New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-25
TILE PROCEEDINGS.

1le occasion OF inc was
Of peculiar interest it marked bv the first public
appearance OC0nor after his recent severe
illness. Universal interest was felt In regard TO
his condition during weeks when he lay almost at the
pNnt Of death and when his physician had pronounced
hs recovery to impossibe and the general pleasure
and marks Of approval which created him when he s
peared upon the platform last evening showed how hg0
place he holds in the esteem Of his fellow citizens.
The audience large and Of high character and gave
close attention to the speahers Upon the platform we've
seated Mr.. OConor Gov. Ilden, Joseph H. Choae, F. A.
p. Barnard LID. Presi tent OF Columbia College; Mr.
Wright President OF the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty Children; Theodore Roosevelt OF the State
Board Of Charities Robert l. Livingston, James Roose
welt George s. Schuyler Alexander Hamilton IT,, Judge
Van Worst Charles l. Brace John Crosby Brown, Fred
eric Law Olmsted Dr. Austin Flint, DR.. James Wood
AlonzO KimbaI. and WI liam F. Caey. Peter Cooper
and Elwood +. Thorne were in the audience.
The exercises OF the evening we're opened by Howard
Potter who said It gave him great pleasure to present
70 the audi nee Charles OConOr who had consented Ia
occupy the chair. He that this pleasure
shared everywhere, everywhere Mr. 0Conors niness
had cast shadow. All glad to know of the recOv-
cry Of one had done much for the Of good
government Mr.. O'COnOr at once arose and began 10
speak His voice was so low first to be scarcely
audible In the more distant portions OF the room, but
as he proceeded he assumed higher tone, aud spoke
clearly and emphaticsy. The following is his address
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The honor Of being selected
by the distinguished lady whose taste and genius have
combined for the foundation of this Institution 70 SIT ID
her seat ion this one evening honor enough FOR
male citizen in private fe. II is the utmost desire,
without the Necessity Of the Haterng words which my
introducing me- Il does not become say ANYTHING
tength ON this occas on nor perhaps would 6e EASY
upon Suffice il 10 sly that this assembly 50 large,
and Wemens souls Is somewhat calculated to try their
bodies is evidence OF the great ana nsefu eha1e-
Iii peculiarly of great society that while most
nat Ons calling themselves civilized which organized
alU gn hlf o. NnlT
celebrating in the Tooth year, devoted themteves
through theiE Official organ through oe PGwe s1d no f
infrequenty force OF violent means to establish
form Of faith suit the taste Of those who
ht the time were in possession OF power " was our
happy experience 20 establish the doctrine that aith was
pure offspring OF the pure heart Of man, and that It's
purity must be enforced and uncompeed and could not
otherwise honorable TO Itself grateful tO It's divine
founder We were happy as 10 9eL n S
other virtue charity In the hands OF the STATE ana
permitted the state, through s oucais generally l"
State In that department in other department
entrusted II, had been very marked, very distinct
and of pous charitable persons found
ing Institutions on the voluntary principle where nsrG
be had where the aged and na could 3i eS b
human subject might be found vent for useful
heleye that az least in great city the Institutions
Of this latter class Will bear very favorable com arson
with those which conducted by The STATE But IT was
reserved for founders of tins Institution 70 oTganH
voluntary charity and 10 bring It into active orer
n
IN Sdmijsering relief 10 distress they have
fully devoted themselves 10 ftng this from fhc mere
rank Of official and rewarded duty They have Mted
It Ike the system obtaining in matters OF 1aith
they have lifted IL to the character OF genuine and IN
rewarded offspring OF the human heart Thns, lar from
being stae institution II Is gradually heeomnS
practice and hsnit practice ana na ann % hJi 80 t
farer half Of our creaiIo For u Il to me ises in
tary system OF organized charity, ani Is TO ther per
severng and continuous efforts together VITA le ou o.
aud presumng to the first place while Slung tner
io aesnd FOR 's AMI most bippy and fortunate ii
IS for the ladies-and 1 speak now OF those WHO
snd abundanty the charities Ana, indeed la great
community like ours, the ladies might well, II some
Openlug Of this kind not presented 10 theln might
well say; I'VE not burdeped and oyeremp Oyed WIN
she cares Of domestic NE ana the dntlys Ir.ang 70
form 70 our idea Of the human character even In
woman to be engaged in nothing higher than the graft
6caUn OF personal wishes and desres matters OF ord-
mentation, and Other social enjoyments Iney might
time OF a character somewhat resembling the govern
mental employ ment TO when men are appyns ,nT tn
governmental duties hat lie within the proper range OF
human exercise in the way OF goSernment, would be
more appropriately set apart for the occupation OF the
me wants ard necessities Of the poor 1t is the perform
snee OF this dutyof which this Association tor,ns az
active and prominent commencement ana beginning
whce hope win 60 on una wpf s,t S cbo geT
hlesseth the giyer as well as the receiver.
Atthe eose of his address Mr. OCOuor said that IL was
a part Of his duty in calling the meeting 10 order
although he could not how it could bo well more
orderly than wasto call for tho reading OF reports by
Howard Potter Mt Potter ten read inc foPo u Vi inc
various committees.
THE COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The report OF the County Visiting Committees, consist
ing of reports from visiting committees III eaeh county
IN the State contained Statements Of the condition ana
management OF tho peOrbOuses &C. showing in general
that improvements lad been made uring the year.
The report of the ,mnittee adult abiebodied pau
pers recommended change in the character and posi-
ton Of the OF the POOR, because OF the evils
which the Committee believe arise from the present
tam Their opinion is supported by the testimony OF SUI
pnteudents Of the poor TO the effect that the present
system Of appointing and renunerang oVereers OF the
Door ia productive Of evil results These statements
show that the number of young mendieans' ana e1pe
cjaly the number OF those Of American BIRTH IL on
the increase. Ont Of "a tramps, taken Of
random, - were American, and 10 were so 800 G,
of the poor aro utterly nnt ana
They lack education snd principle ana scatter .htT W
perqustes Il shown TO work evii iSsniis IN e 4,
CANT use OF the puolc Money i"e aePoI nn6;S,ej by
the County Judge OF the superintendent OF the FOor;
competent men and good can he found 10 MI those oS5
police quarters, statistics show that at the 70 station
houses n this cy 25972 persons received @ u
night OF whom 6s1s, or 900 per night consisted % wo
BY far the largest number OF tnsse io1 h are
aud who spend the Winter by passing from one st non
house aOtne and by begging anlhg d Sne ne
represent proDaby somewhat less than IooV
Of the very lowest strata Of our poor popuiaiion
The Co1mttee Outdoor Relief recommended tnat
the city should c distreted into small dlFIsonsi Ol9w
ing ss lar ss possible existing legal or recognized DIS
trcts. corps Of volunteer vistors-men anu Noheh
should organized for each district, small nuDptr O
fAlnilies being allotted TO each visitor. lie VItIs
should report weekly 70 district committee, WHEN
fhe amount OF relief be given The Committee further
cay: cit Is well to repeat hero inc hrn CONVICTION OF