Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-16

matters relating to dependent children
Mr.. Ahearn says that in 1897. when a
troduced and urged bills bearing upon
this subject
The letter was presented to the Presi-
dent by Bernard Downing. secretary Of
the borough of New York.
The, President told Mr. Downing that
he was in hearty agreement with Mr..
Ahearn's views. The letter follows:
Il believe that there is no sadder sight,
certain 1t is that l never have witnessed
anything sadder, than q mother whose
only crime was her poverty being pun
ished by separation from her children, ex-
cepfing perhaps the spectacle of the un-
fortunate children themselves in the same
| hour of distress and friendiessness. This
punishment means we'll the separation
of the children from one another. never
perhaps to be reunited on earth, or, in ig
norance Of their kinship. the result of that
separation in childhood, to be reunited in
.eStuouSly
The law which these bills intended to
enact meant that thereafter and after d
most rigid investigation in each case by
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children or such other society Or
agency as might be agreed upon Il held
no brief or commission for any of them
and was without all prejudice in the
matteD the dependent child be comm. :
ted, instead of to the custody OF the in
stitution, as was then and now l.e
law, to the custody of it's own mother.
under The same provisions, conditions and
restrictions as applied to the institution
to which otherwise 1t would have been
committed, such motherhood commitment
to be rtvocahle on the withdrawal of ne
approval of the investigating and super
yiS,ng society.
My bill passed both houses of the
New York legislature, but 1t was not ac-
cepted by the then mayor of the city of
New York on the protest and objection
chiefly of those who represented insti
tutions whose financial condition would
have been affected unfavorably by it's
enactment
institutional rearing of children de-
pendent but not delinquent is not only
not the hest, but at its best can be only
negatively good, and it is doubtful if in
especially in such cases where there are
more than one child in a dependent fam
lily.
mo institution-reared child can have the
same opportunity as the child bred and
reared in the atmosphere and amid the
surroundings Of the home. 1t lacks initia-
tive. and Independence. 1t must remain.
excepting in extraordinarily exceptional
instances, backward, and too often finds
it's way into a penal institution, the out
come of conditions and circumstances
which, because of lack of an even
chance in early life, 1t was unable to
control or combat.
A Visitor From Africa.
]. w. Honey. director of customs for
the Transvaal colony of South Africa
was introduced to the President today
by John G. Capers. commissioner of in
ternal revenue. Mr.. Honey Is in this
country for the purpose of studying the
revenue laws and methods of collection
from the different sources of revenue.
He has visited Germany France and
other countries on this subject. He was
cordially received by the President and
expressed great pleasure at meeting the
American chief executive. He predicts
that Mr.. Roosevelt will have great well
como in Africa.
Other Callers Of the Day.
Senator du Pont of Delaware was with
the President today Repres4 ntative Bur
ton of the same state was also caller.
So was Judge George Gray of Delaware.
Senator du Pont said that the three called
separately and not on the same business
Edward A. Mose1y, secretary Of the
interstate commerce commission, intro
dUced Capt. PentecoSt of the Cunard
liner Saxonia and his bride.
Senators Flint and Smoot were White
House callers today.
State Senator Armstrong of the Connec-
being in conference with him some time.
He said the conference concerned Con-
necticut affairs.
President Will Welcome Fleet.
President Roosevelt will not 20 to a
George Washington celebration at Buff
falo February %. as has been reported.
He has an engagement to go down to
Hampton roads at that time to review
the battleship fleet now on it's way back
to America from its tour around the
world