Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 1.djvu/736

722 agents, and a bond of $1000 is required from non-residents that the child shall not become a public charge. This last-named provision prevents the importation of children and was so intended. It does not prohibit. It regulates only, requiring others to simply use the same precautions that the state does in placing children.

A Michigan law provides for the free surgical and medical treatment, board and nursing of dependent children at the Michigan University hospital. This treatment enables the child to become self-supporting who, without it, might be a life long dependent. Compulsory education may be considered one of the important child-saving agencies. The law is recent and scarcely yet in operation. Reports from fifty-two cities show an increased attendance of about 3000 and that it would have been larger had there been room. Returns from twenty-eight counties, outside of the cities showed an increase of about 1200. Many reported a marked increase without stating the number. The probable increase in the state is over 5000 and possibly much larger. Some parents have been arrested and fined for not sending their children to school and with good results. The public school system generally, which furnishes free education to all, should be credited with child saving.

The reform schools are among the best organized and conducted and have done excellent work in the reform of delinquent children. The average number in these institutions the past five years, does not show increase in numbers. It has been as follows:

1890 1891 1893 1894

In the Adrian Home for girls 233 233 212 224 234

In the Lansing school for girls 480 503 497 415 453

The Michigan laws regarding child labor in factories, prohibits the employment of children under fourteen years of age and none between the age of fourteen and sixteen years without the consent of parent or guardian.

The state public school feature of child saving has been adopted by Minnesota, Wisconsin and Rhode Island and sub-