The Detroit times., 1912-12-14
CHICAGO JUDGE
PRAISES PLAN
TO aid MOTHERS
Says Compensation Law Gives
General Satisfaction in
Illinois City
CHIEF OBJECT Is
TO CONSERVE HOME
Similar Measure To BE Pushed
in Michigan Legislature
by Rep. Flowers

mo one has ever attacked the
theory OF u mothers compensation
law said Merritt ". PInc&ney. Judge
Of the juvenile court OF Chicago. and
administrator IN Cook county OF the
illinois funds for parents act"
speaking in the Church OF Our Father
FRIDAY night, under the auspices or
The Political and Civic league.
The possibility OF its proper admin
.stration alone has been doubted. 1
have been concerned with The opera
lion of such law "a months, and
have vet TO hear the first complaint
against our disbursement OF funds II
IL can be put into effect SO successful.
ly In Chicago. with It's two and halr
Millions or population. il surely is
practicable in any other part OF the
country"
Judge Pinckney gave history or
The care OF dependent children II,
illinois since 1918. telling OF the
orphan asylums, the home.foundlng
societies. the industrial homes and
manual training schols. and, finally,
he present funds tor parents arr
hat permits the support OF the child
n It's own home.
Mother love- said the Judge, 'is
he most important thing in the
child's life. our chief aim has been
conserve the home, while we honor
motherhood and protect the chl'd.
When children were taken from
widowed mother and put In different
Institutions, what became of herr
The pltiable object OF a states In
gratitude, she was thrown into an an
familiar world, weakened mentally
end morally and disorganized emotion
ally by the ruthless tearing out of the
tenderest ties OF her life. Could she
scape the insiduous paths that end
Il the brothel and the mad house?
That Is the question that first aroused
my interest In this movement. Il
presents an overdrawn picture. you
say? 1 tell you her situation cannot
be exaggerated"
The Illinois law is only q 12-l.ne
amendment OF the Juvenile court law.
passed In 1899, but, according 10
indge Pinckney. it is for its length
md simplicity the most far-reachihg
If statutes.
1T Is unique" he said, lin thar
acre is no restraint whatever on the
amount the judge may set aside for
no support OF a family. and in tina:
here are only three definitely speci-
. led conditions he must find before
making such an order. These are
hat the parents are unable TO support
he child. that otherwise they are its
IL guardians, and that ii is best loi
he child TO remain in its home.
I'VE are satisfied with the spirit
md general tenor of the law at pres
mt, but want some amendments as
soon as we can get them"
Some OF the changes suggested by
him are, that any property right de
bar persons from receiving help thar
l2plicants must have twoyear's rest
ience; that the relief be limited To
gidows and the wives OF men physical
y or mentally incapacitated for work
Who have children under working age:
definition OF what constitut es ut
GUARDIAN that the court have tn ;
ight to appoint investigators from
he Juvenile court force 10 help con-
luct the work, and a fine for making
false application
Judge Pinckney gave figures TO
how that 1t costs to support children
IL home only about half what 1t does
when they are placed in institutions.
AT present, in Chicago. 5l2 families,
nclLding 1913 children. are being
,ven assistance averaging a little
more than 81 per child one month
Rep. Charles Flowers, who IL to
lraft the proposed Michigan law.
made a short talk on the chances and
means OF getting 1t passed, and Judge
Ienry s. Hubert, OF the Wayne com
v Juvenile court, who presided over
he meeting added his testimony to
many Of the things said by Judge
'inCkney.
Mrs. Ruby NJ Zahn. president
he Political and Civic league, who
With Mrs. Emma H. Black. was in
.ansing, Thursday, in the interests OF
he proposed measure, reported its en-
husiastic reception at conference
here.
Mrs. II. II. Ashbaugh, OF the TWEEN
eth Century club. also made a short
ddress, pledging the hearty support
n the state federation OF women
Tubs. which she represented.