Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-20
STATE HOUSE,
Willis B. Hall, Caribou,
Favors Juvenile Court.
State Departments Are Now
Moving Into New Quarters.
Illinois Water Co. Votes 10 De.
crease Capital Stock.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR,
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Friday, Dec. 80, at 10 A. M.

The unfortunate class of children
IN our institutions and asylums is
growing in greater ratio than the
population, indicating that we are do
ing our duty in taking care of the
product of an i'll condition, but are not
doing all that should be done to
ameliorate that condition. declared
Willis 3. Hall of Caribou, chairman of
the special Legislative , committee
charged with investigating the meth
DDS of handling delinquent children in
Maine, while on Il visit TO the enlarged
State House. The other members of
the legislative committee are Hon. W.
II. Looncy of Portland and Hon. Lewis
\. Burlcigh of Augusta.
There is no doubt but that a juvc-
nile court would save the State more
than its cost, within a comparatively
few months" said Mr.. Hall. 1T is too
bad that We have to talk the financial
phase Of the matter hut it is evident
that VIC must. In support of that
statement as TO cost, take the expert
crce of the Denver, Col, juvenile court,
for instance. There, $50 boy cases in
IS months saved the state OF Colorado,
over what it would have cost under
the old system, q sum exceeding $685.
600.
"The present method Of dealing with
the juvenile offender in Maine isnt fair
for instance child under 81 in
Maine hasn't any civil liberty. He is
treated just as an adult, made to give
bonds, just as an adult.
THE great objection always raised
against the juvenile court is the ten
der proposition. the separation of the
child from it's parents or guardian in
the matter of custody. The great
principle underlying procedure in the
premises was laid down as early as
i11S4. in England. and the principal
case which has come down to us as
leading authority is tho case of Wei
lesley versus Wellesley in 1928. in
which the lord chancellor. in an
elaborate opinion held that it was I'M
doubtedy the spirit of the law that the
Crown was the ultimate parent of al
children and when the parents by ma
turc had forfeited their right OF con-
troll and when conditions at home
would make for the undOing Of the
child. the Crown, through the lord
chancellor, would take the child into
it's custody and protection. The theory
is that the child is the ward Of tn"
state, to be cared Tor by it and rot an
enemy of the state. to be punished by
it. And this theory has been SuS-
tanned in all Of the supreme courts in
this country where the question has
been raised. The object of this COM
mittee OF the legislature is TO present
a bill which provides a proper tTlHuna'
II, which this great power OF the State
shall be vested ana wisely exercised
Mr.. Hall further stated that the COM
mittee finds a greatly increased inter-
est in the problem and is receiving
valuable aid from interested parties.
\ great deal OF work has already been
performed and there is much Stiii to
be done before the report is made 10
the legislature, yet the committee Is
confident that something Will b" ac-
complshcd this year.