child who has heretofore
been or who may hereafter be committed
to the guardianship of the board of chill
drens guardians, or for modifying or sus-
previously made.
Further provision is made that ANY per-
son against whom an order for contribu-
ton toward maintenance may have been
made who shall refuse neglect to make
such pavments as ordered shall be deemed
guilty of contempt, and upon conviction
thereof shall be sentenced to suffer i'm
prisonment in the workhouse of the Dis
trict of Columbia for not less than three
months nor more than one year, and such
Imprisonment shall not exempt such per-
son from additional Imprisonment for fur
Their neglect or refusal to make contribu-
ton
1t is stipulated however, that "if, after
such conviction, any such parent shall ap-
pear before the court before which such
conviction shall have taken place and shall
show to the satisfaction of the court that
the amount due under such order, up to
the time of conviction, has been paid and,
further, with good and sufficient surety,
to be approved by said court, shall enter
into bond to the United States in the penal
sum of $500, conditioned that he will there
after pay such sums as may have been
ordered or that may thereafter be ordered
to be paid by said court until such order
shall be revoked, the said court may sus
pend sentence therein during the contin-
uance Of such bond
All moneys paid under the provisions Of
the law are to be transferred to the dis
bursting officer Of the board of children's
qua rdianS