The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-08
WIDOWED MOTHERS
PENSION BILL ALAW
Governor Signs Measure to
Keep Children Out Of
Institutions.
GOES INTO EFFECT JULY |

AlRNNy. April Gov whitman
signed to-day the widowed mothers PEN
sion hill which provides for the es-
tabiishment of lolal boa rds OF child well
far" IN the city ~ New York and in
each county outside. The Governor ap-
proved the measure over the protest Of
many who said that Il was "paternalis-
tic or "socIal!stic.'
The primary object OF the bill IL 10
economze by providing for the keep of
orphan children in the home instead Of
placing them in institutions. Charity
workers assert that this plan will pre-
serve the fundamental idea of the home
and AFFORD the children the advantage
of training by their own mothers Pro-
vision is made IN the bill for the pay
ment to widowed mothers OF IA sum suf-
fic!ent to maintain themselves and each
Of their children.
The boards OF child welfare to be ap-
pointed under this new law. which be-
comes operative July /. are created for
the purpose of granting allowances TO
widowed mothers with one or more
children under the age OF l6 such al
lowances are 10 he granted az the dis
erection OF the board, when money has
been appropriated therefor in tho
county by the board OF supervisors and
in the city of New York by the Boa I'd
Of Estimate The powers OF these boa rds
are limited by the amount of money
set aside for this purpose.
One provision OF the law which allows
these boards to determine whether or
not mother Is suitable person to
take care Of her children does not meet
with the approval of Gov. whitman and
he suggested in a memorandum fled
ba he III NJ,
AN amendment providing for the de-
termination OF the fitness OF mother
after hearing, with an opportunity for
review.
Charity workers, while greatly
pleased with the bills approval by the
Governor, appear 10 understand very
clearly that the crucial test OF the law
will arise In it's application.
The State Board of Charities will
shortly send TO the appointing offi-
GERS copy of the law and will urge
that great discrimination he used in the
appointment of the boards of child well
fare, that from the outset the law may
he carried out under the best possible
conditions. The boards of welfare are
to he appointed by the County Judges
The law proposes method of ad-
ministering to the children OF widowed
mothers which is entirely within the
7
allowances made are in cases where, un-
less such aid Is granted. the children
of widowed mothers must be cared for
in institutions.
THE proposal is therefore" said the
Governor. 10 substitute the home OF the
mother for that of the institution II
such a mother Is deprived of the oars
and comfort OF her children her pow
erty Is penalzcd. Being "A capable and
natural mother, she desires them with
her; their presence in her home operates
as an incentive to good conduct and
greater endeavOr on her part
The pauperizing influence OF aiding
her to maintain them In her own HON,
would he materially less than II they
were taken from her and placed in ar
institution. whereby she is relieved OF
the burden of their support and the
! benefits derived from exercising mater
nal control Of them"