Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-06
JUVENILE COURT LAW
BOARD OF CHARITIES ASKS DECI-
SION OF CONTROLLER.
Effect on Contracts With Certain
Child-Caring INSTITUTIONAL
Source Of Embarrassment.

Acting under instructions of the board,
George 8. Wilson. secretary to the board
OF charities, In a formal letter to the
Commissioners today requested that de-
cision be obtained from the controller of
the treasury as to what extent If at all,
certain provision in the new Juvenile
Court law will affect the appropriations
in the District of Columbia appropriation
bill authorizing contracts with certain
child-caring institutions, and whether the
appropriations were subject to and de-
pendent upon compliance with that law.
The section of the Juvenile Court law in
question is quoted in the letter, as fol-
lows:
No person under seventeen years OF
age shall hereafter be placed in any in
stftution supported wholly in part at
the public expense until the fact of de-
nnquency or dependency has been first
aScertained and declared by the said
Juvenile Court
Secretary Wilson specifies the institu-
lions and the amounts payable to them
under contract with the board Of chart
ties, as authorized by the appropriation
bill: National Association for the Relief
of Destitute Colored Women and Chill
dren, $4,000: Washington Hospital for
Foundlings, $1,000; st. AIMS, Infant Asy
zoo; Florence Crittenton Hope and Help
Mission 1900.
Apparent Conflict of Laws
In calling attention to the apparent con-
flict between the Juvenile Court law and
the appropriation bill, Secretary Wilson
stated the case of the board of charities in
the following language:
Appropriations in Identical terms have
been made heretofore and under these APP
propriations. contracts have been made
Wit, ba pf oho hat
payment be made to the institutions named,
at a specified rate. for the care and main
tenance of such children as were admitted
upon the written authorization of the board
of charities. Children thus admitted never
were taken before any court and the ques-
ton of dependency was passed upon by the
board of charities after due inquiry by its
own agents. The community or its repre-
sentative. did not assume permanent guard
ianship over such children, nor were they
sent to these institutions for any definite
time but during the discretion of the board
of charities. Frequently their detention in
institutions has been for short periods only,
during the temporary distress of the par
ents and their inability to furnish a suit
able home. They have not been such cases
as have usually been brought before the
courts and guardianship vested in some
public authority 1t would probably be a
source of embarrassment to these institu-
lions II the cases of all children had to be
submitted to the court for determination.
The decision of the controller is also
asked on similar question concerning pay
ments from the appropriation of $500 for
maintenance of the Working Boys Home
and Childrens Aid Association. Secretary
Wilson states that the $500 Is only In
considerable portion of the amount neces-
sary to maintain the institution. the bal
ance being secured from sources other than
the appropriation. He asks, II the institu-
ton receives the $780, must all children
under seventeen of age admitted to
it be declared dependent by the Juvenile
Court