in any year the amount appropriated for such purpose by the county, city and county, or State authorities respectively. In counties having a population of over 20,000, the boards of county commissioners, and in cities and counties operating under Article XX of the constitution, the authority performing like duties to those of county commissioners, shall establish and maintain workhouses or proper facilities for the detention and employment of men convicted of nonsupport of women and children. Any sums of money earned by them or collected for their labor by the authorities in charge of such workhouses or facilities shall be used for the maintenance of the fund necessary to be expended by the county or city and county in carrying out the provisions of this act. The board of commissioners of the State penitentiary and reformatory shall make such similar provision as to said board seems most practicable to profitably employ all persons committed to such prisons for nonsupport of women or children, and any sums received for such labor shall be used for the maintenance of the fund provided by the State for compliance with the provisions of this act. This act shall be liberally construed for the protection of the child, the home and the State, and in the interest of public morals and for the prevention of poverty and crime.

Effective January 22, 1913.

"During the first six months of the operation of this act but our counties made appropriations to meet the requirements of the law, to wit: Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, and Weld. The total amount appropriated for the use of the courts was $6,110, of which amount Denver set aside $4,800. During the six months ending with June 30, 1913, 63 applications, involving 187 children, were filed; 32 applications, involving 99 children, were allowed; 26 applications, involving 66 children, were denied; and 5 applications, involving 22 children, were pending at the close of June 30, 1913. Of 32 applications allowed, the mothers only were heads of the families. were of families deserted by the fathers." Quarterly Bulletin, Jan., 1914.

Eight of the applications allowed (Colorado State Board of Charities,

In Denver, pensions were granted to 28 families, but 2 were soon withdrawn by reason of the marriage of the mothers. The 26 on the list in December, 1913, had altogether 97 children and a monthly allowance of $727, or an average of $7.50 per child. Of these mothers, 16 were widows, 8 deserted wives, 1 the wife of a hopeless invalid, and 1 had a husband in the penitentiary. For an account of the operation of the law in Denver, see article on "Administering mothers' pensions in Denver," by Gertrude Vaile, supervisor of relief, department of public charities, Denver, in The Survey for Feb. 28, 1914.

IDAHO.

[Laws 1913, chap. 73.]

An Act To provide for the assistance and support of poor women whose husbands are dead or are inmates of the Idaho State penitentiary and who have a child or children dependent for support wholly or partly upon their labor; and conferring jurisdiction thereof upon probate courts.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: SECTION 1. Aid to needy mothers.-The probate judge of each county shall have authority as hereinafter provided to make provision for the partial support of women whose husbands are dead, or whose husbands are prisoners, confined in the Idaho State enitentiary, when such women are poor and are the mothers of children under he age of fifteen (15) years, and such mothers and children reside in such ounties.

SEC. 2. Amount of allowance.-The allowance of each of such women shall hot exceed ten dollars ($10.00) a month when she has but one child under the

age of fifteen (15) years, and if she has more than one child under the age of fifteen (15), it shall not exceed the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) a month for the first child and five dollars ($5.00) a month for each of the other children under the age of fifteen years.

SEC. 3. Conditions of allowance.-Such allowance shall be made by the probate court and only upon the following conditions: (1) The child or children, for whose benefit the allowance is made, must be living with the mother of such child or children; (2) the allowance shall be made only when in the absence of such allowance, the mother would be required 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; (3) the mother must, in the judgment of the probate court, be a proper person, physically and mentally, for the bringing up of her children; (4) such allowance shall, in the judgment of the court, be necessary to save the child or children from neglect; (5) no person shall receive the benefit of this act who shall not have been a resident of the county in which such application is made for at least two years next before the making of such application for such allowance: Provided, That the provisions of this act shall not apply to any child which has property of its own sufficient for its support. SEC. 4. Allowance paid out of county funds.—Whenever the probate court shall determine that an allowance under this act shall be made, it shall make an order to that effect which order, among other things, shall set out in full the name of the mother, her place of residence, the names and ages of each of the children, and the amount allowed to each child, and upon presentation of such order, the county commissioners shall direct monthly warrants to be drawn therefor, which warrants shall be paid from the general funds of the county.

SEC. 5. When allowance shall cease.-Whenever any child shall reach the age of fifteen (15) years, any allowance made to the mother of such child for the benefit of such child shall cease. The probate court may, in its discretion, at any time before such child reaches the age of fifteen (15) years, discontinue or modify the allowance to any mother and for any child. shall have been confined in the Idaho State penitentiary, such allowance shall cease on his discharge or parole and whenever any w any allowance shall have been made under the provisio marry, such allowance shall cease.

