Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22
PLEAD FOR.
YOUTHFUL
OFFENDERS
BOARD OF CORRECTIONS ASKS
BETTER LAWS
Judge Wilbur of Los Angeles Cites
Example of Burbank Justice,
Who Sent Little Boys
to Jail
By Associated Press.

! By Associated Press
! SAN FRANCISCO. March 21.-Re-
formatories, juvenile courts, parental
schools, probation officers and the
problems connected with the work OF
reforming, educating and training in
corrigibles and wayward boys and girls
were the subjects discussed at con-
ference of the state board of charities
and corrections held today at the san
Francisco detention home and juvenile
court building on Harrison street.
The conference was called for the
purpose of considering the juvenile
court and probation laws and the laws
governing the sending of children to
the. Whittier and Preston industrial
schools, with a view of drafting legis-
lation to codify these laws, eliminate
their Inconsistencies and contradic-
tions, make such changes as are neces-
sary to meet objections that have been
raised as the result of experience in
Juvenile court work and to make such
recommendations to the next legisla-
ture.
o. X. Cushing, president of the state
board of charities and corrections, pre-
sided, and the conference was particl-
rated in by superior judges, district
attorneys, probation officers and those
interest in the reformation of wayward
children from different parts of the
state.
Many Judges Present
Among those present We're: Judge
Murasky of the juvenile court of this
city; Judge Frank T. Oster of San Ber-
rardino; Judge Curtis d. Wilbur of Los
Angeles w. Gates, secretary of the
state board of charities; w. T. Randall
superintendent of the Preston indus
trial school: C. H. Dunton, trustee or
the same institution; J. P. Greedy, SUI
IA sferintendent of the Whittier school;
Col. George C. Edward of the state
university; Mrs. c. *. McClatchy oil
the Sacramento probation committee
James r. Pringle, prominent attorney
and member of local probation commit
tee: Christopher Reuss: and X. M;
Todd, probation officers of Oakland
and San Francisco, respectively, ana
numerous others.
The conference went on record as
favoring the passage of law provid-
ing for the appointment of one or more
probation officers in each county, TO De
laid by each county as part or the ma
chinery of each juvenile court, ana thaI
the appointment of such probation OF
fcers should not become matter OF
politics instead of natural iltness ior
such an important place, 1t was agreed
that they should be nominated by the
proba alton committee in each county.
subject to the approval OF the Juuse VI
the juvenile court.
This conclusion was arrived at after
a prolonged discussion and was favored
by every superior judge present. IN or
| der, as it was state, that politicians
might not demand of the judges the
appointment of persons as reward 1or
activity In politics. regardless of their
fitness and qualifications 10 properly
take charge of children.
incidentally, ii was brought out tnat
! this clause in the bill, passed by the
| last legislature, favored and urged with
| Cne or two exceptions by every su-
Irerior Judge in the state, was defeated
| "a committee by two men, Senators
! Frank w. LeaVitt of Alameda county,
! and e. [. Wolfe of San Francisco.
Those two senators fought the Dill
which was prepared by Judge SloSs'
now on the bench of the supreme court
until an amendment was accepted plac-
in,g the appointment of probation OF
fcer solely in the hands of the superior
Judges. The bill was then passed. but
dio not become a law because OF the
! failure of Governor Gillett to sign II.
Secretary Gates declared that only
enc Judge was opposed to the ldea Oh
! u probation committee having manu-
In the appointment of proper oftlcers
and that. that was "a judge in Alameda
county, whose name, however, he dlu
not give. Senator IL. G. Mccartney
or Los Angeles. who participated IN
the conference today, favored nomina-
ton of officers by probation committee
and expressed the opinion thdt no one
or two men would be able TO defeat
this bill when it came up before the
legislature again.
All the speakers laid much stress
upon the point that the taking charge
of delinquent children should be mat
ter of peculiar fitness and qualification
in the appointees and not matter OF
politics.
Judge Wilbur of Los Angeles spoke
strongly in favor of a law providing
that a child under II years of agt
cannot be sent to the penitentiary re-
eardless of the crime for WHICH 1t Is
convicted. At present, he stated, II
was a matter of discretion with th'
courts, who had the power to seno
children over years of age, convicted
Oh felonies, to the penitentiary. lie also
Cpposed the sending of children to tho
county iail and cited the instance OF
a Judge at Burbank in Los Angeles
county sending three small boys To tht
county Jail for jumping OH cars. inc
conference also went on record as Ia
voring raising the age of children tha'
come within the jurisdiction of the Ju-
vcnile courts from 16 TO is years OF
age, This was advocated by Judge
Muras sky.
Judge Oster of San Bernardino rec
. loI nj tho la