Evening journal., 1919-02-05
PHILIP BULNET CUT
OF Juvenile COURT
Continued from page one.)

| AAOutluutu rum page Oucsl
appointed by the judges Of the Su.-
perior Court on the recommends on OF
the judge OF the Juvenile Court.
"3. City Council has chosen to with
hold the salary Of the Chief Probation
Oflce- on the ground that he is not a
Delawarean. and therefore that there
is question as TO the legality OF his
I appointment. notwithstanding the fact
that the appointment was made by the
judges who constitute the highest lega,
authority In the State
"ln a word. Council takes the posi-
tion that II Is more important for
Delawarean 10 get the job than 10 fur
ther the welfare OF hund. eds OF chill
dreh who come before the Juvenile
C0urL by appointing the best men OBJ
tainable regardless Of where he 0omes
from.
III Council has referred this ques-
tlon TO the City Solicitor for a legal
opinion as II was supposed 10 10, IL
would he highly interesting 10 see an
exact copy Of all the correspondence
The fact that II has not been publish
ed leads me to suspect that Il might
confirm my belief that it Is impossible
for the Juvenile Court or the Juvenile
Court Association TO be OF much use
until the people OF Wilmington are
sufficiently interested In the welfare
OF the children OF the city TO make
their influence felt not only In Coun-
Gil, but also In the State Legislature,
which ought 10 provide suf1lclent funds
TO lcalntain the court without the pri-
vate subscriptions now required.
MY one regret In leaving the ssso-
citation IS that Mr.. Wentzel has chosen
10 resign as Chief Probation Offlcer OF
The Juvenile Court rather than suffer
the annoyance OF becoming the center
OF a hght 10 establish the legality OF
his appointment about which there
can be little doubt in view OF the fact
that u was made by the very court
which would have 10 pass on the ques-
tion. Nevertheless, ! can fully appre-
ciste his unwillingness TO appear be-
fo-e the public as attempting TO re-
tain a public office by force or law
against the VIII Of an antagonlstic City |
Council which, actuated by motives |
best known to itself, has finally sue
eeeded In seriously undermining the
OF the Juvenile Court to
the thousands OF Wilmington children |
under Its jurisdiction.
very truly yours.
."(Slgned. PHILIP BURNETT"
The letters OF resignation rendered
by Probation 0ffloer Wentzel are as
follows:
Wilmington. Del. Jan. %. 1919.
THE Juvenile Court and Probation AS
ISOLATION. Wilmington, Del.
TO the Association: I am sending a |
copy OF my resignation as Chief Pro- |
baton oflcer which. in. tusn. termi- |
mates my contract fo- remuneration /
from the Juvenile Court and Probation |
Association for the same ofilce.
Il further note that have a further
contract with the association relative
to the Detention House and the position
OF the matron. In this respect wish
TO give notice that II Is our plan 10
move as soon as ! can arrange for d
home In our next location and II Is
quite likely that II will be In the mid
die OF March or about that time before
we will be able to vacate and in the
meanwhile we hope 10 render the ser
vices necessary for the care Of de-
tained children.
Respectfully submitted.
"(Signedl WM. F. II. WENTZEL.
"Chief Probation 0flcer."
Wilmington Del, Jan %. 1919.
Hon. VIM. s. Prickett. Judge OF VIII
mington Juvenile Court Wilmington,
Del.
''My Dear Mr.. prickett: II is my OBJ
servation that you have been PERSONAL
ly made the subject OF unwarpantej
criticism because OF my appointment,
that yourself the court and the cause
are somewhat hampered or endangered
by reason OF an unjudged sentiment
that popularly formulated itself about
the agitation against the appointment
OF pon-Delawaresns. am assured