Tombstone epitaph., 1907-01-27
In Advocacy of
 EHicacious Laws
TOMBSTONE, Jan. 23, 1907.

| ED lOABsTONE ThosfESIOh'
 After waiting for a considerabl
 time for an answer to my letter t' Judge Philips of the probate court O Msricops county, without result, l an reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the learned gentleman desires hii interview published in Phoenix pa per and copied thence by the Bisbee Daily Review in the issue of the l6th instant to take the place Of the cour- tesy usual between gentlemen.
 It seems to agitate Judge Philips considerably that should, along with advocating an incrrase of the duties and usefulness of the probate courts of counties Of the class of Msricops and Cechise, a raise of salary for the judges and clerks of such courts. And it may be that Judge Philips has reached the limit of his capability. However, my limited experience of human affairs teaches me that in either public or public life, the servant who can make his services of most value to his em- ployer is usually gladly rewarded by salary at least compensatory of the work done, and it is generally com mended in the servant if he shows a disposition to merit greater reward.
 The judge says that he does not think that Msricopa county can sf- ford to pay him more salary than he is getting. That may be true, but Cochise does not and has not for years past paid out one cent for the running of her probate court. The earnings of the office have been sufficient to pay all expenses. I note, however, that the learned judge states that Eff an effort is made to raise salaries that he will make no effort to lobby for the passage of the bill" That is not a statement that he would refuse sn increase should be granted.
 Now, few words as the matter of a juvenile court. As l stated in my letter to Judge Philips, large portion of the cases which would come under the jurisdiction of that court come from the rapidly growing and busy cities of Bisbee and Douglas. Each of said cities has large floating pop ulation, 8 considerable percentage of which is bound to be somewhat indif- ferent to the bringing up of children. I have abundant testimony from men prominent in the affairs of the cities of this county. from the clergy, teach- CTS and peace officers that a system of probation and parole, properly and judicieusly used, would he of great as- sistance in caring for boys and girls who lack proper care and government at home, but who might, through watchfulness and care by the author ities grow up into good citizens. Few children are naturally bad. Irdolence. indifference and indulgence on the part of parents are, with evil associa- tions the main causes of mischief and crime in children. A juvenile court could have almost as good effect on the parents of such children as upon the children themselves. And surely that is "a consumation devoutly to be wished" Even my learned friend from Maricops recognized this fact when hs says "but few cases of incor- risibility have come under my obser. vation in which the parents are Dot to blame" The fact that we nave ai industrial school and s- s-penitentiar, are certainly arguments that all pa rents do not perform their full dut, toward their children, because were al children properly reared there woul'
 be no necessity for either of the abov
 named institutions. l can recall fou
 cases of boys who were ceased iron
 the industrial school tat Benson, an
 not one of them has been recommit
 ted, but in each case they have de veloped habits of cleanliness, indus
 dustry and irugality. 1t might b at the beginning there would be fe additional commitments, but wit proper regulation outside the scho'
 the number would gradually decreas nd if we can reduce the numb' of bad and vicious children ' will have done the state . seryi' g reducing the number of children vi might grow up criminals. I am
 the firm belief tbst by . judicious sy II tenn of probation and parole ws cou 'i keep many cases such as are now col IT fined at the industrial school ct hor
 with their parents. Surely Jud