Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-16
WILL ASK LAWS
FOR CHILDREN
Children's Code Commission
Has % Proposals to Make
to Legislature.

Dakota Children's Code Commission,
of which DR.. Alex ]. MCDANIEL of Mi
not is a member. has completed q
survey OF child welfare con-
ditions in the state, and its Xplumin-
o0s report and recommendations 10
Just off the presses and ready for
distribution. "a total of 10000 copies
has been printed. This report, the
compilation OF which, with %investiga-
lions, extended over more than a year
since tho commission was named a r
ly in 1921, points vi existing condi-
lions in the state regarding child well
fare work-or lack Of it-cites the
present laws and proposes various
recommendations for change and i'm
provement which, In the judgment Of
the commission, would be secured by
nactment into law Of Its proposed
new program.
10 Proposals Planned.
The commissions program is ON
bodied In 20 bills which will be sub
mitted to the state legislature at Its
coming session. In many cases, the re-
port points out, the laws governing
children in the state-especially the
neglected, dependent. delinquent and
defective-are obsolete or ineffective.
IA, t0SAASA S0ooC SAACA0 d3V AU ID We iWA0k~
ever t o cover certain needs. And there
is Sno effective agency TO- enforce any
of the child welfare laws that exist.
The commissions program proposes
to endeavors to give the children OF
the classes mentioned a better chance
to life " improving their home con
ditions where possible or by giving
them:,more suitable homes when nee
essary to- change them, and by i'm
proving the entire, system of dealing
with children who are charges upon
the public. More searching and care
full Investigations into all cases before
disposal are provided for. The juvenile
court system is improved and EXTENDED
more generally, more safeguards are
thrown about these public wards,
mental clinics are provided for and,
finally. agencies are created that will
of the state and push the enforcement
Of child welfare laws. The central
agency would be a state bureau OF
child welfare of five membership
Guiding the superintendent Of public
instruction, the commissioner of agri-
culture and labor. and, three others
named by the governor
This body would license and regu.
late all child placing and welfare
agencies Of the state outside state in
stitutions-would act as guardian or
parole or probation officers, conduct
Investigations, license and supervise
public dance halls and pool and bill
lizard halls. enforce laws and name
county welfare agencies. The bureau
would name a paid Directors train
ed social Worker-and such assistants
as were found to be necessary.
County Welfare Boards.
z IN the counties. county welfare
boards would be named. when so re.
quested, by the boards of county com.
m~issioners. The personnel would be
the county superintendent of schools
and d member of the county board OF
commissioners, besides three others
including women-appointed by the
state bureau. These county welfare
boards would act as agents of the
state bureau, investigate and repor,
and assist In welfare work wherever
possible. The executive officer would
be an executive secretary who might
be superintendent Of the poor or some
other official already serving. These
boards could be dissolved on request
OF. the county board of commissioners
DR.. ,McCannelS states that the, code
commission has made very careful
investigation of the conditions In
North Dakota and found them serious
In many cases. The U. s. cbildren's
bureau and other agencies and expert.
both from within and without the
state assisted in the investigation and
compilation OF the report. The doctor
already taken advanced steps in i'm.
yrnv{n0 J~hjId rond{ttnus end {, Nnr+L