The Lamar register., 1903-03-18
Governor Signs Delinquency Bills.

Governor Peabody has approved what
have been known in the legislature as
''the delinquency bills" five in number,
which were suggested by County Judge
Lindsey as necessary to make a prac-
tical test of his ideas of reforming
Juveniles with tendencies to crime. All
the bills were introduced by Senator
F. w. Bailey. and were freely dis
cussed by the members of the general
assembly but encountered no opposi-
tion at any stage.
Bill No. IS defines in law "delin-
quent child" 1t shall be under 16
years of age who violates the law of
the state, or any city or village Or
with thieves. vicious or immoral per-
sons. or who is incorrigible. or who
is growing up in idleness or crime. Or
who visits gambling resorts. saloons.
or immoral resorts, or who wanders
about the streets in the night time
without being engaged in any lawful
business, or who uses vulgar or OBJ
scene language. Arraignments Of per-
sons under this law shall be in the
county court only. Discretion is left
with the court to deal with such de-
PENDANTS as prudence and regard for
their future welfare may dictate
Power is given the court to commit to
any of the juvenile corrective institu-
tions IL it be considered imperatively
necessary.
Bill No. 10 makes 1t misdemeanor
for any person having the custody of
delinquent child to contribute to
such delinquency. Punishment possi-
BILE for guardians who encourage de-
linquency is fixed at $1,000 fine and
not to exceed one year in the county
jail. This law also makes 1t possible
for the county court to force parents
or guardians to care for children.
Bill No. 20 fixes fees of the courts
trying delinquent children cases. and
fees of the prosecuting officers also.
Bill No. 81 amends the general stat
ute governing juries and jury trials
SO minors may waive the right Of trial
by jury, and on the other hand gives
the presiding judge the power to call
a jury in such cases despite the fact
that jury trial may have been
waived.
Bill No. 90 compels parents or guar
dians to send children between the
ages of 8 and 16 years to private. pa
rochial or public schools for the entire
school year unless children shall
have by the time they have
reached IA years graduated from the
eighth grade. and unless it shall be
shown that such child is being in
structed in common school branches
at home. A clause is included giving
the court the right to excuse child
from school attendance where it shall
be shown that its services are required
to maintain sick and INDECENT parents
and when no objection is found to its
social environments.
The Hpucp cOm rnitfea on onproprio-
tions and expenditures and the Senate
committee on finance, ways and means
are still wrestling with the problems
| presented by the many demands for
| appropriations for all purposes. About
week ago the two committees had
drawn up a sort of agreement on ex-
penditures that would, the members
thought. settle all controversies. But
| within a day or two several bills went
through carrying appropriations and
upsetting the whole programme that
had been mapped out Chairman
Breckenridge of the House committee
made a protest in the open house
against SO many appropriation bills
getting through without having
| been submitted to his committee. He
was not asking, he said, that the bills
| be referred there because his commit
| tee contained all the financial knowl-
edge and financial ability of the House,
but because it was impossible to figure
the appropriations within the limits of
the income unless some one commit
| tee was given all the money bills.
The two committees hope to be able
to make full reports within few days
The appropriations for all state insti-
tutions will be as liberal. members
say, as the probable income will ad-
nit Other matters must give way
to the institutions that are in absolute
need. The committee will recommend
an appropriation for the worlds fair
at ST. Louis. but may have to scale
down the amount asked for, which ts
| conn ono