Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-01
Those in Favor of Bin

II avn WI llIl
There was no opposition to the Mn
although officials OF The CITY az por'
land spoke in favor of changing SOM
Of the provisions of the proposed Law
as did also Rep. Charles T. Quincy o.
Portland. who was strongly boz favor O.
the passage of an amended Hw Thos
who spoke in favor OF the tlu wer
Mrs -. W. Adams OF Augusta. pres.
dent of the Maine Branch Nitona
Congress Of Mothers; Mrs. Dcbonl
Knox Livingston of Bangor q prom.
nent suffrage worker. Mrs John r. A
Morrill, of Portland. president Of n.
Maine Association Opposed 90 SuffBe'
for Women; Mrs. Florence Rrooh
WhitChouse OF Portland of tNc S,as
Referendum League, Mrs A. A ker.
dali of Portland. chairman of the lea
islativc committee OF the state FEEDER
alton of Women's Clubs. Mrs W 2
Jones of Norway. vice president Of NJ
state Parent Teacher Assoctatior
Mrs. u. u. Weeks Of Augusta chair.
man Of the chill hygiene committee e.
the Augusta Parent Teacher Assoch.
ton: Mrs II. W. Cohh president q
the Augusta Suffrage Association
Robert Treat WhitchoUsc OF Portland
chairman Of the state BOARD Of char.
ties and Corrections; capt James :
BaEley, secretary Of tho state Board
Rep. Charles T.. Quincy OF Portland
I \. r. Laughlin Of Portland prcsidcn'
| of the Associated CHARITIES OF that
I city. and +. II. Hitler. secretary ~ M
!
man William n. Sanhorn OF rorilart
and Percy Il. Horton. secretary Of ~
board of overscors OF the poor Of Fort.
land. while not opposing the blll sp0k.
in favor Of changing some OF the pro-
visions OF the proposed law.
Frank l.. Dutton OF Augusta cor.
Quoted the case for the proponents
The bin. introduced by Rep. Gar.
nett Of Augusta. provides for aid 70
mothers OF dependent children not is
exceed S. a week for mothers with on,
such child under 16 years OF age, and
not more than 81 "A week for each nd.
ditional child under 16 The expenses
are to be borne equally by the STATE
and the municipalities. The admirs
tration is 10 he under local oversees
of the poor. subject always to invest.
cation and approved by the stat
Board of Charities. For the purposes
of the act II is proposed 20 nppropr'
ate $4,000 for each OF the next tss
years.
During the hearing several member
of the committee expressed themselves
heartily in favor OF the principles o.
the hill. but questioned whether n was
not too generous in its provisions and
whether the $25 900 n year would cowi
the expenses.
Mr.. Duttou in opening his case fo
the proponents said he represented
large number of organizations intcres;td
in social work
Mrs. Adams. president OF the Msih'
Branch. National Congress Of Mothers
which is behind this bill said that 10
states where mothers pensions acts
have been adopted Juvenile delinquency
and the charges az supporting children
have materially decreased. She spoke
Of the advantages 81 having childrtn
brought up by their own mothers 10
their own homes
The natural person 20 train the ohlld
declared Mrs. Livingston. f. tho moth
er. and no institution can take her rlsc'
The children will receive the pfimaT
benefit from mothers pension Tm
thing that mothers dread most when o.
privcd Of their supporters BE- That ne
State will step i'm and take Thorn avaf
and this fear Will be- obyiatcd hy sud
a law.
Mrs. Merrill said she spoke for he
Association Opposed to Suffrage :"
Women. we believe" said she. thu
there is nothing more important thsh
keeping the children in The homes nh9
the mothers in the homcs.'
From personal Investigations Mrs
Whitehouse said she knew 81 30 ~ u"
a week more would keep vlnny families
together which now have to b. broken
up. She spoke Of one case. mo'hd
with six children. 60 whom the CIV
would not pay si2 week to suppoN
her children although ~ would ts"
them away from her and pay neieh
Dor sl2 a week 60 bring them up "
take them TO the city Home NJ an "'
pense Of over 500 week Under W
present law there IL no way in whia
a mother dependent for aid can "a"
care of her children in her own hone
They will be taken away from her Inh
this bin 10 aimed 90 olivia"
Senator Wood Of Hancock said he VS.
heartily in sympathy with the principe
OF the law but wondered ~ s25ooo
year would cover the expenses.
To this Secretary Bagley Of the sta'e
Board OF Charities and Corrections ~.
piled that judging from the oSperi'n',
of Massachusetts with mothers a,o
law II would ultimately cost the s's''
from 100000 to $4,000 a year. but ne
the $500 would be enough ,
TO start out with.
Senator Merrill of Somerset inaune
about the rates and was Informed 'hI
il was the intention that fs wees1
for one child and So for each additiohs'
child was supposed 20 be . maximum
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