The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-08-18

L
ance of Poor Mothers or Other Poor
Women Having Children Dependent
Upon Them for Support and Care
Under the Age of Sixteen Years
and to Provide the Necessary
Means of Carrying This Law Into
Effect.
Whereas, Section of Article xiii
of the Constitution of this State or
dams that the respective counties of
the State shall provide in the manner
prescribed by law for those of the in
habitants that by reason of age, in
trinity or misfortune may have
claims upon the aid and sympathy of
society,"" and
Whereas, 1t has been found by
those engaged in social welfare work
among the poorer people of the State
that there are numbers of Mothers
and other women who have children
depending solely upon them for food
clothing and education, and in many
stances deprived almost wholly of all
of these necessities; and
Whereas, 1t has been demonstrated
that Republic is as strong as its
citizenship, and the citizen is useful
accordingly as to his intellect and en-
vironments and training; therefore
Be 1t Enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Florida:
Section l. GENERAL DUTIES OF
! OFFICERS. The County Commits
sioners of the several Counties of the
State Of Florida are empowered and
authorized to provide in the annual
budget Of the General Revenue Fund
an appropriation sufficient to meet
the purpose of this law for the sup
port Of women who have dependent
upon them for food, raiment and edu-
cation an orphan or orphans or half
orphan children under sixteen years
of age including any woman whose
husband is dead or an inmate of some
State Institution, or whose husband
has been prosecuted for desertion or
non-suport and has been adjudicated
by the Court where prosecuted to be
wholly unable to support his wife and
children; whose support and the sup
port of the children depend wholly
or partially upon her labor, shall be
entitled to the assistance as provided
for in this Act, for the support of
herself and for her children.
Section2. ALLOWANCE AUTHOR.
lied. The allowance for the aid of
such women shall not exceed twenty.
J five dollars month when she has
but one child under sixteen years of
age. If she has more than one child
under sixteen years of age If she
has more than one child under the
age of sixteen years it shall not ex
coed twenty-five dollars for the first
child, and eight dollars month for
each of the other children.
Section 3. CONDITION OF AL
LOWANCE. That the County Com
missioners of their respective coun
ties shall levy a tax of not more thar
IL of one mill on ell taxable property
of their respective counties for the
purpose of supplying funds to carry
this Bill into effect, and provide
/, means for the same, provided the con
dition of allowance of said allotment
shall be made by the County Commits
sioners upon the recommendation O
the School Board in the County il
! which such Mothers, reside, and onl!
upon the following conditions:
First The child or children fo
! whose benefit the allowance is made
must be living with the mother o
such child or children.
Second. The Mother must in tn,
+, judgment of the County Commission
ers of such County, which body shall
finally pass upon all applications 70
aid under this Act, be a proper pei
son morally, physically and mentall
Tor the bringing up Of her children.
! Third. Said allowance shall, in tn
judgment of the County Commission
ers, be necessary to save the chill
or children from neglect.
| Fourth. No person shall receiv
, the benefit of this Act who shall nc
I have been a resident of the State TO
at least four years and resident Q
the County in which the allowance
| given for at least one year next b.
fore the making of the application 70
aid in such county.
\ Section 4. WHEN ALLOWANCE
| SHALL CEASE. Whenever any chill
!. shall reach the age of sixteen year