The Washington times., 1915-01-20
SOLONS SHOULD BE THANKFUL.

COLOlNC CllOOAD
The coming session at Springfield
may find that it has due cause for
in the work of the con-
gress. for instead OF being bonbarded
with many bills on subjects of partic-
ular interest to women. sometimes
two or three on the game topic and
others overlapping it. it will find II
definite program unfolded and the con-
FUSION. eliminated.
That at least is the hope Of the
women. The congress brought 10
gether almost every point or view IN
pro this and pro that. 1t Is doubtful
IL ever before a convention 50 repre-.
sentative Of the various interests OF
the women of Illinois or OF any other
Views we're presented. threshed out.
ments Of policy. The policies will be
embodied in carefully drawn bills:
Moreover. the executive committee OF
the congress will continue at work all
through the session trying to kecr
this path Of Legislation as straight
and narrow as its beginning. It
hopes in effect to become steering
committee for all woman's legislation.
Woman's Lobby.
Presentation is but one of the neces-
sary sters. the congress leaders recoS-
nized, and in taking the next ana
more difficult step. passage OF the
bills, they will have recourse to
womans lobby. :.
How many will be on that lobby Is
not decided. but It will doubtless pc
small. The details lie in the hands
Of the executive committee. and from
its membership the lobby may he Sc
lected. In all probability 1t Will camp
at Springfield until the session. when
begins early in January, comes 10 an
What policies the women Of Illinois
found worthy of setting their seal to
is, Of course, the essential interest IN
story of their gathering. Here IN p,ar arc
adopted and in almost the same word
ing that they will be given to the pub
lie, according to present plans. are .nt in.'i
congress results. Measures for soclat
policies laid down: those inclosed IN
quotation marks give the exact phrase
olofy; 'TSe womens legislative congress
desires a better provision IN the sta, StaIe
rem by the husband and father. II
is desirable to change our statutes 50
that non-support of wife without law
full cause shall constitute an o,iehae ar
by ;bs fine oenso Ge Ss
meanor and the offender may be brought
back for trial If he travels into an
other state. That the failure 70 sup
port be continuing ,e oftenss ne,npr ppr the the
court for the. support OF his wiie Sc
long as the Tclations remain. . a.,
For children it Is desired that the
father be held for their abandonment.
and also for their support - aci9ttanT e;ehtenE
and that the penalty for not G9mplyins
with the law be raised: The pres
ent law requires support OF .chlid
rem by the parent up to the age o,
| TO nunish the husband by requiring hin
! to pay support for one year tl1tS-tWt
weeks) after abandonment unless he re-
| turn after that time to again I'VE VII VII
his wife. Provision for speedy ira
should be secured
Strict Injunction Law.
The woman's legislative congress de
| sires a more strict abatement ana IN
| junction law. and change from IN
fininc system now in effect Ito sen
| tencc in n house or shelter or home ant
| vocational training school. where IN
Inmates can be more humanciN and IN
! telliCently treated for their future wei
! fare as well as for the safety OF tn
| nuhlic that ,thc sentence be for one yea
and that the penalty for both Keeper
| and patrons Of these houses be NOR
fitting for the offense.
Closer guardianship over the feeble
| minded and raising OF the age or con
sent from sixteen to eighteen year
The following measure for educa
tionaI legislation was indorsed. On VIC
cational education:
IAN vocational education that is sur
ported by taxation-Federal. State. @
iocal-should be incorporated in an
made an integral part of our prcser
public school system. Vocational wor
that is specialized in it's characte
only to those pupils who have attaine
the age of fourteen. or who have con
pleted the eighth grade Of the elemeI
tary schools.
mo course of study offered in tt
public schools should be so narrowl
vocational in scope and content as
preclude some work OF literal tyJ
designed to ut the pupil for the broad'
duties Of citizenship.
"A fair proportion of the cost Of pul
lie education. both general and voc;
tional. should be met by State taxation
the funds collected by state taxatic
for school PURPOSES to he distr but,
in a way that will in some mcasul
euualiZe educational opportunti
throughout the state.
Pensions For Teachers.
] statement of policies regarding pei
s'Ons for teachers in Illinois: A pei
sion law for teachers Statewide in i
application. except that dts provision
shall not apply to Chicago nor Pcor
= unless the teachers OF Peoria desire
I State TO provide an amount equal to Il
] teachers contribution. Flat contrib
,Ions by teachers and fat pension
; that is, teachers to contribute a stat
sum for certain Years of service. 4
/, | teachers to contribute the same sum +
7, the same years of service and a
; teachers to he entitled to the same n
nuity who have taught the full numb
n Of years required Cor a fun pcnsio
n This ability pension after certa
}, number of years service not TO exec
70 fftetn years and full pension aft
If. Twenty-Five years of teaching, Co
r tr'butfng teachers to elect a workil
=. MA iority of tho members Of the boa
II 10 administer the ncnsion fund
Schools q social center: II shall
Z lawful for boards Of school trustee
whether In cities. townships. or d.