The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-11-29
HELP FOR NEEDY TOTS
WRITER CALLS UP PATHETIC
CASE IN.MANKATO
Correspondent Refers to Law
in Such Case Made and
Provided

y
191S.-To The Mankato Free Press:
While in Mankato last week, l
heard of case in your city where
influenza had taken the father and
oldest daughter who lived at home,
leaving the mother with ten children
and no means of support. The wo-
man who told me of the case also
express the opinion that the chill
dren would have to be taken away
from the mother. My interest was
at once aroused because l believe,
with many others, that child's own
home, though it be poor one, is far
better than the best institutional
home. OF course this is granting
that the parent or parents are nor
NAL mentally and morally.
Just now the whole country is
much reused by the campaign to
"send the home to the boys over
there" and perhaps a little hint
that it might be well at the same
time to bend some of our energies
toward keeping the boys (and girls)
in their homes over here, might not
be out of place.
relative to tie care and protection
of her children, she is proud of her
school system and it seems to be an
underlying principle with the law
makers of our state that money in
vested in the manufacture of good
citizens is money most, wisely spent.
For just such cases as the one in
question they have made wise pro
vision Chapter 223. Laws 1917, page
337 provide for allowances out of
county and state funds, in certain
cases for the support of dependent
children in their own homes, and
for investigation and supervision Of
such cases.
Section z. Allowances to mothers
when made, amount. Whenever any
child under the age of sixteen years
who is not lawfully entitled to APP
ply for and receive an employment
certificate is found by Juvenile court
(probate court in Blue Earah county,
to be dependent the court shall,
when requested so to do, and in the
same proceedings, make its findings
on the following points:
"(a) Whether the mother is a
widow;
(b) If her husband is living ETC.
(not applicable to the case in ques
ton 80 49,
~"(c) Whistler the dependency OF
the child is due to the poverty of the
mother without neglect improvidence
or other fault on her part;
I'D Ite Whether the mother is
otherwise fit person to have the
custody of her child s67 lsa3 .y,-
s1Cs"(e)l Whether the welfare of the
child will be subserved by permit
= ting him &c remain in the custody of
the mother, if adequate means shall
be provided;
e"tf) Whether the mother is a
citizen of he United States or wfie.
Their she, or her husband has made
declaration of intention to become
citizen and has resided two years in
the state and one year in the county.
Upon The making and filing of
findings that the mother is a widow
or that support is not obtainable
from her husband by reason of one
of the alternatives specified in sub
division (b) together with findings
in the affirmative upon the points
specified in subdivisions &c, d, e, f,)
the court shall further find and Of
which it deems necessary for the
county to allow the mother in order
to enable her to bring up the child
properly in her own home, not ex-
cceding fifteen dollars per month for
one child and not exceeding ten d.
lars per month for each additional
child"
There are some seventeen sections
in THE chaDter. but / have quoted
enough of the law to bring it's spirit
before you. l might add however.
that Section Is provided that "this
act shall be literally construed with
a view 10 accomplishing its purpose.
which is hereby declared TO be to
enable the state and it's several
. aunties TO cooperate with response
: mothers in rearing future citi-
ms. when such CO operation is nee
essary en- account of relatively per-
manent conditions, in order to keep
TIE nlo,hcr md children together IL
the same household, reasonably safe
guard the health of the mother and
secure to the children during their
tender years her personal care and
training"
Now II was the intention of those
who drafted this act that the state
nsd llipnn proper filings VII
state auditor, bear half the expense
- - - hoY
ever, no appropriation was made so
shat tbs whole amount would co-ue
from the county which would un-
sdoubtedly justify the court in not
granting the maximum under the
provisions of the act He would
fdvis-.cr 'Sef 7hornuohlv Justified In
granting ut least half the maximum
which would in this case amount to
Something like $55 month, sum
20 small to be really adequate yet
!. ne which might enable this mother
T NiidI#n Oue Syl4r
ihier ar> Greatly Arorsrd ~ SIC mil
,sca- --aration of French and -
gian families. is the sting to the
members of family any less keen
because they are caught between
the strong arm of the law or the
treacherous arm of disease? The
Red Cross does much for the suffer.
ing families on the other side of the
water believe they stand no less
ready to act in a case Of suffering