SEC. 3. All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this act as amended are hereby repealed. Any person or persons violating the provisions of this act as amended shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in any sum of money not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or not less than sixty (60) days, nor more than two hundred days (200) in the county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment. This act shall become effective on the first day of the commencement of the ensuing term of public school after its enactment and approval. Approved March 20, 1913. The provisions of the act of March 24, 1909, which relate to the courts having jurisdiction and the method by which cases of dependent children are brought into court are as follows: [Revised Laws 1912.] 729. SEC. 2. Jurisdiction. The district courts of the several judicial districts in this State shall have original jurisdiction in all cases coming within the terms of this act. * * * 730. SEC. 3. The findings of the court shall be entered in a book or books to be kept for that purpose and known as the "juvenile department," and the court may for convenience be called the "juvenile department of the district court." * 731. SEC. 4. Petition.-Any reputable person, being a resident of the county, may file with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the matter, a petition in writing setting forth that a certain child, naming it, within his county, is either dependent, neglected or delinquent as defined in section 1 hereof; The petition shall also set forth either the name, or that the name is unknown to petitioner (a) of the person having the custody of such child; and (b) of each of the parents or the surviving parent of a legitimate child; or of the mother of an illegitimate child; or (c) if it allege that both such parents are or such mother is dead, then of the guardian, if any, of such child; or (d) if it allege that both such parents are or that such mother is dead and that no guardian of such child is known to the petitioner. All persons so named in such petition shall be made defendants by name and shall be notified of such proceedings by summons if residents of this State in the same manner as is now or may hereafter be required in court proceedings by the laws of this State except only as herein otherwise provided. The petition shall be verified by affidavit, which affidavit shall be sufficient upon information and belief. * * * * * * 732. SEC. 5. Summons.-The summons shall require the person alleged to have the custody of the child to appear with the child at the time and place stated in the summons; and shall also require all defendants to be and appear and answer the petition on the return day of the summons. The summons shall be made returnable at any time within twenty days after the date thereof and may be served by the sheriff, or by any duly appointed probation officer, even though such officer be the petitioner. * * * 733. SEC. 6. Probation officers.-The district courts in this State shall have authority to appoint any number of discreet persons of good moral character to serve as probation officers during the pleasure of the court *. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the court, if practicable, to notify the said probation officer when any child is to be brought before the court; it shall be the duty of such probation officer to make investigation of such case; to be present in the court to represent the interests of the child when the case is heard; to furnish such court such information and assistance as the court or judge may require * 38076-14 NEW HAMPSHIRE. [Laws 1913, chap. 123.] An Act Making provision for the relief of destitute mothers and their children. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives in general court convened: SECTION 1. County to make appropriations.—It shall be the duty of the county commissioners of each county to provide out of the moneys in the county treasury not otherwise appropriated an amount sufficient to meet the purposes of this law for the partial support of women, when such women are of good repute but poor and dependent on their own efforts for support and are mothers of children under the age of sixteen years. SEC. 2. Amount of allowance.-The allowance to each of such women shall not exceed ten dollars ($10) a month when she has but one child under the age of sixteen years, and if she has more than one child under the age of sixteen years, it shall not exceed the sum of ten dollars ($10) a month for the first child and five dollars ($5) a month for each of the other children under the age of sixteen years. SEC. 3. Conditions of allowance.—Such allowance shall be made by the county commissioners upon the recommendation of the school board for the district in which such mother resides 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 school board, be a proper person, morally, physi cally and mentally, for the bringing up of her children; (4) such allowance shall in the judgment of the school board 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. SEC. 4. When allowance shall cease.-Whenever any child shall reach the age of sixteen years an allowance made to the mother of such child shall cease. The school board for the district in which the mother resides may recommend at any time before such child reaches the age of sixteen years that the allowance to any mother and for any child be discontinued or modified and the county commissioners, in their discretion, may thereupon discontinue or modify the same. SEC. 5. To whom law does not apply.