Evening star., 1944-02-26
Juvenile Runaway
Fund Of 100000
Proposed in Senate
Estimate Of Annual
Cost for Fores Made
By Florida Judge

! An estimate that an annual Fed
eral fund OF 100000 would be suf-
ficient to cover the cost of trans
porting runaway children back
home was placed before a Senate
Judiciary Subcommittee today as it
continued public hearings on the
Andrews bill on the subject.
The estimate was given by Judge
Walter H. Beckham of Miami, Fla,
representing the Juvenile Judges
Association OF America, principal
sponsor Of the plan to make avail
able social security funds In the aid
Observation-Disclosures category for
sending ruhaways back to their
homes.
He urged that the plan not be
broadened to provide for the final
solution or caring for such delin-
quent children, saying the States
can handle that part of the prob
lem. Expressions Of approval on
this point came from Senators An
drews, Democrat, Of Florida and
Ferguson, Republican, of Michigan.
Service Discipline Asked.
Judge Beckman also recommended
that heads of the military services
require military police and shore pa
troll units to take sterner measures
against servicemen indulging in de
bauchery." He asserted this was
one of the major causes of delin-
quency among girls.
There was q time when children
ran away from home because there
was reason to leave" Judge Chris
Barnette, of the Juvenile Court at
Shreveport, La, told the commit
tee yesterday afternoon. Now" he
said. they are leaving good homes
after Imaginary glamour, hunting a
soldier or something, and then when
they get there, they find it's all
fiat"
That such entertainment as radio
crooners who set children yelling
and screaming" contributes to de-
was suggested by Senator
Andrews, who heads the subcom-
mittee.
Many Programs Deplored.
Senator Andrews also deplored
programs featuring pistol packing
heros. when they try to weave in
morals, it's fine" he said, but
what's the shooting for?"
Judge Barnette told the commit
tee that more girls than bows are
involved In runaway cases and that
they are predominently white.
The large cities and such States
as Florida and California, he said.
attract the greatest number of run
aways. Since there is no reciprocal
arrangement between the States, he
contended it Is unfair for the States
that hold the attractions" to have
to bear the cost of either caring for
runaway juveniles or financing their
transportation home.
Whether the bill provides the
proper machinery to meet the prob
lem was questioned by Mrs. Ellen S.
woodward. member Of the Social
Security Board. and Miss Katharine
Lenroot, chief Of the Children's
Bureau.
Bills Powers Questioned.
Mrs. Woodward said the Social
Security Board was sympathetic"
with the intent of the bill, but sue-
gested 1t doesn't give sufficient rec
ognition to factors causing children
to leave home.
Miss Lenroot said the heart of
the problem" is provision of a serv-
ice which would determine under
what conditions children should be
returned. She told the committee
that the Children's Bureau admin
listers social security funds for child
welfare services in a program. which
could be expanded to meet the prob
lens Of runaways.
Charles Lionel Chute of New York
executive director of the National
Probation Association, also was
among the witnesses.