The Dolores star., 1903-03-20
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-
ton at any stage.
Bill No. IS defines in law "delin-
quent child" 1t shall be under I6
years of age who violates the law of
the state, or any city or village or
dinance, or who knowingly associates
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. Arrangements 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 II it be considered imperatiyely
necessary.
Bill No. 10 makes it a misdemeanor
Tor any pereon having the custody of
a delinquent child to contribute to
such delinquenc.-. Punishment posi-
Bile for guardians who encourage de-
linquency is fixed at $1,000 fine and
not to exceed one year in the county
1all. This law also makes it possible
Tor 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. % compels parents or guar
dians to send children between the
ages of 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 1t shall be
shown that such child is being in
structed in common school branches
at home. clause is included giving
the court the right to excuse a child
from school attendance where it shall
be shown that it's services are required
to maintain sick and INDECENT parents
| and when no objection is found to its
social environments
The House committee on appropria-
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 sort of agreement on ex-
penditures that would, the members
thought. settle all controversies. But
within 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 hous-
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 commits
tee contained all the financial knowl-
edge and financial ability of the House.
but because 1t 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 fnsti-
tutions will be as liberal, members
say, as the probable income will ad-
init. 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 u
| 4200, 100.