New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-27


dr.lrg the winters That IS the sort Of
thing that must he guarded against IN
every kind Of relief work.
This association stands for keeping
the home together wherever that Is pos
able. II doesn't believe in breaking the
home Up and separating mothers and
children when poverty Is the only reason
hOf course when the mother IS an un-
AZ guardian that Is another question
But if she IL morally III, II would be just
as cheap for the state and far better
for the children 70 help the mother sup
port them IN her own home. And 1t
shouldn't be regarded as charity.
Thousands Bearded Out.
Under the present system thousands II
haIf-orphans are boarded out in families
by the city Of New York, and we some
times have this absurd anomaly. wom-
ans children being boarded in another
worans house, while she IS receiving
money FROM tho city for boarding stu
another woman's children.
"Of course. this doesn't often happen.
hut II docs happen. Wouldn't II DO letter
90 pension this mother and let her have
her own children? Wouldn't shc cost the
stutg Jess?
"Ther, will always be institutions; no
one need fear that We shall ever he with
out them. There VIII always be whole
orphans and the children Of the morally
unfit. for whom group care is the only
way. But let US keep mother and chill
dren together when we can"
John A. Klngsbury is general agent OF
the Association for Improving the Condi-
ton OF the Poor. Mrs. Ingram said she
was sure he would approve Z pension
system with proper safeguards. ". +.
Capes. of the association, feared IT would
he mpossjble 10 avoid graft IN such a
system. but Mrs. Ingram pointed out
that II would be pretty difficult TO Una
,.omau not q soldiers widow VINO was In
receipt Of a pension as such.
1t is possible for the government 10
avoid graft, and It Is possible for the
Government 10 conduct thorough invest-
cations" she said.
Francis II. Mclean, secretary OF the
National Association for Organizing Char
ities. said 1t would not do for him to line
up for or against pensions, but he did not
think it fair TO say that organized charity
WAS against the scheme Of helping moth
ars that way, because different charities
held different opinions on the subject
Where 'there Is q feeling against pen
sioning mothers by the state, he SAID
at is generally on the ground that snch
q system could not exercise discrimina-
tion.
Gases Needing Relief.
Now. there are many shades Of cases
needing relief. There IS the mother who
could not go out Of her home 10 work
and who needs a sum adequate TO hei
childrens support there is tho, mother
who is better off going out and doing
some work and receiving some AID ther2
are many other varieties. Privat" chari-
ties can Investigate weigh and estimate
these various needs.
Government systems are not elastic.
4 soldiers widow, for instance, IS pen
stoned according TO the number OF chill
Jren she has. The system IL absolute.
Mr.. Mclean said he thought govern
mont pensioning less democratic than pri-
yate charity.
"a good many people think Tn" other
wav." lie observed. Put woman pen
stoned by the state because she was desu'
tute would be branded as destitute II
would he 80 much more public than aiu
by private charity a
"Of course. organized charity Is against
the pensionlng Of mothers" said Henry
Brnere. co-director with William II. Al
len. Of the Bureau OF Municipal Research.
81, mould ,ne.t things as they are
Mr. Bruere is heartily in favor OF the
pension plan lie will sail next Tuesday
for England and Germany TO look into
the systems those countries have adopted
Tor giving government aid.
81 would have it so,' he said, that
wOman-say woman whose husband
earned 81 or $l5 week-could prepare
for childbirth. provide against the ex-
penses Of that time, by paying perhaps
ten or fifteen or twenty cents a week.
The city could as we'll afford 10 help out
IN such a system as II can To support
which IL does-thousands Of women In
hospitals during the period Of confine-
ment.
The city is boarding out many thou-
sands of half-orphaned children-doing
ii through charitable organizations at
cost Of 50 % a child
Why not pay this 10 the motheFs'
where they are ~ guardians. and pre-
serve the principle OF the home