Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-12-06
POOR CHILDREN TO
GET FURTHER AID
Catholic ChiIdren's Aid Society
Startled by Superintend-
ent's Report.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED
TO EXTEND HUMANE WORK
Plan to Cooperate With Other
Civic and Charitable
Organizations.

Plans to extend the work Of the
Catholic Children's Aid Association.
so as to render adequate social serv-
ice along the lines of larger work for
needy children, were formulated at
the annual meeting of the board of
ffusteas of that organization held last
night in the reetory of st. Patricks
Cathedral. Bishop John J.. o'Connor
presided.
Following the report of John A.
Cullen, superintendent of the asso-
citation, which detailed the years
work. the recommendations of the
euperintendent We're discussed. The
Ri. Rev. Mgr. Sheppard, vicar-general
of the diocese, and former United
States Senator James Smith, jr.. in
sisted that action be taken along the
lines advocated by Mr.. Cullen in his
report.
With this end in view, the bishop
appointed the RI. Rev. Mgr. Isaac P.
Whelan, rector of st. Patriek's Cathe-
dral, and Mr.. Cullen as a committee
TO represent the board and to CO.
operate with other civic n char
liable organizations in finding a prac-
teal remedy to meet the family
desertfon problem and for helping
homeless and destitute mothers.
Helped 5.5Os in Nine Years.
Mr.. Cullen's report for the year
states that for the eight years prior
to the present year the number Of re-
ported cases of neglected children in
v~estigated and filed totaled lao. The
cases reported during the past year
numbered 76S, which makes a grand
total of 5,50S for the nine years during
which the association has been carry
ing on its work. Five hundred and
sixty cases which had been handled
In previous years came up again for
action during the past year.
Taking up the matter of intemper-
ance. the superintendent report
ayers that at least so per cent. of the
child suffering reported is due to in
temperance. In the long list Of
d~runkard's homes some temporary
cures and a few permanent ones have
been effected, the report says, while
in a great many cases there were
failures, necessitating prosecution and
separation.
Timely education and the elimina-
tion of the undesirable saloon are
suggested by Mr.. Cullen as the only
remedies for the intemperance prob
lem. The children should be taught
hat intemperance, besides being a
sin and a disgrace, destroys their
chances of success, impairs the mus
cular efficiency, iniames the sub
stances of their brains and prevents
development; that 1t is one of the
most frequent causes of tuberculosis,
meningitis. epilepsy and insanity;
that it is a disease as bad as leprosy.
Urges High Saloon Licenses.
The elimination of the undesirable
saloon would be a further help in
the way of lessening the temptation,
Mr.. Cullen goes on to say. A few
years ago an effort was made to
bring this about by requesting that
the license fee be fixed at $1,000. The
present fee is $500, and today there
are about 1,400 saloons in the city.
The problem of the child deserted
by it's father is one still awaiting
solution, MIR. Cullen declares. Deser-
tions by the mother are comparative
~ scarce.
When the father deserts a complex
situation arises and application to
place the children in a home Is the
prevailing procedure. AS a conse-
quence the o~rphanages are over
crowded with such children. From
filed records of 2S5 cases of families
deserted by the father 40 per cent.
are between the ages of 81 and 25
years, 30 per cent between the ages
of 25 and 80, and Is per cent. between
the ages of 80 and 80.
The law provides that a sum not
exceeding fifty cents per day be paid
to the wife and children of a pris-
oner confined in the Trenton State
prison or in the Railway Reforma-
tory. Mr.. Cullen asks if it would not
be possible for the Legislature to
amend the law so that the fifty cents
a day clause might also apply to the
county penitentiaries.
Five thousand copies of the super
intendent's report were ordered
printed. The present board of trus-
tees was reelected to serve the three
year term ending November, 1915.
The board is composed of the Right
Rev. Bishop John J. O'Conhor, presi-
dent: Monsignor Sheppard, viee-pres-
ident; Rev. Charles A. Smith, chan
cellor of the diocese, secretary; Hon.
James Smith, jr., Monsignor Whelan,
Joseph NJ. Byrne, Bernard M. Shan
ley, ir., DR.. Martin J.. Synnott, Hon.
Thomas J. Lintott, John J.. Mulva-
ney, James A. Butler and Joseph J.
Mullin. DR.. John F. Condor is the
associations physician and William
Hughes is its auditor.