Evening star., 1922-07-19
PENSION
BILL INTRODUCED
(.
Senator Pomerene Would
Aid Women and Needy Chill
dren in District.
CARE IN AID PROVIDED
him of Measure to Prevent Break
ing Up of Homes Due to Dire
Poverty.

A mothers pension bill ior tue
district of Columbia was introou'eu
IN the Senate today by Senator rum
roma of Ohio. 1t was referred 10 the
,,istrict committee, of which senator
romerene is member. 80,
Under the provisions OF the DILL
..,otbers of children under sixteen
years of age, whose huso"hu'
lead or permanently disabled OF WIN
save been deserted by their huspahus'
,u. whose husbands are prisoners D. s""'.
he entitled to receive not 10 eNeeeu
st5 a month for the first chiiu anu
a. for each of the cther chhui Gil
under sixteen years OF age
Court Would Handle Fund
The mothers pension fund wouid
he administered under the super'is-
inn of the Juvenile Court Of the DIS
;rict. To obtain the benents oi 'ne
proposed law, poor mothers ana 'neir
children must have been residents Oh
the District continuously for a perlod
of two years. The order making al
,owance to a mother Is to be eHec
i've for a period not longer than SIN
months but upon the expiration ~
that period the court may eXtenu the
allowance for another SIX hioh'hs
or less. .nd
oh;,aren 70 whom this allowance ls
Granted are to be visited from tiihc
70 time by probation offcers, the
agent of an associated charities OF
ranization or the Humane society. as
the court may direct; IL res Is psoSchh sueh
visits shall be thoroughly trained In
charitable relief work.
Conditions for Help.
The conditions upon which an al
iowance may be made by the Juvenile
Court are that the child or children
for whose benefit the allowance Is
made must be living with the
mother, that the allowance shall be
made only when In the absence OF
such allowance the mother be re-
auired to work regularly away from
her home and children. and when by
means of such allowance she Will be
able to remain at home with her
children, except that she may be ab-
sent for work for such time as the
court deems advisable. The mother
must III lue Juus VI
be a proper person. morally. physl-
cally and mentally, for the uporlne-
ing Of her children.
The allowance shall in the judg-
ment of the court be necessary to
save the child or children from neg
Iect and to avoid the breaking up
of a home. Before an allowance is
granted, a careful preliminary ex-
animation Of the>home of the mother
and children desiring assistance.
must be made by a probation ofhcer
or some other agency.
Provision Against Fraud.
Tho bill carries an appropriation of
$4,000 to meet this expenditure. Pen
alties are provided for the punish
ment of any person who fradulently
attempts to obtain an allowance for
a person not entitled thereto. If con-
victed, such a person shall be deemed
guilty Of a misdemeanor and shall be
punished by a fine of not less than
SIS and not more than $50. or by i'm
prisonment of not less than two
months. or both.
In each case where an allowance is
made a record of the proceedings
shall be kept and any citizen may at
any time file a motion to set aside or
vacate or modify the Judgment of the
court. Where such a motion Is made,
the court is required to make thor
ough investigation.