The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-10-07

J this state was the Work OF The luii
tieth general assembly and became
operative July 4, 1904.
1t is the purpose of this law to pro.
vide for the care and treatment OF
dependent, neglected and delinquent
children under the age OF sixteen
years, and it's object, as therein de-
clared, is that the custody and dis
cipline of such children shall approx
innate as nearly as may be that which
should be given them by their parents,
and in all cases where it can be done
that such children shall be placed In
family home and become members
CT the family by adoption or otherwise.
1t was the intent of the legislature
that every child who needs the aid.
protection and guidance of the court
should come within the provisions OF
the act; and with this end in view 1t
provided that the word dependent
children" or neglected children as
therein used should mean any child
who for any reason, is destitute, home
less or abandoned or dependent upon
the public for support; or who mas
not proper parental care or guardian
ship; or who habitually begs or re-
ceiyes aims; or who is found living in
any improper resort or with vicious
or immoral persons: or whose home
by reason of neglect, cruelty or de-
pravity on the part of it's parents or
guardians or other persons In whose
custody it may be, is an unfit place
found begging or giving any enter
tainments upon the streets for pecun-
larry gain for itself or others; or who
accompanies or is used in aid of per-
sons so doing; or who by reason of its
vicious, base or corrupt surroundings
is, in the opinion of the court, within
the spirit of the act.
The words delinquent children in
; clude any child who violates any law
of this state or any city or village
ordinance, or who is incorrigible; OF
who knowingly associates with
thieves, vicious or immoral persons :,
CIR that is growing UP in idleness and
: crime; or who knowingly freauents
immoral resorts; or who patronizes
any policy shop or place where any
a ed: or who habitually wanders about
any railroad yard or tracks, gets upon
1 any moving trains or enters any car
or engine without lawful aut.-ority
One of the wise and humane pro
S visions of the original law is that
J. which provides that no child under
d the age OF sixteen years shall be com
IL mitted to Jail or police station, but
5. that it may be kept in some suitable
5. place provided by the city or count,
a outside the enclosure of any Jail OF
d police station. Strange as it may
r seem it is the most beneficial rroyis
u ion of the statute that has caused
more trouble in its enforcement thar
any other. 1t was believed by the leg
Z. islature that such a place would BIZ
promptly provided by the city or coun
. ty, but in this it was in e-rcr. In De.
Moines no such place was provided
and 1t became apparent that none
:, would be provided in the absence o
~ legislative action. For the want o
y such a place he success of the Law
. failure; its repeal was advocatca
y and it was frequently If not general,
condemned. In this situation it wal
apparent that one of two courses mus
=. be pursued, either the law must b,
IS SO amended as to remedy thesa de
- fects, or it must be repealed TIL,
u friends of the juvenile court law in
le sisted upon its amendment and tha
W an amendatory provision be incor
lg porated for the establishment of
c. detention home.
s. The City Federation of Women
70 clubs and its committee, the Lonversa
le tional club, in cooperation with tn
D. Iowa Congress of Mothers. took up tn
work with the result that the legis
II lature in 1907 by an amendment prc
IL vided that "In any county of thi
al state having population of NOR
20 than $4,000 1t shall be the duty of tn
n board of supervisors to provide an
I'd maintain separate, apart and outsid
Id OF the enclosure of any Jail or polio
ar station, suitable detention home an
ir school for tho dependent, neglecte
Up and delinquent children
1s The legislature has now net onl
81 removed this defect, but it also re
es moved the next greatest barrier t
is the successful enforcement of tn
At law. The original act provided tim
III the court should have authority to al
e. point or designate one or more dis
RS Greet persons of good character I
or- serve as probation officers d-rinr IN
Is. pleasure of the court, provided sue
u- service was without compensatit,
St from the public treasury. This pix
I'd vision, perhaps, is all right in .o,p
localities, but experience has demo,
ed strated that the system and organic;
er ton which is necessary In this wor
nd IN the large cities cannot be hr
lie, where reliance is placed solely upo
voluntary workers. To relieve tbi
ditfculty the legislature added tn TN
original provision tho follow;no. ap