и

If such husband

oman on whose account

ns of this act, shall

is law shall not

SEC. 6. To whom law does not apply.-The provisions of thed in the

apply to any woman, whose husband is not dead or who is not Idaho State penitentiary.

procure

SEC. 7. Penalty for fraud.—Any person procuring, or attempting to lty of a any allowance for a person not entitled thereto, shall be deemed guinot less misdemeanor and on conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of dollars than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail, for a period of not mor one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.

than

nce is

SEC. 8. Motion to set aside allowance.—In each case where an allowało that made to any woman under the provisions of this act a judgment entry loweffect shall be entered upon the records of the probate court making such a te a ance and it shall be the right of any tax-paying citizen at any time to filing motion to set aside such judgment, and on such motion the probate judge hear evidence without a jury and his decision shall be final.

Approved March 5, 1913.

SEC. 9. Repeal.-All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act, are so far as they conflict, hereby repealed.

the

ILLINOIS.

[Laws 1913, pp. 127-130.1

An Act To provide for the partial support of mothers whose husbands are dead or have become permanently incapacitated for work by reason of physical or mental infirmity, when such mothers have children under fourteen years of age, and are citizens of the United States of America and residents of the county in which application for relief is made. And, also, to provide for the probationary visitation, care and supervision of the family for whose benefit such support is provided.

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the general assembly: SECTION 1. Jurisdiction.—The juvenile court, or where there is no juvenile court, the county court in the several counties in the State, shall have original jurisdiction in all cases coming within the terms of this act.

SEC. 2. Application for relief.—A woman whose husband is dead or whose husband has become permanently incapacitated for work by reason of physical or mental infirmity, may file an application for relief under this act, provided such woman is a citizen of the United States of America and has a previous residence for three years in the county where such application is made and is the mother of a child or children.

SEC. 3. Official investigation and report.-Whenever an application for relief is filed the home of the applicant shall be visited by an officer of the court having jurisdiction of the matter, and the facts set forth in such application shall be investigated by such officer under the direction of the court, and a report and recommendation of the approval or disapproval of such application shall be made in writing by such officer to the court without any unnecessary delay. SEC. 4. Petition, form of.—After the investigation of such application for relief by an officer of court and the filing of the report and recommendation thereon of such officer, such officer of court or any reputable and responsible person who has a residence in the county may file with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the matter, a petition in writing duly verified by affidavit setting forth such facts as are necessary under this act to give the court jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter, and setting forth such other facts, which, when found by the court to be true, shall be the basis upon which, the order of relief is entered. It shall be sufficient that the affidavit is upon knowledge, information and belief. A separate petition shall be filed for each child. The mother of such child and the county board of the county in which the petition is filed shall be made parties respondent to such petition.

SEC. 5. Summons.-Upon the filing of such petition a summons returnable not less than three days nor more than ten days after the date thereof shall issue to the respondents named in such petition requiring the mother with such child and all the respondents to appear at a place and time stated in the summons, which time shall be on the return day of such summons.

SEC. 6. Service.-Service of summons shall be made in the same manner as is provided for the service of a summons in an act entitled "An act to regulate practice in courts of chancery," approved March 15, 1872, in force July 1, 1872. SEC. 7. New process.-Whenever process shall not be returned executed on or before the return day thereof, the court may direct the clerk to issue an alias, pluries or other process, returnable at a time ordered by the court.

SEC. 8. Appearance-Hearing. The filing of a written appearance by a respondent shall render the service of summons on such respondent unnecessary. The court shall proceed to hear the cause upon the return day of the summons or upon a day thereafter to be fixed by the court without the formality of the

respondents filing answers: Provided, All the respondents have either been served with summons or have their written appearance in said cause.

SEC. 9. Hearing-Order of payment-Duty of county board.-Upon the hearing in court of a petition under this act, the court, being fully advised in the premises finding the facts alleged in the petition to be true, may make an order upon the county board of the county to pay to the mother of the child or children in whose behalf the petition or petitions are filed an amount of money necessary to enable such mother to properly care for such child or children. It thereupon shall be the duty of the county board, through its county agent or otherwise, to pay to such mother at such times as said order may designate the amount so specified for the care of such child or children until the further order of the court.

SEC. 10. Amount of allowance.-The allowance made to such mother shall not exceed fifteen dollars per month when such mother has but one child under the age of fourteen years, and if she has more than one child under such age, the relief granted shall not exceed ten dollars per month for each of the other children: Provided, That in no event shall the relief granted for any one mother and children exceed the sum of fifty dollars per month.