―The provisions of this law shall not apply to any woman who is not dependent on her own efforts for the suppprt of herself and family and at the time of receiving such aid is not of good repute and making an earnest effort for self support. Approved May 7, 1913. NEW JERSEY. [Laws 1913, chap. 281.] An Act To promote home life for dependent children. Be it enacted by the senate and general assembly of the State of New Jer sey: 1. Widow may petition court.-Any widow who is the mother of a child or children under the age of sixteen, and who is unable to support them and to maintain her home, may present a petition for assistance to the court of common pleas of the county wherein she resides. 2. What petition must contain.—Such petition shall be verified and shall set forth the following: (a) Her name, the date of the death of her husband, the names of her children, and the dates and places of their birth and the time and place of her marriage. (b) Her residence and the length of time that she has been a resident of the State, the length of time she has lived at said residence and the address or addresses of her place or places of abode for the previous five years, and the date, as near as possible, when she moved in and when she left said place or places of residence. (c) A statement of all the property belonging to her and to each of her children, which statement shall include any future or contingent interests which she or any of them may have. (d) A statement of the efforts made by her to support her children. (e) The names, relationships and addresses of all her and her husband's relatives, that may be known. 3. Officials to be notified.—A copy of the petition provided for in section two hereof and a notice of the time and place when it will be presented to the court must be served on or mailed to the overseer of the poor having jurisdiction over the district wherein the petitioner resides and the board of children's guardians at least five days before such time. 4. Investigation and hearing.-Upon the return of the petition and notice the court shall examine under oath all who desire to be heard: Provided, however, That the New Jersey State Board of Children's Guardians shall before said hearing examine into the truth of the facts set forth in the abovementioned petition and shall file a report of its findings with the court, setting forth in full the results of its investigation. The court may, in its discretion, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and adjourn the hearing from day to day: And provided, however, The court may refer said matter to a commissioner to be appointed by the court to hear such witnesses as shall be produced by the petitioner, or the State board of children's guardians or others. Said commissioner shall make a report to the court setting forth the facts as proven before him. 5. Amount of allowance.—If, upon the completion of the examination provided for under section four hereof, the court concludes that, unless relief is granted, the mother will be unable to properly support and educate her children, and that they may become a public charge, it shall make an order committing said family to the care of the State board of children's guardians, and directing that there shall be paid to the mother, through the State board of children's guardians, monthly out of the county funds the following amounts for the maintenance and support of the children under sixteen: Nine dollars for one such child, fourteen dollars for two and four dollars for each additional child. 6. Duty of State board of children's guardians.—It shall be the duty of the State board of children's guardians to see that any widow committed to its care, pursuant to the provisions of this act is properly caring for her children, that they are sufficiently clothed and fed, that they attend school regularly and receive proper religious instruction; and that said family shall be visited at least six times a year. The State board of children's guardians shall report immediately to the court that had the original jurisdiction in the case of any widow who does not properly care for and educate her child or children, or when they find that she is an improper guardian for said child or children, or when they find that she no longer needs such support. The court shall thereupon revoke or cancel any order made pursuant to this act, at any time with or without notice, and in lieu thereof make any order that in the judgment of the court may protect the welfare of the child or children, or may make an order committing said child or children to the care, custody and control of the New Jersey State board of children's guardians, said child or children so committed to their care to be held by said New Jersey State board of children's guardians pursuant to a statute entitled "An act for the creation of a State board of children's guardians, and for defining their duties and powers with respect to the maintenance, care and general supervision over indigent, helpless, dependent, abandoned, friendless and poor children now or hereafter to become public charges of this State," approved March twentyfourth, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and the various supplements and amendments thereto. 7. No fees allowed.