Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-26

.ryuIT,E the wives and children OF de-
wv sertng and nonsupporting husbands
~ fathers are suffering real destltutlon
during the Imprisonment of these men in
n, House OF Correction, the county of
phnadelphia profits by the misery of the
lrrocent victims of the county's neglect,
~ 1919 the State Legislature enacted
Il law providing that men who desert or
,.o,se TO support their families shall be
III, "a the House of Correction and COM
nsited TO work on the stohe pile, and that
~, NJ their earnings there shall be paid
~ their families the sum of 65 cents a
Sav during the term OF their imprison-
ment
peserting and nonsupporting husbands
ana fathers are sent to the stone pile and
compelled to labor there. whereby the
co,,nty profits to the extent that 1t Is
ahnecessary to employ hired labor to
ernsh stone for country roads, at $3.50 a
day and also because not one cent has
syer been paid to the families of these
rosn for whose relief the law was passed.
sixty-flve cents n day is small matter
~ tbe city of Philadelphia, but 1t means
runoh to these women and children, who
have no other source of income. Every
nrohation officer of the Municipal Court
Knows of scores of these families. Per-
sonally have visited the homes of some
of these destitute families with probation
officers.
WHAT ONE VICTIM SAYS.
One woman whom n probation officer
and visited, and whose husband Is at
present imprisoned at the House of Cor
rection, told us this story:
aAly husband is first-class mechanic,
N. L, VNnN 1aU
Than SIS week and usually S20 or $50.
When he did give me anything 1t was not
more than $40 or S12 | don't know what
he did with the rest, Only the Almighty
and know what 1 have suffered at the
hands of that man. He has always
abused me since about the second year
after our marriage, but none of the chill
dren knew of it except the oldest boy.
He was the only protection 1 had, and
he died two years ago. That took halt
my life away. Since that time my hus-
band has treated me worse than ever He
Is not an excessive drinker, but he seemed
not to care whether / and the children got
along or not. He never liked children any
how, and | never knew him once to kiss
any of the children or even to pick
them up.
II have nine children living. Eight of
them | have at home. The one boy
doesn't live here. The oldest boy is work.
ing. He earns IS n week and gives me
$. The other boy earns s. week when
he Is working, but he has nothing to do
just now. Another boy is in hospital
and am waiting word of his condition
now. He went to the hospital for an
operation, and since he has been there
he has contracted pneumonia and has
rheumatism in his hands. The doctors do
not expect him to get well. My Oldest
girl, who Is IA, takes care of the three
younger children when l go out to work.
do washing, but on account of the rain
this morning of course there is nothing
for me to do.
ONE BOY HER ONLY HELP.
Just now, the only help I get is from
my one boy, who gives me So week: the
other boy gives me $3.50 out of his So
when he is working, but at present he
has no work. 1t is terrible struggle to get
along. and 1 do not know what l should
do II 1t were not that the mission helps
me out with clothes for the children.
Il manage to provide food for the chill.
dren, but of course it is not what it should
be. just paid bill of more than 81 down