SEC. 11. Conditions upon which relief is granted.-Such relief shall be granted by the court only upon the following conditions:

(1) The child or children for whose benefit the relief is granted must be living with the mother of such child or children; (2) the court must find that it is for the welfare of such child or children to remain at home with the mother; (3) the relief shall be granted only when in the absence of such relief the mother would be required to work regularly away from her home and children and when by means of such relief she will be able to remain at home with her children, except that she may be absent for work a definite number of days each week to be specified in the court's order, when such work can be done by her without the sacrifice of health or the neglect of home and children; (4) such mother must, in the judgment of the court, be a proper person, physically, mentally and morally fit to bring up her children; (5) the relief granted shall, in the judgment of the court, be necessary to save the child or children from neglect; (6) a mother shall not receive such relief who is the owner of real property or personal property other than the household goods; (7) a mother shall not receive such relief who is not a citizen of this country and who has not resided in the county where the application is made at least three years next before making such application; (8) a mother shall not receive such relief if her child or children have relatives of sufficient ability to support them.

SEC. 12. Relief for child between 14 and 16 years.-Whenever any child shall arrive at the age of fourteen years any relief granted to the mother for such child shall cease: Provided, If a child of fourteen years of age be ill or is incapacitated for work, the mother shall receive funds for his care during such illness or incapacity for work until such child is sixteen years of age. The court may, in its discretion, at any time before such child reaches the age of fourteen years, modify or vacate the order granting relief to any mother and for any child.

SEC. 13. Presence of husband.-Whenever relief is granted or is about to be granted to a mother whose husband is permanently incapacitated for work by reason of physical or mental infirmity and the presence of such husband in the family is a menace to the physical and moral welfare of the mother or children, then the court may require that such husband be removed from the home and provision for his care made elsewhere, or failing to remove such husband or upon his refusal to be separated from his family, the court may, in its discretion, vacate the order granting relief, or refuse the relief asked for.

SEC. 14. Probation officers-Their pay.-The court having jurisdiction in proceedings coming within the provisions of this act shall have the power to appoint one or more qualified persons of good character, who shall serve and be known as probation officers, during the pleasure of the court, and who shall be paid a suitable compensation by the county for their services, the amount thereof to be determined by the county board.

SEC. 15. Duty of probation officers.—It shall be the duty of such officers to investigate all applications for relief and make a written report of such investigation with their recommendations.

After granting of relief to any mother for the support of her children it shall be the further duty of such officers to visit and supervise, under the direction of the court, the families to which such relief has been granted and to advise with the court and to perform such other duties as the court may direct in order to maintain the integrity of the family and the welfare of the children. SEC. 16. Levy of tax-Limitation.—The county board in each county shall levy a tax of not to exceed three-tenths of one mill on the dollar annually on all taxable property in the county, such tax to be levied and collected in like manner with the general taxes of the county, and to be known as a mothers' pension fund: Provided, That said tax shall not be included in the aggregate of all the taxes required to be reduced under the provisions of an act entitled "An act concerning the levy and extension of taxes," approved May 9 1901, in force July 1, 1901, and acts amendatory thereof.

SEC. 17. Partial relief.—Should the fund herein authorized be sufficient to permit an allowance to only a part of the mothers coming within the provisions of this act, the court shall select, in its discretion, those in most urgent need of such allowance.

SEC. 18. Penalty for fraud.—Any person or persons fraudulently attempting to obtain or fraudulently obtaining any allowance for relief under this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months, or both. SEC. 19. Repeal.-All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Approved June 30, 1913.

OPERATION OF LAW IN COOK COUNTY.

The above act supersedes the "funds to parents act" of June 5, 1911, which provided that:

"If the parent or parents of such dependent or neglected child are poor and unable to properly care for the said child, but are otherwise proper guardians and it is for the welfare of such child to remain at home, the court may enter an order finding such facts and fixing the amount of money necessary to enable the parent or parents to properly care for such child, and thereupon it shall be the duty of the county board, through its county agent or otherwise, to pay to such parent or parents, at such times as said order may designate, the amount so specified for the care of such dependent or neglected child until the further order of the court." (Laws 1911, pp. 126-127.)

The difficulties that attended the inauguration of this law in Cook County (the only county to take advantage of the act) are described in detail by Mr. C. C. Carstens in his report for the Russell Sage Foundation ("Public pensions to widows with children; a study of their administration in several American cities." New York, 1913.) Because of the magnitude of the task involved in administering the new aid in the peculiarly difficult situation that then existed in connection with the juvenile court at Chicago, Judge Merritt C. Pinckney called to his aid the leading charitable organizations, who detailed five experienced workers (given commissions by the court as voluntary probation officers) to act with the chief probation officer of the court and his deputy as a case committee to sift the facts in the pension cases and make recommenda