The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-02
THE CARE or CHILDREN.


 THE CARE or CHILDREN.
 It is debatable question whether the movement to enlarge the author ity of the city government over the children of the city is a wisely con ceived one. The purpose of the vari- ous womans organizations, which are interested in the movement, Is not to be doubted moment They are seeking the betterment of the children but whether they are seeking 1t in a manner to best carry out that pur- pose Is the question at Issue. In other words. 1t would appear that eXper- fence has abundantly demonstrated that that child Is best controlled and brought up which is subjected to re- straining influences at home and kept far from the joint restraining innu- ence of home and local government "A division of the responsibility in- volved rarely works well. It pos sesses too many of the enervating in- fiuences of paternalsm in govern ment.
 We have here in the city of New Haven a curfew ordinance, which for bids children under certain age to be on the streets of the city after stated hour at night. It Is conceived in a generous spirit and has for its purpose the protection of children of tender age, who might otherwise he lured into mischief then temptation and finally error. In other words the city government undertakes to do what 1t is clear every parent is under the most sacred obligations to do and what for the government to effective ly do would require patrol force twice, if not three times as large as 1t now has and can afford to pay for Tn the case of New Haven's curfew law, the mere act of dividing with the parent the responsibility of bringing up the child subject to its provisions has weakened the power of the parent, on the one hand and, on the other, placed upon the govern ment burden which 1t is neither able to carry out nor fitted to dis charge. Altogether too many parents In city the size of New Haven arc quick to take selfish advantage of this virtual promise of the government tC bear their duties for them. Thli weakening of the parental responsi bilty is more serious than appears or the surface and In time Is calculat ed to destroy 1t altogether Alont with this weakening of the parenta responsibility and instinct goes tn utter Inability of the government t redeem it's mistaken pledge To-da the curfew law, which Is possible per haps of enforcement in a small town is suspended law in this cit through the inability of the patrol { enforce 1t effectively. At best 1t is al instrument to which an appeal ma be made In an emergency. In tn meantime the youngsters subject to it provisions are being given an impress sive object lesson in the futility of tn law to perform it's assumed functions
 The board of aldermen have [ present under consideration anothe proposed ordinance further extendin the protecting arm of the local gov ernment over the children of the eli of specified ages and business InClint tions, It has the support of man excellent women and men, represen ing excellent organizations, wit whose motives we have not the slgh est quarrel. The proposed ordlnant provides that no boy under ten girl under sixteen shall perform sue work as shoe backing, selling new papers, doing messenger work, ct More than that the proposed ord nance declares that no boy und, fourteen may act In any one of thos capacities without license issued 1 the probation officer, The badl which goes with the license is to renewed each year and to be change in color. These little licensed pe dlers are not to ply their trade aft 9 at night or before D in the mornin The objections which hold again the curfew law hold against this pr posed law. It divides with the pare the responsibility for the training al control of the child Whether ch dren should be permitted by the parents to labor in any one of { ways mentioned will be found up the examination of the facts to q pend upon the point of view, It W found in the city of Hartford Whe