Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-10
BY ANNA B. BURNS
Social Worker and Investigator

| Social Worker and Investigator
| Not only does the non-enforcement of
| the stone pile act innict suffering and
| deprivation upon the families of desert
ing and son-supporting husbands, but II
| also renders futile the operation of the
| extradtion law of 1903.
This law, making desertion and nom
| support n misdemeanor and therefore eN-
| traditable, was passed by the Legislature
| In order to force these delinquent men to
| support their families
However, II is pointed out, the process
of cxtradition imposes an added expense
| to the county, which often proves fruit
| less of good results These men are sent
| to the House of Correction for n term,
| and when liberated again flee the State,
| leaving their families stil dependent and
| unprovided for. While in some cases
incarceration has n good effect, in many 1t
proves of no avail.
PAY TO FAMILIES.
1t is argued that II the stone pile law
| were enforced and Go cents per day Of
their prison earnings paid to the families
of these men in many cases the eXtradi
tion law would not have to be invoked.
Delinquent husbands would then realize
the futility of leaving the State, for they
could not only be brought back, but put
TO labor in the House of Correction and
their families be paid portion of their
earnings during their confinement. This
not only would bring relief to the families
of these men, but also would free the
county of the expense of cXtradition.
This argument 10 given strength by the
fact that 1t often has proved effective
merely to threaten the enforcement of the
law
Michael ]. Ryan is authority for the
statement that during his administration
as City Solicitor, at which time cases of
desertion and nonsupport were handled
in that department, he found the mere
threat OF enforcing the law efflcacious
in bringing about the desired results.
"In almost every case" said Mr. Ryan,
where n threat has been made to en-
force the stone pile act the man has
promptly paid the court order"
1t will be noted that this was at n
time when the law was new and before
It became generally known that 1t was
impossible to enforce the act because of
Councils failure to make an appropria-
tion whereby the payments could be
made.
The annual reports OF the City solic.
itor's office for the years 1912 and 1918
show some interesting statistics
The report for 1912 shows:
orders for warrants of arrest in deser-
caSes slS GTfed tried in the Desertion Court 1851
in which orders were made for the
support Of wives and children, iii
Attachments issued for Noncompliance
with orders OF court that had thereto
fore been made for the support of
wives and children. Observation-Disclosures. 1873
The report for 1913 shows:
Orders for warrants of arrest In deser-
ton cases .......... ..................... 2742
Cases tried in Desertion Court in which
orders were made for tho support of
wives and children. n................. 1900
Attachments issued for noncompliance
with orders of Court that had there
fore been made for the support of
wives and children. en................, 2013
Attention is called to the great number
of attachments issued for noncompliance
with court orders previously made, great