The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-21
DIR. Florence sierbOn Opposes
Detention Home Plan.
Says Poor Farm No Place for
Children.
JUDGE GAW FIGHTS NOV
Undesirable and announcement,
Probate Judge Says.
Commissioners, However, Say
It's Only Solution.

The intention of the county commits
sioners to remove the county detention
home to the county poor farm has
aroused strong opposition from per-
sons officially connected with the
work of the home and from others in
terested in its development
The property at 400 Harrison street
occupied by the detention home since
its esta blishment five years ago, must
be vacated as soon as possible to COM
ply with the request of the owner of
the property. and the only solution of
the problem of relocating the home is
to move it to the county poor farm,
according to the county commission
ers.
Judge Cav Fights Plan.
Il would never approve of moving
the detention home to the poor farm"
Judge Ralph Cav of the probate court
said today. 1T would be a disgrace to
the county to keep the detention home
children in such place. The atmos-
phere of the poor farm is not a favor
able one for children-in fact it would
be harmful to them.
Sending detention home children
to the poor farm would be to class
them as paupers," Judge Cav contin-
ued. Very few of the detention home
inmates are paupers. They are LARGELY
neglected children or destitute chill
dren, for whom the juvenile court tries
to find good homes, or to better the
conditions in their own homes. In
mates of the poor farm are perma-
nent charges on the county with
whom it is not fair to class the chill
dren.
IF economy is the motive of the
| commissioners in making the poor
| farm arrangement. 1 cannot see where
| that purpose would be accomplished,
| for the poor farm is six miles from the
| court house and the expense of con-
/ veying probation officers and wards
| of the court to and from the farm
] would offset the saving in rent by To-
/ eating the home on the farm" Judge
Cav pointed out.
ASIDE from the unsuitable and
economical sides of the question. a de-
tention home located six miles from
| the juvenile court would be decidedly
! inconvenient. A delinquent boy found
on the streets late at night could not
be taken to the home at once, as he
might be if the home were in the city.
Altogether l can see no reason in IA
| vor of the poor farm location for the
home, and every reason against the
plan
"a Social Crime"
From a social standpoint, the plan
is wrong. according to DR.. Florence
Brown Sherbon. head of the child
hygiene department of the state board
of health
Moving the detention home to the
| county poor farm would be outra-
geous," Doctor Sherbon declared. 1T
would be a social crime
Sanitary conditions of the detention
home are exempted from inspection
by the state board of health. Doctor
Sherbon said, the only exemption I'M
der the state law that all places where
children are kept should be inspected
| and licensed by the state board OF
health.
Welfare workers officially connect
ed with public organizations and those
who work individually thru the or
CARNATIONS are united in opposition to
the plan of moving the detention home
to the poor farm.