New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

worth while 10 make q study OF the SUI
icct. striving especially TO see what con-
ncction exists between delinquency ana oc-
cupation OF non occupation, Dut also giving
dine weight to other factors such as the gen
cral character Of the family from whicn tne
child comes. the home and ncighborhoo1
environment, etc. But, because an inye'-
tipation into child's antcccdcnts, under
taken by stranger and carried on WIN t'lo
necessary regard for time limits, IS almost
inevitably superficial and unsatisfactory
the study was restricted 10 cominuin'lc,
having juvenile courts, since II Is inc Rcl'c'"'
custom of such courts to make an inNc'tiRa,
ton into the earlier history OF every cnild
brought before them for delinquency.
Anyone familiar with court proceeding
knows that among juveniles as among tleH
elders. the court records are hkcly 10 silo"
"wavcs" of certain olicnscs, ana that thCSo
waves have little connection WIN tHe
amount Of given kind OF delinquency ooc
curing al a particular time. ~ R','E ~
BOYS. for instance. may DC IN the Hapil ~
nlovinp about the railroad yards, the nearest
open place accessible 10 them. IcchnicaHy
this is trcspassing on railroad property; Dut
the BOYS are doing no harm, ana gool-
uoturcd EMPLOYEES or watChmcn look the
there throws a stone through a window oi =
moving passenger train, or changes a signal
LIGHT. or throws a switch, ito see what VIII
bapncn" That particular offender may cs-
cane. but the cdiCt goes forth that boys are
70 be kept off, and there is a sudden and
purclv temporary increase m the number OF
dclinqucnts brought IN for tfcSpass on tne
railway. Or. again, a gang OF fifteen or
-. 1. "a
series Of petty breaks for sometime when
one Of their number falls into the hands oil
the police Through this one the other mem
bcrs Of the gang may be brought IN, and the
number Of cases Of larceny OF burglary i'r
that month may run up far beyond the nor
nal figure.
As "A result a year was considered q sui
hcicntly long period to permit these varia,,
tions 20 offset one another and gave normal
average. The study from which ! dra"
these figures and facts IS based on cases Ci
delinquency Of children under sixteen winch
came before the courts during the year
l9O7-OS. The only exception 70 TINS RUE
was the New York chldrcn's court. There
the thousands Of cases handled during the
wear made a government investigation an
mpossibilitv, and instead only those chil-
drcn were considered who were on parole ~
the time. In obtaining records the com
plcxity Of the problem was forced sharply
upon the agents OF the Bureau OF Labor.
An Investigator can deal only with those
cases which have become matters OF record,
and IL Is estimated that not more than one
third Of adult crimes and misdcmcanOrs are
carried into court. Among juveniles the
proportion would bee smaller, owing to the
general objection Of taking legal measure
against q child. If these obvious diiiicultie5
are disrcgardcd. the investigation is ham
pcrcd not only by the scantincss Of the rec
ords usually kept, but by ignorance OF con-
ditions prevailing among the nondclinquent.
THOMAS TRAVIS. in his investigations,