Evening star., 1901-04-20
GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN
PROCEEDINGS OF LOCAL BOARDS
APRIL MEETING.
Mr.. j. w. Douglass Appointed PrOba-
ttOn Agent Under New Law
Monthly Reports.

Monthly. Reports.
The April meeting of the board Of chill
dren's guardians was held Saturday the
18th instant, but ewing to the amount of
business to be transacted it was necessary
to hold an adjourned meeting Wednesday,
the 18th. President James B. T. Tupper,
Secretary 3. Pickman Mann, Mrs. J. w.
Babson, Mr.. John F. Cook and Mrs. Lucy
S. Doolittle We're present at both meet
ings and Mr. VIM j. Miller and Rabbi
Louis Stern at the former meeting. Mrs.
NJ l.. D. Macfarland and DIR. NJ. D. Peck
sent excuses for absence from the former
meeting and Rabbi Stern sent excuse for
absence from the latter meeting.
1he monthly report of the agents showed
that SIX children were committed perma-
nently to the guardianship of the board
during March, two because incorrigible,
Two because destitute of a suitable home.
one because abandoned and one because of
unit parents. The names of forty -four
children We're added to the temporary rolls,
forty of these by order of the courts.
ne large number of temporary commit
ments was due it was said, to the enact
Hent OF law, approved March 3, 1901 en-
utled An act to enlarge the powers of
the courts of the District of Columbia in
cases involving delinquent children. and
Tor other purposes by the terms Of which
the judges of the criminal and police
courts Of the District of Columbia are en-
powered, at their discretion, to commit to
the custody and care of the board of chill
dren's guardians children under seventeen
years or age who shall be convicted Of
petty crimes or misdemeanors which may
be punishable with fine Imprisonment.
The terms of the same law also continue
tne power or the courts to commit such
children to the reform school under laws
formerly in force, but the courts are for
pldden to commit child under seventeen
years OF age, charged with convicted of
a petty crime misdemeanor punishable
by f1ne or imprisonment, to Jail work
house or police station If, therefore, such
a child be unable to give bond or pay
fine, and be not considered by the court a
proper subject for the reform school, it
may be committed to the board of chill
drens guardians temporarily or perma-
nentiy, and the board Of children's guar
dlans shall make some suitable provision
for said child outside the inclosure of any
jan, Workhouse or police station, and shall
place 1t under contract in such a suitable
nome, institution or training school for the
care of children as it may deem wise and
proper.
For the purpose Of aiding the court in
a proper disposition of these children the
poard or ch1idren's guardians is authorized
ana directed to designate of it's en-
ployeS as probation officer, whose duty
snail be to make such investigation in
cases involving children under seventeen
years VI age as the court NAV direct. to
De present In court in order to represent
the interests of the child when the case is
heard, TO furnish the court such informa-
tloll ana assistance as the Judge may re-
qulre ana to take charge of any child be-
1ore and after trial as may be directed by
the court
Mr. Douglass Appointed.
The board has appointed Mr. John ".
Douglass, one OF it's agents, to be proba-
ton officer under this law OF the forty
temporary wards received from the courts
four We're discharged promptly because
Hnes were paid, sixteen were placed with
parents or relatives on probation, without
expense; thirteen were kept for brief
periods at the Children's Temporary Home,
two We're sent to the industrial school and
five We're sent to boarding homes. The four
under temporary care without order of the
court We're returned to friends.
Agent Douglass in his report on the pro-
baton work, now inaugurated in this Dis
trict, called attention to the successful
operation of the probation system in Chi
cago, Boston and New York. The primi-
tive system of incarcerating youthful first
offenders is regarded antiquated, as re-
pugnant to enlightened public sentiment
and as failing signally to accomplish the
professed object of preventing crime. mo
humane consideration for the future Of such
offender, and consequently for the future
of the community" it was said, "enters
into such a system. Once stamp youth
mendous moral effort. more than most
youths possess, is required to live it down.
What then, is a better SYSTEM
THE court having committed to the |
board or to the probation officer of the
board boys and girls who have violated
police regulations or United States statutes.
what shall be done with them? Enough
child caring institutions do not exist in the
District to meet the situation, and they
would be inadequate if they did If the
offenders have good homes and good pa
rental influences. place them on parole
therein at once, having the children and the
parents understand distinctly that the Of
Tenders are under the jurisdiction Of the
court. Visit them often In their homes, ad-
wise with the parents and counsel the chill
dren. Perhaps at the end of three
months close supervision the case might
be reported back to the court with such
recommendation as the record warrants.
If It is unqualifedly good, ask the court to
suspend sentence on the original charge in
definitely. Some children will not do well.
If, after all the corrective measures at their
homes are taken. child is still obdurate,
and not responsive to the efforts made in
his behalf present him to the court for
commitment to the reform school or to the
board of chldrens guardians permanently.
''Out of 1900 cases for a given time in
Chica go less than one in one hundred proved
to be incorrigble. Is not this system worth
a trial?'
From March II to April 1 sixteen young
offenders committed to the board tenn
porarily in default of a fine We're placed
in their homes on probation. Their parents
were consulted with and the homes Visited
at least once each week. One boy out of
the sixteen was later brought into court
and committed to the reform school for an
offense committed prior to that for which
he was committed temporarily to the board
and placed on probation. All the others
are doing well and striving to keep outside
the tolls of the law.
Report for Month of March.
During the month of March the Office
dealt with 10 children. The whole number
of permanent wards at the end of the
month was 7O6 of whom 11S were in insti-
tutions at board. III In boarding homes, ten
In free institutions, 419 in free homes and
forty-two at large or self-supporting. The
number of temporary wards maintained on