Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1907 — STATE’S DEPENDENTS THE SUBJECT OF SOME WISE LEGISLATION [ARTICLE]

STATE’S DEPENDENTS THE SUBJECT OF SOME WISE LEGISLATION

[S Dedal Correspondence. 1- , Indianapolis. Ind., "Sept .-S. The yrorfcef'the last legislature in the enactment of laws relating to public charities has attracted much attention throughout the country as well as in Indiana. Tfie progress Indiana has made in her charities in the past two decades and especially in the last one, is a matter of general knowledge. The improvement began Immediately following the excellent law in 1889 creating the Board of State Charities. It» good work is generally known and recognized both at home and abroad. The following figures show strongly tip gjovement foj the best laws. The legislature of 1891 passed three laws relating to charities; that of 1893, four laws; 1895, five laws; 1905, fifteeen laws, and 1907, thirty-five. WHo+e Field Covered. More laws were passed by the last legislature affecting charities than in the preceding ten years. That does not include the appropriation bill. These new laws covered the whole field of public charitable activity. They relate to township charities, city chartties, county charities and state charities. They apply to organizations and institutions. They affect both adults and children. They provide for the better care of the dependents, defectives and delinquents. They go still farther and in a sane way provide means for the prevention of such misfortunes and evils. They provide tor those who cannot care forthemsetves. "

Decreases Child Labor Dependence. Among the most important laws passed were those relating to children. Heretofore dependents were made public wards by any one of several public officials. In future no child can become a public dependent in any county except by the judge of the juvenile court. Only on the order of that court can any child hereafter be legally supported by the county unless ft was properly a public charge when the law went into effect. fifall counties but Marion, the judge of the circuit court is judge of the juvenile court. Heretofore many children have been made public wards who should not have been. Many parents neglected their natural responsibilities and turned their children over to the public to support. This law should decrease child dependence In Indiana and insure better records and better care of the dependent children. This new law makes wilful neglect of duty towards children by parents or others responsible for them an offense pun-' ishable by fine not exceeding SSOO and tapcteonment in jail or workhouse. • PflOtrtaton for Orphans. EJrery child in an orphans* home or oßffer custodial institution is to be educated at the expense of the school oerporatlon where it has a legal settlement. County commissioners are allowed to contract with organisations or agphanages for the care and placement <n families of dependent children at a rate not exceeding 35 cents par day. The township trustee is given authority to purchase burial ftacee for deceased soldiers, sailors and marines. The county auditor is required to keep a debit and credit account with each township, balance the account on the first of January snob year and transmit a statement to the, ernrseer of the poor. This balance. is to be taken into account in matffios the next levy tor reimbursing the county tor money advanced for poor relief. A new law provides that the proper authorities shall supply fNe anti-toxine to poor persons al the ssppuee of the county, city or town hoard of health. Rar Non-Partisan Boards.

A law for the uniform orgaidMtlon acfl administration of all the state except the normal school anfl<he universities was passed. This protUea for a board of four members at nominal salaries, for each instltutltm. Not more than two members can belong to the same political party. Ito board of the Indiana girls' school and tlart of the Indiana woman’s prison are composed entirely of women. One joamber of the board of the school tor fUßble-minded youth at Fort Wayne la to ba a woman, as is one member of 4tas board of the soldiers* and sallers* orphans' home at Knightstown. Eacffi board is to appoint the superlntaagtoit of its institution and the supSSl> tin dent Is to appoint all officers an* sanplnyes. No qualifications exfitness can be taken into constdeottm in making any appointments Cor by the law, and the trusts* as* prohibited from Interfering I* way with the selection or dlsof any employs. AaaOter Hopeful 81ga. <*e of the moot hopeful measures paPffiK! was that providing for the appdmnent of a commission and making appropriation to purchase a site toe a hospital for the treatment of taftaronlosis. No more can be done at this time. It is the beginning of XwtU bo a house of mercy to many s and which, through its educatfgpmtleffects, will reach every home Ist <1 parts of our state. ftaker laws affect the transfer of jdMoners between the reformatory sa< the start prison; prohibit the ecdtaange of articles with institution tasaatee; the trespassing upon public Kds, and give institutions the to condemn property necessary l purposes. flawed from day point it is apparent that the recent Republican legislature dK move than any ether one lor the eaneo of the state’s dependents.