Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-03
FOR BANK ANNEX
Judge Cieland of Chicago Plans
to lncuIcate Thrift Among
Wards.
PASSBOOK GOES WITH PAROLE
Union Trust Company Will Give Five
Dollar Nest Egg With Each
Promise to Reform.

A savings bank annex" to the
branch of the municipal court In Chi
cago presided over by Judge Cle!and
was announced recently by the Judge
as an additional means of reform held
out to unfortunates who come before
him, says the Chicago Tribune. The
plan is the result of conferences which
Judge Cleland has held with officers
Of the Union Trust company.
Arrangements have been completed
whereby any person paroled by the
court will have started for him Il saw
ings account with the bank of the
trust company with gift of s. from
the bank to start the account. The
gift carries with ii the condition that
the person 10 whom it applies will not
violate the parole and will deposit to
his own account at least 81 each
month. The amount deposited may
not he withdrawn until the end of the
year
The measure has been worked out by
Judge Cleland and F. l.. Wilk, vice
president of the bank. The plan is in
tended TO encourage thrift and econ
omy and to check the neglect of fami-
lies by the men usually brought before
the courts on the charge of drunken
ness. 1t is development out of Judge
Cleland's present plan of paroling the
men to responsible persons in the
neighborhood. Semimonthly reports
are made to the judge.
~
| the paroled person IS that he will stay
/ away from drink for the period of
year and Is not sent to the bridewell
in that time
Judge Cleland says a majority of
the persons to whom it IS intended the
| new feature shall apply are far from
| prudent in the use of money.
They spend every cent they make"
| said he, whether it is 81 a day or So
If there IS any money left after family
necessities are paid for it is spent in
drink And in number of cases the
| money is spent before the necessities
| are paid for"
Many Are Reformed.
| Judge Cleland said that a large num-
Der of the men paroled by him are now
living respectable lives. He says that
instead of spending their money for
| drink they are saving it for other pur-
poses and have a certain amount for
use for luXuries. He believes. how
ever, that they should devote Il share
Of their earnings to a savings account.
when | parole a prisoner" con
tinued the judge. Il intend to give him
a certificate of identification which he
is to present at the bank. The deposit
of s. IS then placed to his credit, but
the deposit Is not TO be drawn out I'M
til the end of the year. If the condi-
lions of the parole have not been vio-
lated at that time l give the depositor
another certificate, which entities him
to the money
The depositor will not have to lose
any time in going downtown to make
his deposit, as the bank is open Mon
day and Saturday nights. 1t would be
more convenient If some bank on the
west side near the Maxwell police sta
ton would agree to a similar arrange
ment, and l am negotiating now with
that end in view.
Il intend to regulate the amount
which they are to deposit each month
by the wages each is able to earn. In
this way l will not work any hardship
on any of them. l think they should
save at least per cent of their earn.
ings."