The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22

JUVEN I[ECOURTS
ARE CONSIDERED
Prominent Men Interested in
Work Discuss Alleged
Defects in Law
Superior Judges Defend System
OF Committee Selection of
Probation Officers

The pronouncing as unconstitutional
the juvenile court law was one of the
reasons that brought together num-
neys. probation officers and others in
conference at the building of the juve-
nile court and detention home in Har-
rison street In an all day session yes
terday
1T has been pronounced unconstitu-
tionai for two reasons" said o. 4.
Cushing. president of the state board
of charities and corrections. who pre-
sided at the meeting. The first is, 1t
deprives the child of his right to trial
by jury, and the second is that it takes
the power of appointing a probation Of
ficer from the judge and places the
nomination of such officer In the hands
of committee. move that these
questions be open for discussion
Judge Wilbur of Los Angeles took
the stand that the courts relation to
an incorrigible child should be In loco
PARENTS and that therefore the ques-
tion of jury trial was one to be elimi-
mated The Idea of the juvenile court
law was to adopt, and therefore 1t be-
came dangerous to touch upon the
question of trial. The question of the
selection of probation officers by
nominating committee was then taken
up. On this point a battle was waged-
Judge Murasky OF the San Francisco
juvenile court said that the work OF
the committee had been most helpful
and encouraging to the juvenile court
work, and that as ii was composed OF
businessmen of experience and judg-
ment he considered that the best well
fare of the court charges called Tor the
retention of the committee.
Another reason that committee is
necessary" said Christopher Ruess,
probation officer of oakland, 'is that
were the power OF naming the proba-
ton officer left solely TO the Judge 1t
would become a political plum to be
sought after by politicians, and that is
the very thing we most desire 10
avoid"
1t was finally agreed that the pro-
baton officers should be nominated by
the probation committee in each coun-
ty subject to the approval of the judge
of the Juvenile court. Incidentally IT
was brought out that this clause In a
BILL which was passed by the last
legislature, favored by every superior
Judge in the state, was defeated in
COMMITTEES by two men. Senator Frank
w. Leavitt of Alameda county and E. l.
Wolfe of San Francisco. These two
senators fought the bill until an
amendment was adopted placing the
appointment of probation officers sole
ly in the hands of superior judges.
After this, the bill passed, but was
pocket vetoed by Governor Gillett.
Judge Murasky favored the raising
of the age of children who come
within the jurisdiction of the juv emile
courts from 16 to Is years. 1t was
stated that a committee of the Califor-
MIA federation of women's clubs was
actively engaged in endeavoring to
raise the age majority of girls from
IS to 21.
A lively discussion was had over the
two schools of Whittier and Pre- ston.
in which Superintendent Ranoall and
Greeley were unanimous in declaring
that the institut' ons were pr marlly
schools for the education Of these sent
there Our system deals largely with
the training of q lad to take his Place
in the world well equipped for some
trade said Superintendent Randall OF
Whittier. I'm many respects we are
ahead of the public schools, whose
course in study has created much un-
favorable comment
The apprentice system was strongly
advocated by Charles A. Dunton. mem
Der of the board of trustees of the
Preston school, who said that one of
the crying needs was that the state
should provide proper employment for
those boys who. dismissed from reform
schools at 16. find themselves thrust on
the world without a friend and without
means. Hence the need of proba-
ton officer" he said. These boys
should be looked after and the state
should do it,
A round of applause followed the
statement by superintendent Randall
that the time was at hand when the
congregate system of taking care of