Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-01-18
HAS BILL TO
PENSION MOTHERS
Measure to Be Presented 10
Legislature Monday.
WOMEN TO Be TRUSTEES
State and Cities TO Provide Monthly
Payments to Needy Mothers TO Sup.
port Children In Their Own Homes.

State Senator John y. Sheatz. OF
Philadelphia. will introduce bill in
The legislature at Harrisburg on Mon
day. providing monthly payments 10
INDECENT. widowed or abandoned moth
ers for the partial support OF their chill.
iren in their own homes.
The measure is made applicable to
cities of the first. second and third
class throughout Pennsylvania Il pro
poses state appropriation Tor the
maintenance OF such children. the lit.
les beneniing 10 contribute an amount
equal TO the allotment by the state
Mr. Sheatz's bill is novel mothers
pension act, which suggests the repeal
OF all laws or parts OF legislation in
consistent with It's provisions 1t would
override the act OF May 81. 1907, over
which a controversy arose in the juve.
nile court when the question was
argued whether the present law could
be so construed as 10 allow the county
to pay for the support Of three indi-
gent children at their home instead OF
making them public dependents in an
institution. Judge Kinsey expressed
the opinion that such practice would
be diversion of public funds for pri
vate purposes but he reserved decision
in the case.
Senator Sheath has sent a copy OF
his bill to Judge Kinsey and will pre-.
sent II to the legislature whether or
not the judge rules that the present
act could be made applicable 10 pen.
sions for mothers.
The new bill provides that the gov
ernor shall appoint no fewer than five
nor more than seven women residents
OF the cities of the first. second and
third class, to act as trustees to carry
into effect the stipulations oil the act.
To make possible the innovation. the
bin proposes an appropriation of $780,.
900 by the state. 100000 OF which
would be available for Philadelphia.
the bill providing that first class cities
shall receive this amount. Philadelphia
is the only frs, class city in the state;
$4,000 would be distributed among
second class cities and $4,000 among
third class cities by the auditor gen.
eral and state treasurer. according to
the respective populations in the cen
sus OF 1910.
The payments for the maintenance
OF such INDECENT children at their
homes would be made direct to their
mothers by the state treasurer on war.
rants drawn By the auditor general
The allotments for the support OF each
child and other provisions are referred
to as follows in the bill.
The trustees shall in no case re.
commend payment TO any widow or
abandoned mother until they are thor.
oughly satisfied that the recipient Is
worthy in every way. and that in or
der TO keep her children in her own
home monthly payment is necessary,
but then only upon satisfactory reports
from a teacher of the district school.
stating that the child or children of
the recipient OF this fund are attend
ing school: provided they are of prop
err age and physically able to do so
The combined total maximum payment
shall not exceed si9 per month for one
child. $50 per month for two children.
$50 per month for three children. and
s. per month for each additional child
These payments TO continue AT the
will of the trustees. but not beyond
the time that the law will permit q
child TO secure employment"