Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-20
URGES SWEEPING
REFORMS IN CARE
OF POOR CHILDREN
Former President Fox, of Board,
Scores Red Tape Rules
That Hamper Work.
SAYS STATE FUND SHOULD
CARE FOR DEPENDENTS
Working Capital Greatest Need
In Reorganization of Project,
He Declares.
Especial to the Newark star


Especial to the Newark Star.l
TRENTON, Dec. 20.-Disorganfzation
OF the State Board of Children's Guar
dams because of the death during the
past year of Mrs. Emily E. Williamson,
and designations of President Hugh f.
Fox and other members has brought
about imperative necessity for com
plete reorganization of the work of this
board, according to the annual report
prepared for the incoming Legislature
by Mr.. Fox. Before Mr.. Fox stepped
out Of the work he prepared the pres
ent report, which is q review. of the
work of the board during the eleven
years of it's existence. The report
shows that in eleven years 2,7e1 chill
dren were cared for, having been
turned over to the board. The board
has discharged from it's custody 1,760
cases n there remain under its juris-
diction 1853 children. In the last year
there have been 1877 commitments made
at the direction Of the board for the
following causes: Desertion of parent
or parents, IS; unemployment Of
parent or parents, "a; imprisonment of
R6iCht Va poi OhtS - lOullulluSSp lU,
defective children, 4; defective parents.
IT; illness of parent or parents, 16;
orphans, 9.
The object of this board. was the re-
moval of children from almshouses, and
this work was started twenty years ago
by the State Charities Aid Association.
The Legislature finally passed a bill
providing for establishment of a board
- l<f~nf;x1L xI11t--.. 49,
children and their care. This latter
commission made a thorough investi
cation n planned for the establish
ment of county boards of children's
guardians. The Legislature received a
report of this nature, but considered it
too radical and did not provide for
carrying out the scheme. Mrs. Will
hanson and Mr.. Fox continued the in
v~estigations and then asked for the
establishment of the present State
Board Of Children's Guardians. An act
authorizing such a body was passed.
In his discussion of the work of the
board in It's career Mr.. Fox says:
"The limitations which the law Inn
poses upon the board, and the conse-
quent gaps in the States plan for
caring for its Juvenile dependents are
becoming more and more apparent.
Until a child has been declared a de-
pendent by virtue Of its commitment
TO an almshouse. which commitment
establishes its status as a public charge
upon the particular place In which 1t
has acquired a legal settlement. the
State Board Of Children's Guardians
has no Jurisdiction owe it.
eff there is any dispute or uncertain
J.. - - "a r~-- LA @xx.-
seer of the poor may refuse to commit.
for fear that his city or county be
thereby rendered liable for the support
Of the child. The question of a settle
ment in New Jersey is largely a matter
Of local Interpretation. In some places
a years residence Is accepted as the
basis upon which needy persons can
obtain public relief. In other places
the rule is fixed arbitrarily at two or
three years, while at least one poor
master insists that the law requires a
continuous residence of seven years be-
fore a person can be made a charge of
the community. If a child's parents
have been of a migratory nature, as
sometimes happens, all kinds of COM
plications come up" Mr.. Fox adds that
In a number of cases where there was
olGpuIC % W fNooA if'oso
charity has been resorted to.
"The State" he continues, "has as
sumed supervision and control of its
dependent children, but has cautiously
avoided any financial responsibility in
their care. Indeed, the establishment
of this board was undertaken by the
State in a most reluctant manner
Fortunately the plan has proved SO sue
cessful and so economical that 1t has
more than fulfilled the expectations of
its promoters, and has completely JUS
titled itself in the minds of the people,
but the board is still hampered by the
unfortunate financial system which was
necessarily adopted.
1.-THE time is now ripe for a reorgan-
ization which should involve acceptance
of c--lplete responsibility by the State
for the proper care of all its dependent
children. The separate communities
should continue to be held liable for the
cost of maintenance for children who
have settlement there, but the children
who have no legal settlement, or whose
settlement may be a matter of doubt
mr. dispute should be cared for, II .neces-
sary. out of State funds, and theif ac-
centance as wards of the State should
not he refused or delayed by technicali-
ties over the matter of their place OF
legal settlement. The acceptance of
this principle by the State would make
It possible for the board to establish a
general fund, and it would then rest
with the. Legislature to make its APP
preparation for the board in such a
n as to supply it with working
capital and put it on a sound financial
basis