The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-07-08
Illinois Dependents.

Illinois Dependents.
Complete state care and supervis-
ION Of dependent normal children,
implying the abolition Of the sixty
or more private institutions now
scattered over Illinois, to care for
this. class, is advocated strongly in
the second annual report of the
state Charities Commission, now in
the printers hands.
The Commission says this Is plea
for the natural rights of the normal
child who has been left dependent
through the death or abandonment
Of Its parents.
The Commission Is opposed to or
phans' asylums. "A home and home
iife ia what the child is entitled to.
He is a state ward by law and the
state should do its duty by him and
not leave II to some one else to do.
The report on the subject opens
rs follows:
The state has assumed complete
care Oft
tsss,s Ths blind child. Sel. 4.
s7.hs deaf child s5
"The delinquent child
.itiiisa'sThS fesble-msnded child. 4iia
I "
THE soldiers orphan.
THE dependent child found in the
almshouse.
For each of these classes the
state has established .institations
on an elaborate scale TO teach and
instruct and. among the delinquent.
also to reform.
There remains outside the pale
the dependent. child who Is normal
and has not been, perhaps we might
say. fortunate enough to get into
the poor house.
Why this child should have been
left out of consideration has never
\ been explained. His care and train
ing the state has left to the tender
mercies OF loosely iointed, irrespon-
sible. and inadequately supervised
private organizations, with wide
variety OF motives and peculiarities.
This Commission is of the opin-
ion that the day has come when the
state should perform it's plain duty
10 this class by providing for them
care, training and education In
state schools until such time arrives
when they may be placed in homes
which efficient and adequate inspec-
ton haa demonstrated to be adapted
to the character and the physical
condition Of the individual.
THE chartering and certification
OF the so-called private institutions,
either to train or to place out de-
dendent children. should cease, and
the complete responsibility for them
assumed by the state
IT has long been realized that the
dependent child in Illinois has been
the victim OF state neglect and i'm
poverished private ibenevolenee.
The baby farm has been motor
ious; 1t has been uncovered many
times In many places. trafficking In
the life and destiny of abandoned
infants. tt -
FThe child finding and placing In
stitution. organized and conducted
fora profit. has existed to the shame
and disgrace of Illinois"
A9Others have been exact copies
of old Suueers Dotheboys' hall.
THE dependent child who falls
into the possession OF the c~unty
farm Is often, even there, much
better off than the dependent child
wandering in the city or town: fol
the state goes to the country farm
removes the normal dependent to q
state institution and there gives him
all the advantages of education
training and home environment
watches over his daily conduct ant
requires record each day Of hi
every action e3t
IF The private institution Is t.
continue to perform the function Ii
society for which it was designed
then there must be more drasti
laws for the protection Of the chill,
vithins The State Board Of Admin
istraticn must be provided witt
more power than 1t now possesse
aud lths Juvenile Court must b
strengthened materially. These in
stitutions must come up to high