Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-25
To Present
a Bill for
Pensions

Sometime early in the coming ses.
sion of the Oregon legislature, peti.
tions signed by thousands Of names
from every nook and Granny of Oregon
VIII be presented to the members OF
the senate and the house, praying for
the passage Of what is known as the
dependent widows pension bill, pre-.
pared by the Oregon Congress Of
Mothers. These petitions are now be-
ing circulated, together with copies of
the proposed bill, in every county in
the state by women in sympathy with
the measure, Letters are being sent
TO every member of the legislature, to-
gether with copies of the bill, 50 that
when II is presented the full text vii
be known to all.
Mrs. Il. b. Bondurant, chairman Of
the committee in charge of the meas
ure, said last night that 1t is meet
ing with almost unanimous commen-
dation from all to whom 1t is submit
ted, and that prospects are bright for
it5 passage without aWcndmCat.
Pensions Are Provided.
T'uder the provisions Of the bill
every woman who has one or more
children under the age Of lG years,
aud whose husband is eitdor dead OF
an inmate Of any Oregon institution
or is totally unable to perform phys-
ical labor, and whose support and
the support Of whose child or chill
dren is dependent wholly or partly
on her labor, shall be entitled to as
slstance. This assistance is 20 con-
els, of $40 a month for one child and
$3.50 for each additional child, pro-
ylded that the child or children live
with the mother, the purpose Of the
proposed law being to keep tie chill
dren together under the guidance and
control Of the mother, and to assist
her in making home for them.
Money paid TO mothers under this
act is to be paid from a county fund
in each county, which is to be raised
by a levy of not less than one-tcnth
and not more than two-tenths Of a
mill upon all taxable property,
The proposal to include men whose
wives are dead in the provisions Of
the act will not be considered by the
Congress Of Mothers whose members
maintain that men are not likely to
remain at home with the children and
make a home for them, but that, If
they are able to work at all, they will
intrust the care Of the children to
others. while they devote practically
all of their time to their work at re-
muneration which will enable them to
nav for the care Of the children
Saving Is Anticipated
1--WE maintain" said Mrs Bondu-
rant Yesterday that the law we pro-
nose will be an actual saving to the
state. for none Of our institutions 'an
maintain a child on $3.50 a month, as
ve anticipate mothers will be ablo TO
do together with their own labor and
civ, # decent clothing, sufficient food
and proper training. The average cost
for maintaining children at various
state and industrial institutions IS
stt d a month. and we do not believe
aside from the saving in cost ihat
tbere "a q child in Oregon or any 9TH
or state. that will not be the better OIL
with ns mother. It will pay not only
IN dollars and cents. but higher Ideals
and better citizenship"
At approaching legislative sessions
in II states. bills providing for de-
nendent widows pensions will be SUD-
p,tted Four states, Colorado. Massa-
Icbusetts. Illinois and Wisconsin, a'-
roodv have such laws In operation