Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-22
WELFARE OF CHILDREN
MEETING UNDER AUSPICES OF
LOYAL WOMEN.
Appeal. for Maynard Youth Made by
Mrs. Schoff of Phila-
delphia.

Members of the clergy and of organiza-
lions interested in the welfare of youth,
representatives of the District government
and members of the Congress of the
United States. together with a host or
mothers and fathers of the city, gathered
last evening in the Washington Public
Library upon the occasion of meeting,
under the auspices of the Legion of Loyal
Women, In connection with the campaign
for childhood" which is being waged In the
verious cities. The feature of the meeting
was the discussion upon the bill pending in
Congress which provides for the creation of
A Juvenile court in the District of Column
bia. Many other phases of the movement
for the care of delinquent and dependent
children were also discOursed upon.
Although the attendance was not as large
as was desired the assemblage was rep
resentative one and the promoters OF the
campaign are much encouraged at the sue
cess that has thus far crowned their ef-
forts. The addresses of the various speakers
were interesting and were loudly applaud
ed. The principal address of the occasion
was delivered by Mrs. Frederick Schon or
PHILADELPHIA president of the national
congress of mothers and chairman or the
Juvenile court committee of the New Cen
fury Club, who occupied seat on .he ros-
trum with Commissioner Mcfarland, MRS.
Julia G.. Burnett, chairman of the commit
tee of the good of the order OF the Legion
> of Loyal Women. and Mr.. b. H. Warner
The latter presided.
The remarks of Mrs Schoff were in the
nature of suggestions to the local promoters
of the campaign. She made an eloquent
appeal for the Maynard youth and pointed
out methods by which crime among chill
dren might be effectively abolished to
large extent. Mrs. Schoff said the move
ment is one that should attract the atten-
stion and aid of every clergyman, the
churches in general, every woman and pub
liC-spirited citizen
She gave hearty approval to the bill in
Congress for a juvenile court Such legiS-
lation, she said, would tighten the burden
of the unfortunate orphaned children, and
children worse off. Speaking directly to
the ladies in the audience, Mrs. Schofr
urged them to learn the condition of
neglected child and make an effort to bet
ter its condition, with a feeling that 1t IS
an individual responsibility.
: Punishment of Youthful Offenders.
The punishment of youthful offenders was
discussed at length by Mrs. Schoff She
said the idea of administering punishment
by the e-honored custom of an eye for
an eye and an ear for an ear, in the cases
of children, prevailed no longer. 1t is nee
essary, she said, to pursue tender methods.
She denounced the practice of placing
youthful offenders in institutions with
perative that separate courts be estab-
lished. She advocated the self-sustenance
of penal institutions for hardened criminals.
Mr.. A A. Birney, former United States
attorney for the District. who in the per-
Torrance of his duties of that office made
a study of the criminals coming under his
observation, made an interesting address
! He said that more than so per cent of the
desperate criminals of the present day are
young men who have just entered man.
hood. He asked as to the cause of such
condition of affairs, and replied to his in
quiry by stating that 1t is due to environ
ment in part, but largely to educa ton by
association with older criminals
Mr. BrnCy said he had conducted tests
upon young men in connection with mis- for
mer duties as district attorney. When a
young man appeared before him for his first
ofense, Mr.. Birney said, he learned the cir
cumstances of the violation of the law, and,
if II was ir the least excusable he would
enter nOlle PROSE-. after reprimanding the
prisoner and explaining that the nolle
PROSE- was merely suspension of sentence.
Mr.. Birney said there were few instances
when the same young men came into court
second time. The speaker declared that
legislation, however, is greatly needed for
the protection of society by the prevention
OF crime. He made a point of the susie
nance of hardened criminals by taxpayers.
Commissioner mcfarland reviewed the
work thus far accomplished in the District.
He said:
The Commissioners have presented to
Congress bill providing for a separate
Juvenile court to pass upon all cases of de-
linquent or dependent children, after eX-
aminlng the laws elsewhere and in the
. light of the knowledge and experience of
those most interested here, which has their
support and we hope will have the support
of all the best public opinion. We conf
IDENTIFY hope that our friends in Congress,
always so considerable of our interests and
80 ready to respond to right appeals, will
pass this bill before the next session ends.
: BY the courtesy of the Police Court Judges,
in response to a request of the Commits
siOnerS. Juvenile offenders have been tried
separa tely at afternoon sessions for the
! past two years, but this is but a makeshift,
and q better and permanent arrangement
should be made. We have had for more
than two years house of detention, where
boys and girls and women first offenders
are kept. pending trial, instead of at the
station house. and a special wagon, In
which they are carried, in place of the ones
used for other Offenders.
THE board of children's guardians has
an honorable record of more than dozen
years of admirable work i'll the care of de-
linQuent and dependent children, having
! now about thousand permanent wards,
/ about $40 OF them placed in private homes,
where they get home treatment, under the
supervision of the agents of the board. For
three years. under act of Congress, this
board. through probation officer. has In
vestigated children's cases for the courts,
and supervised those placed on probation
as the result of such Investigations. The
knowledge and advice of this board was of
great value In preparing the juvenile court
, bill which rounds out the system. When
that bill is enacted it will be a model sys-
tenn"
promised his aid as did Judge Charles F.
Scott. Mr.. John w. Douglass of the board
of children's guardians made the closing
address, in which he reviewed the work of