Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-18

-0HE year about to close has been
one of marvellous advancement
in the arts and sciences. In in
vonucIls OF vehicles to navigate
Land. water and air; in free hospitals.
children's homes, and numerous other
chsritable shelters for the. poor and
helpless. In no direction. however, has
This progress been more marked and
np,uIng tnan in the movements foT the
pS,tcrmcnt OF delinquent and uatortu-
nate boys and girls. In many states
OF the Union juvenile courts have made
wonderful progress and accomplished
untold good. and In our own state hun
dreis of families have cause Tor
thanksgiving for The help they have re-
cci,ed lhroush these institutions, IN the
reclalming and bringing DICK to the
family hearth many a hayward son ~
daughter.
THE JUVENILE COURT.
The juvenile court Is distinctly
modern production. evolved out OF
years and ages OF experience in the
handling OF so-called bad boys. and
has come down to us through much OPP
position and tribdlation, untll today,
backed by an overwhelming public
sentiment. and sustained by the high
est courts of all the states where IL
exists. il is an established factor i'll
the judicial fabric OF the most progress
sive and enlightened states IN Ame.1cG.
Utah has been no exception to lhs
rule in her cndeavor to establish chS-
dren's courts. for their supporters nave
been perplexed by writs of nandamus,
habeas corpus. and in various other
ways, by people who, through lack "i
understanding, have opposed the work.
lst ,I..ss IN ha a1s.1CQ cd
ut this, for a removal of children who
have committed infIactions OF the law.
from the criminal court with its pom
derouS and somber machinery, with Its
sheriffs, constables and policemen, aid
its lawyers with "enGless tongues, u
a quiet room presided over by kindly
probation officers, and taken into the
presence of judge who, sits with the
boys around a table and talks to them
lust as a father should. the controlling
Idea being everything for the good
or the child" No chains, no prison cell.
lut as far as possible a wholeSom",
lomelille atmosphere permeatlng ths
entire proceedings, with an effort to
lead, not drive, the delinquent back 70
the path OF duty and right. No need
of lawyers, no need of 1uries-a total
absence of criminal procedure-natuIal-
" makes the police court attorney long
10 get into the lease" and make a Stir.
and. incidentally, few dollars.
However, il is pleasing to say that
the large majority of the members of
the legal profession give the court their
most hearty support Our supreme
court, too, has sustained the law when
appealed To In n splendid and eXhaus-
tive decision, declaring the law COLI
stltutionaI. and giving some sound ad-
vice as well.
WHAT THE COURT IS.
The Juvenile court was first organ
lied in Utah in 1905. 1t was then
city affair, controlled by n commission
consisting of the mayor, chief of police
and superintendent of city schools. The
first Juvenile court judge was a man
full of zeal and love for the cause.
but not learned In the law. This las.
condition was unfortunate. for therc
was a new and unique system of jur;s-
prudence being established in the state
and 1t would seem that the emergency
called for considerable legal knowledge
10 enable the incumbent of the office to
properly interpret tho new law. And
however honest and energetic, however
good his intentions. he committed Il
number OF errors and unfortunate legal