-No fees or costs shall be paid or allowed by the court for any proceedings held pursuant to this act, nor shall any counsel fee be ordered or collected from any party applying to the court pursuant to the provisions of this act. All proceedings pursuant to this act shall be in forma pauperis. Approved April 9, 1913. FORMS ADOPTED BY STATE BOARD OF CHILDREN'S GUARDIANS. LETTER INCLOSED WITH APPLICATION BLANKS. NEW JERSEY STATE BOARD OF CHILDREN'S GUARDIANS, 19-. DEAR MADAM: Your letter asking for information in regard to the mothers' pension bill has been received at this office. Under the law your petition must be made direct to the court of common pleas, which is held for your county at Under the law, it will be necessary for you to fill out the three inclosed blanks, answering fully every question thereon; otherwise you may cause serious delay in having your petition acted upon by the court. After you have answered these questions fully, and had the blanks sworn to before a person authorized to take affidavits, you must then file a copy with your county judge, also a copy with your local poormaster, and one with us. I am also inclosing you a copy of the law, which will show you that in order to be eligible to receive this pension, 1st, you must be a widow; 2d, you must be a mother of children under sixteen years of age; 3d, you must have a legal residence in the county wherein you reside. A legal settlement under the poor law is five years' residence in the municipality. 4th, you must have no visible means of support and be liable to become a public charge. If you have not resided in the county where you are living at this time for five years continuous, you will have to present your petition to the judge in the county where you have lived five years. If you do not understand about this, I will be glad to have you write me, and I will advise you further in regard to this matter. Yours, truly, General Agent. NOTICE AND PETITION. Court of common pleas of the county of In the matter of the petition of for relief under chapter 281 of the laws of 1913. Notice. To the overseer of the poor of the annexed. and to the State board one thousand nine hundred and - at ten I shall present to the court of a petition, a true copy of which is hereunto To the court of common pleas of the county of is --, widow of : in the county of one thousand nine in the State of New Jersey, respectfully shows the name of your petitioner The husband of your petitioner died on the hundred and day of The names of the children of your petitioner and the dates and places of their births are as follows: Your petitioner was married to her husband on the nine hundred and, at Your petitioner resides at day of one thousand and has been a resident of the State of New Jersey years. Following are the various places of abode for the last five years, with the dates, as nearly as your petitioner can recollect the same, when she moved in and when she left said respective places of residence: for Neither your petitioner or any of the children above named have any property or interests in property of any kind, future, or contingent, except as follows: Following is a statement of all property belonging to your petitioner or to either of the children above named, further or contingent: Following is a statement of the efforts made by your petitioner to support herself and her children: Following are the names, relationships, and addresses of all the relatives of herself and her deceased husband, so far as they are known to your petitioner: Your petitioner further states that unless relief is granted, your petitioner will be unable to properly support and educate her children and that they may become a public charge. Your petitioner therefore prays that this honorable court shall make an order committing your petitioner and the children above named to the care of the State board of children's guardians, and directing payment to your petitioner through said board monthly, out of the county funds, of the sums of money specified in the act entitled "An act to promote home life for dependent children," approved April 9, 1913, being chapter 281 of the Laws of 1913. And your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray, etc. Dated at State of New Jersey, county of 88. Petitioner. of full age, being duly sworn according to law, on her oath deposes and says that she is the petitioner above named; that the facts, matters, and things in said petition set forth are true. A. D. 19-, at LETTER TO CHARITY ORGANIZATION AND POOR MASTERS. DEAR SIR: We have received a notice that Mrs. sented a petition to the court of common pleas of the county of chapter 281, Laws of 1913. The law requires us to make an investigation and verify the statements made in this petition. Will you kindly cooperate with us in this case by answering the questions asked on blank attached below and return to this office? Thanking you, I am, yours, truly, 3. Has she ever been given assistance by your organization? If so, how much, in what way, and when? 4. During the time you have known her, has she properly cared for, first, her home, ; second, her children, 5. What means of support other than what she received from you has she had during the time she has been under your supervision? 6. Have you had any report about the children being abnormal or incorrigible? 7. Is the mother of good moral character? DEAR SIR: You are hereby notified that a petition for relief under chapter 281, Laws of 1913, has been presented to the court of common pleas by While the law does not provide for notice to the board of freeholders, yet, in view of the fact that such sums as may be allowed are payable out of the county treasury, we deem it proper that you should have such notice in order that the county may be represented at the hearing. We will be very glad of your cooperation and will furnish you with a copy of the report of our investigation on this case, if you so desire. Yours, truly, REPORT OF STATE BOARD. General Agent. Court of common pleas of the county of In the matter of the petition of for relief under chapter 281 of the Laws of 1913. Report of State board. The State board of children's guardians hereby reports to the court its findings as the result of its investigation into the petition filed in the above-entitled matter. The facts stated in the said petition as to the name of the petitioner, date of death of her husband, names and ages of her children and their places of birth, time and place |