Milford chronicle., 1915-10-22

penter tools, and a complete miniature
railroad system, consisting of two cleo
trio trains and one clock spring train.
A Ford automobile engine and many
auto parts afforded the automobile boy
many opportunities in the auto repair
line. We repair. overhaul and make
furniture and machinery. Having been
IN the automobile and electrical business
for several years, and having had some
experience in carpenter work, l find
great pleasure in drilling classes in the
work that they are best qualified to do
and like best. We have five sets of tele-
graph instruments in the building so
arranged that we connect all together
or separate or any way desired for
practice work.
We also own a complete outfit of
equipment for baseball, football, tennis
and crOquet. The scouts have their own
ball diamond and grandstand. Our gym
nasium is so arranged that we can
quickly convert it into a lecture room.
We own one hundred folding chairs for
that purpose. In this room we hold our
Sunday Bible Glass and Scout Court.
Our court is conducted as near like a
regular court as possible. No one but
boys conduct the work, but several cases
against men have been tried. Our Of
ficers consist of Judge, attorney and
deputies, baiiff, clerk and stenOgrapher.
Our Scout Sheriff and two deputies
serve all papers. The sheriff of Wagner
County has issued me a Scout Sheriff
commission and deputy commissions to
four of my boys, giving them all the
power that any deputy sheriff has.
Each case is worked up by the scouts
and papers are served according to law.
GOVERNMENT BY SCOUTS.
We have a regular city government
of our own, a mayor and two commits
sioners. We try to conduct our affairs
in the city as near like the regular city
affairs as possible. We have Chief of
Police and two policemen from each
school, six in all. Any crime in the city
that we believe boys are implicated in !
is investigated. A squad of ten detec-
tives take care of all Investigations and |
make weekly report to me. We have |
a regular grand jury that meets monthly |
and this jury draws up the indictments. |
Our court has tried fifty-eight cases |
and has lost eight of them.
Various kinds of punishments are in |
tiicted, such as one to six weeks suspen-
sion from the gymnasium or scout duty |
or the removal of the scout badge for |
any period Cash fines range from five |
cents to three dollars. In case of prop |
erty being destroyed, if the party is
found guilty, he is given a certain time
to replace same or is fined enough to
pay for it. Contempt of court in any
form is punishable by cash payments of
one cent to twenty-five cents. We have
never had any trouble in getting settle
ments. | have found the results from
this court to be almost entirely respon-
sble for the cleaning up of the boy
crime in the city. l believe scout court
should be adopted as part of the great
scout plan. As proof of the results of
this court, the city and county officers
have not made an arrest of a single
minor in the past eighteen months, but
prior to this several were made each
month.
A SUCCESSFUL SCOUT BANK.
The Wagner boy scout bank has
proved to be a great success and benefit
10 the boys. Our plan is as near a regu-
ar bank as possible. One hundred dol
ars is reserved as capital stock. By de-
posting one dollar, anybody can become
4 stockhOlder. Deposits from one cent
ID are accepted and five per cent on
line deposits is paid. A loan can be
made at any time if suitable security is
furnished. A note and mortgage is taken {
m each loan, three per cent on loans up
o one dollar, and five per cent over one
lollar. Our deposits and interests have
more than kept the bank running. We
leclare dividends every six months. In
great many instances the bank has
,een of considerable help to the boys in
lines of sickness or hard luck, but more
in buying their scout equip
nent The depOsiting contest has been
luite a help to those boys that knew I
iothing of saving money. There seems
o be considerable rivalry in seeing who
an do the most banking business each
month. There are twenty stockholders,
orty-fve depositors and thirty loans.
We have a scout employment bureau,
onducted for and held by the boys.
When any parties desire the services of
boy, they notify the head of the de-
,artment and we furnish the boy who is ]
est qualified to do the particular job G
n hand We have a regular schedule
f wages, and five per cent goes to the /
rder. Ia