Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-01
Better Protection of Chill.
dren Before the Judiciary

/ y
Robert Treat Whitehouse of Portland
appeared before the judiciary commit
tee in behalf of an act for the better
| protection of children advocated by
the State Board Of Charities and Cor
fectlons of which he is the chairman.
| The bill would amend the present
Jaw so as to have the State agents for
! the protection Of children appointed d.
rectly by the State board instead Of
by the Governor. he explained. 1t
would eliminate agents fees and have
them paid by a salary. directly bv the
state and also place the agents under
control of the State board instead of
the board having only advisory power.
as at present. 1t would also amend the
present law in regard to the keeping
OF children ir almshouses so that thew
could remain over the 60-day limit in
ajmShouseS when in an infirmarv and
that feeble minded children might also
remain in almshouses over that peri
od. the board being informed when the
children were taken in and when thew
We're discharged
! Mr.. Whitehouse said that the cost
OF having the agents appointed and IN
DER direct control of the board would
be much less than under the present
system. The bill calls for an approprja
ton of $4,000 for 1917 and $500 for the
year 1918. while for the past year the
expenses of agents We're s295S. 20 and
the per diem s2625.62 this did not in
clude court fees recorded in the county
courts
Mrs. Mary S. Furnham. agent for the
e
testified as to the amount of work
done by her. She said that she re-
celNed 81 a day and no more if she
worked "a hours a day. She was on
duty practically all the time. She had
prosecuted Al cases at the last term of
the superior court
Mayor MILFORD c. Chapman of Port.
land appeared in opposition 10 features
OF the present system of the State
agents under the State Board of Chart
ties and Corrections, which, he said, OBJ
tanned under the amended act He did
not think that the agents should have
the power of arrest and spoke at some
length in regard to the increasing cost
to the city of Portland for children
committed under the act Back in 1910
while in 1916 it cost $1,000 a month. He
went INTO the matter very fully and
was sharply questioned by Representa-
tive Quincy of Portland of the commit
tee in regard to the matter of arrests.
the latter suggesting that he would
hardly expect a policeman to arrest a
10-year-o child
Mayor Chapman was finally admon-
ishcd to be brief by Senator Davies of
Cumberland, the chairman Of the com
mlttee, who said that it was getting
late and others wished to speak and the
mayor finally closed by saying that he
was entirely opposed to the administers
| tive features of the bill
In response to questions by members
of the committee Mr.. Whitehouse made
1t plain that the amended act would
obllterate county lines and would have
the agents work all over the State,
where transportation and conditions
made it most convenient. The best
agents would be selected ar; it was to
keep just such women as Mrs Burn
nam that the measure was designed.
Representative Lawrence of Fairfield
urged that the bill had not been print
ed. that he wanted to have the full text
of it before him when he voted and that
he desired to have the bill recom,vit-
ted for printing. He was assured that
this would be done
Philip G. Clifford, secretary of the
state Board of Legal Examiners, and
CLARENCE Peabody Of Portland appeared
before the judiciary committee in be-
half OF the act amending the statutes
relating to applications for admission
to the bar so as to require a course in
a Glass A High school or its equivalent
in addition to legal requirements.
Mr.. Clifford was questioned by Reps.
Harrington and Barnes of the commit
tee as to the requirements of a Class A
High school but was unable to explain
them in detail. Mr.. Peabody stated that
one purpose of the measure was to pre-
vent those from other states who we're
unqualified so far general education
was concerned from being admitted to
the bar in this State.
Orel L. Davies of Rockland appeared
in behalf of measure to give jewellers
lien on watches and clocks repaired.
He went in detail in regard to his per-
sonal business, saying that at the pres
ent time had 119 watches in his store
thath ad been left there for repairs and
no one had called Cor than. The meas
ure was drawn in accordance with a
New York bill. He did not think il
was necessary to provide for recording
Of the lien.
| James Gillin. son of Senator Gillin
and city solicitor of the city of Bangor.
appeared in behalf on act which would
make the giving of check without
funds to cover it prima facie evidence
of intent to defraud without having to
prove the intent. He said that the bill
was endorsed by the merchants Of Ban
| gor. Portland and Rockland, and pre-
sented petitions from them in it's favor.
| The bill was in line with a general plan
of uniform legislation on the subject.
Ten Hearings Before