The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-06
WHISPERING TO BROKEN FAMILIES
Work of the N. Y. Domestic Relations Contributing Wife Desertion Unsafe Pitiable Tales of Aban- doned Wives.
James P. Heaton. .a Caruioo The SnrUeu

James P. Heaton.
 Exclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau.)
 Is there a little row in a family in your neEghborhood? It would be, of course, impolitic to ask if there is a tiny rift in your own marital flute. The answer in New York, Chicago and Washington is not a trip to Reno but trip to the Domestic Relations Court even though the time for arbitration seems long past.
 The New York Domestic Relations Court which was established fifteen months ago has taken it's place as an accepted permanent institution of the metropolis of the Empire State. This which in scope differs somewhat even from that of the similar courts in Chi cago and Washington. In New York there are two of these courts of con- ciliation, one for the boroughs of Man haitian and the Bronx and one in Brooklyn.
 The Domestic Relations Court is pri- maIt y poor mans court. The judges are chosen for their tact, patience and understanding of the frailties of men and women. They try to settle every case that comes before them without recourse to formal legal action.
 But perhap ps it should be said that the Domestic Relations Court is the poor woman's tribunal for almost al- ways the complai inants are women or the agents of charitable societies inter ested in deserted or otherwise wrong ed women and children. This is be- cause men are not usually financially dependent upon their wives and even if deserted they are seldom exposed to such hardships as women. Then, too, the court cannot grant divorces. It simply smooths over difficulties, pun es separation if that seems to be for the best. In such cases 1t decides how much the man must give weekly for his wife and children.
 When a woman comes to this court the judge listens to her story and if the who,e matter is not trivial and he believes that there is need for off1cT al action on his part he issues a sum- present on a certain day. If he will not come willingly a warrant is made out for his arrest. At the trial the woman is put on the witness stand grievances without interruption. Then the magistrate questions her kindly to bring out all the pertinent facts if the corporation counsel is not there is questioned in the same way.
 If the case is hagrant the man may be sentenced to the work house for six months. Many women urge this a man to pTf son in New York does not furnish his wife and children with bread, butter and money for an in- patient landlord. For this reason many social workers urge that the state pay a prisoner for the work he does and that then the money due him be given to his family.
 More often the court decrees that a man earning nine or ten dollars a week must tive three and half or four for the benefit of his family. The husband is paroled. either to one of the proba tiOn officers of the court or to the Department of Charities through which the sum which the judge orders is to be given to the family is paid.
 The judges waste no time. are not commonly deceived by plays for sym pathy and often phrase their decisions in a fatherly kind of blowing up'' that is usually not without effort. Oc- casionalIy judge forgets himself little. @An under-sized defendant came in who earned $S a week and wouldn't pay anything to support his children, although he had siened an agreement so. Asked if he could not live on five dollars a week and give three to his children he shrugged h's shoulders. sp-. parently uninterested in the question. to that father saving Get out of here and pay that money regu arly or will tend to you. You've got to SUD- port your children-you've simply got to, and I'll see that you do, foo.'' whereupon the defendant lost his non- chalant attitude and departed impress ed with the fact that the court was in earnest.
 
 ish women are hard to handle for of ten the wife was deserted in Europe. A man living in Warsaw emigrates to this country to win his fortune Ow- ing to lack Of money he leaves his wife behind until he can send for her. After two or three letters she loses a1l trace of him. Finally she follows him to New York only to discover sore times that he has married again. The O'd World wife has of course the first claim uuon the man and vet the sec- ond wife, if she married him in good faith, makes it impossible to render equal justice to all and her innocent children suffer. Next to the Jews. the Italians and Slavs provide most cases in the Domestic Relations Court though the negro colonies for their size furnish a great many
 GTsua'ly the people who come for the heIp Of the court if abandoned would become public charges so the state to protect itself from this financial hur- den provides counsel for complainants. In New York failure to support a wife is a misderneanor, the maximum pen workhouse. The Domestic Relations Court by specia 'iz'ng on this subject is expected to lead to reforms that will make for a more conplete and The court itself to-day is a boon. Any woman can go to it, te'l the clerk her troubles and in a few minutes if there is any case at T, TGneaL neG story ITOIn the WlIHSSS chair All the proceedings against recreant husbands are without cost 70 the complainants. Formerly the most effective recourse onen to women if wronged was an appeal to the Su- prerne Court for a divorce or separa- tio1 decree hut this new tribunal gives relief in cases where the cd remedies were imnossiHle for financial and oth- CT reasons without long and expensive de1ays nv forcing husbands to sup port their families.
 The New York court by specializing upon the arraienment of persons de- scrihed as disorderly. all persons con1- neIled by law to support poor rela- ives and all persons charged with 1 aban donment or non-support, is able | To keen un with it's docket. The fa ct l that the two courts are worked 10 the | Init indicates that there is need in arge communities for agencies to | bring husbands and wives together | who nften are about to Separate owing l 70 trif7ing diff culties. That we have l not adop+ed sooner and more widely | such a system of courts similar in | r,f