The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-25
PENSIONS TO WIDOWED
MOTHERS NEW POLICY
Measure Passed by House OF Delegates
Takes Stamp of Charity From
Relief Given by state.
PROVISIONS ARE COMPLETE
Women with Dependent Children
May Receive Twelve Dollars
Month or More to Provide for Their
Daily Needs and Esiuca ton.

Month or More TO Provide for Their
! Daily Needs and Education.
Marking a new departure of the
state in it's policy in regard to the
care OF INDECENT widowed mothers.
the Cherry bill Is the first step in this
state TO take the stamp OF charity from
cases OF this class. Delegates Jones.
Mann and BOschen were co partners
with Delegate Cherry on this bill.
Regarded az matter of right. the
widowed mothers may, when provis-
ION is made by the local authorities
for carrying out the purpose of the
bin keep their little broods ut home
and give them the benefit OF moth
er's care Ind guidance, instead OF en-
forced separation, broken homes, and
altogether unsatisfactory conditions
for the rearing of the children.
The bin sets forth who shall be
eligible TO come within It's provisions,
and the manner I'm which the state
aid. which takes the form of moth
ers' pensions. already adopted In
some states. may he obtained. Its
full text IL as follows;
Re # enacted BY the general as
semhly or Virginia, that any widow
who is the mother Of a child or chill
dren under the age Of sixteen years
and who Is unable to support them and
10 maintain her home. may present q
petition for assistance TO the beard Of
supervisors OF the county or 10 Tho
council or other governing body of
the city wherein she resides. Such
petition shall be verified and shall set
forth the following
Her name the date Of the death Of
her husband the names OF her chill
dren. and the dates and places Of their
birth and the time and place of her
marriage.
Her residence and the length Of
time that she has been a resident OF
the state. tho length OF time she has
lived at said residence and the address
or addresses IF her place or places IF
abode for the previous 1--WE years, and
the date IS near as possible, when she
+ moved I'm and when she left eaid place
. or places OF residence
; "A statement or all the property be-
longing 10 ner and 20 each 81 her chill
dren which statement shall include
any future Or contingent interest which
she or any 1T them may have.
"A statement OF the efforts made by
her To support her children.
I The name relationships and ad
dresses OF all her and her husbands
/
The names, sex and age of each Of
her children. giving date and place Of
birth of same
A copy Of the petition provided for
| az above and a notice of the time and
place when II will be presented TO the
board Of supervisors OF the county or
the council or other governing body
of the city. as the case may be. must
he served on or mailed TO the clerk OF
the board, council or other governing
body at least Ave days before the time
the said petition Is to be considered.
Upon the return of the petition and
notice all persons desiring TO be heard
shalt be examined under oath, and
suhpoenas may be issued for the at
tendance or witnesses and the hearin 6
may be adjourned from day to day.
, and the matter may be referred TO q
comm issioner or committee to be
appointed to hear such witnesses,
Said commissioners or committee shall
make a. report setting forth the facts
, proven.
IF, upon the completion OF the ex-
| animation provided for under section
/ two hereof IL is apparent that, unless
= relief is granted. the mother will be
unable to properly support and edu-
, cate her children. and that they may
|: become a public charge, an order may
be made or an ordinance or resolu-
: ton adopted directing that there shall
: be paid to the mother. monthly, out
OF the county or city funds. the fol
: lowing amounts, for the maintenance
and support OF the children under six
teen years old; not more than twelve
dollars for one such child; eighteen
dollars for two children; and four
. dollars per month additional for each
additional child. and II ID provided
further that said allowance or relief
shall he discontinued after said child
. or any OF said children as mentionec
! in section one of this act has reach ec
the age of sixteen years: the mother
s remarries, or other cause rendering
the assistance here provided unnsces,
sary.
1T shall he the duty OF the attor-
e ney for the commonwealth of such
county or city To see that any widow
6 receiving a n allowance az provided I'm
der this act is properly caring for her
children. that they are suff1cisnti,
clothed and fed. and when II LIS found
that she ia not properly caring for hes
child or children. or that she 10 ar
improper guardian for such child on
children, or that she no longer needs
such support as Ia afforded by said
allowance, the said order, ordinance
, or resolution shall be revoked or re-
pealed. and any order made pursuant
to this act shall be cancelled at any
q time with or witho out notice. and In
lieu thereof any other order, ordinances
or resolution that may protect the
0 welfare OF the child or children may
be made or adopted. All refusals oil
0 applications for allowance under this
act shall be final and not subject to
review by any court.
0 NO widow shall be entitled to re-
ceive allowances under tha terms of
0 this act unless she has been u bona
- fide resident OF the state OF Virginia
. for three years, and the county or city
In which she makes her application for
I at least two YeArH"