The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-03
Juvenile Probation Law.

with its attached prONlSio'i
for the appointment of pro-
baton officers to look after
children found guilty Of misdemehn-
ors will 60 "A long way towards saving
rr ildrcn from becoming professional
criminals. 1t is II step in advance
greater than can be measured for the
defense of the whole social fabric. Rut
in one important particular IT Is lacN-
ing. 1t provides for probation officers,
to be appointed bv tho court but IL
makes no provision for their payment.
At Philadelphia the women to whose
urrcsting work at Harrisburg is due
the introduction of the law ana us
massage have already begun tho col
lecting of funds to place probation
officer in each one of the eighteen
districts into which that city IS di-
vided. TO make the laws administra-
tion the success it should be such pro-
vision must he made for probation
officers in each and every judicial dis
trct of the state.
On Wednesday evening last in the
rooms Of the famous New Century
club of Philadelphia a pub;:c meet
ing was called ana held for the double
,urpose Of furthcring this necessary
action to make the law thoroughly opcr-
atiNc, aad of hearing the probation
features explained. with clear setting
forth of the great good accomplished
by such laws in Massachusetts and
Illinois. the two states that have taken
the lead in onaCting such legislation
for children and in proving its value.
This meeting WAS fittinglv held in
the rooms Of the woman's club, whose
board of managers betrayed all ex-
renses of drawing up the bill and its
IRE "ntation to the legislature, ana
was presided over by the woman most
actively instrumental! in securing its
passage. the chairman of the clubs
committee on industrial problems.
Among the speakers was Miss Clark,
one of C'hicago's probation officers un-
der the Juvenile court law, who told
of the success of the law since it's
passage two years ago giving specific
instances Of some of the children whom
Rev. Charles Wood who gave lln-
stinted praise to the legislature for
passing the law, then dwelt upon the
necessity that the execution of the
measure should now command the at
tenton of the entire community. Tho
law will be worse than useless if rem
dered imperative. This one cannot do
its appointed work for the saving of
delinquent children who have broken
law, nor contribute to the welfare of
the community without III" appoint
ment and support Of the probation
officers authorized called for by the
law.
There is as great Il need for The FUN
operation of the new law in Scranton
as in Philadelphia or any other por-
tion of the state, What an organized
body of women in Philadelphia set it.
self TO do in collecting the funds for
payment of probation officers of the
juvenile courts appointing it is need
fu that some body of citizens asso-
Ciated together shall set itself to do
in Scranton, and at once. The super
intendents of the Society for Organic
ing Charity and of the ilome Mis-
sionary society of Philadelphia attend
ed Wednesday evenings meeting to-
ilcdgc officially the cO-operation OF
these societies with the movement To
make the administration of the law a
success. The Associated Charities of
Scianton whose agent has, under its
supervision and with the co-operation
of the city authorities, done for some
years good work in the matter of
saving children from l:ves of crime.
may b. depended upon tn do all it can
in cooperation with the new court
and the administrators Of the law.
when appointed. Hut what Scranton
body already orsdnizad will set itself
10 the business the New Century club
of Philadelphia has nos lost Il day i'm
h"glnnlnS-the raising of funds 10
make the law operative in the Judi
cial districts over which the courts
IL this city preside? TTme should not
b" thrown away in getting at sucn II
movement. Who will also bring from
Boston or Chicago some person COM
petent to give Ia mass meeting here
full explanation and illustration of the
working of such laws in the states of
Massachusetts and Illinois?