The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-01-14

confederation, he might have made his name
Immortal. But who will remember Cana
dian ruler twenty years after he is buried?
Some Practical Charitable Work.
Tho tenth annual report OF tho State Chart
ties Aid Association shows that the volun-
teer workers Of that organization arc con-
tinuing to do valuable labor supplementary
to what is done by Slate and municipal au-
thority In that most trying field, charitable
relief and assistance. Tho difficulties which
stood In the way Of the inspection OF the
poorhOuses and almshOuses OF the State by
visitors OF the society were removed by an act
Of 1881. The Aid Association and tho State
Board OF Charities, we are glad to sec, seem
now to be working IN harmony.
Tho report records the labors OF the visitors
above named, and makes recommendations
In accordance with their observations. For
instance. under the new Criminal Code the
authorities In some counties arc claiming
that children may again be committed to
pOOrhouscs, and they have been 80 COM
United In certain cases. The effect Is to undo
good work already accomplished in remov-
Ing children from the danger Of contact with
the older inmates OF such establishments. and
therefore the report advises the careful
amendment both OF the Code Of Criminal
Procedure and the Penal Code. It Is also
pointed out, as 1t previously had been by
Mrs. LOWELL OF tho State Board, that negli-
gent parents and relatives get children sent
to State institutions where they will DO sup
ported by tho public whom their relatives are
able to take caro- OF them. They are OF the
opinion, therefore, that the power to make
such commitments should be surrounded
with more safeguards Neither should petty
criminals be sent to the poorhouse, as now
happens In some counties, instead OF to the
jail. The poOrhOuse Is not place Of con fine-
ment and punishment and it ought not to 10
possible to 50 construe the Vagrant act as to
admit OF such commitments by every petty
county magistrate. In May, 1881, an act pro-
viding for tho establishment OF House OF
Refuge for Women, a much-needcd institu-
ton, was passed. Many women who arc fit
subjects for reformatory are now In tho
pOOrhOuses, but when will the House OF
Refuge be ready asks the report.
The association has taken up the special
work Of teaching people what to do in cases
OF sudden injury or illness before tho pos
sible arrival OF a physician. A committee
to whom the task was intrusted gave in
struction last year to nearly one Thousand
persons, In thirty-two classes, to whom
courses OF practical lectures on the subject
were given. OF these ten were pay classes
and the rest free, the latter bell g made up of
way employees, and men working in factories
where accidents were liable to occur.
As tho result Of conference held by the
Lac ~ - ltoR
system, "a system which touches its bene-
Hciaries to regard every form OF help a
ioan," several charitable organizations and
churches have proceeded to carry out the
plan in various directions Ono OF the depart
ments under tho system Is that Of legal aid,
the object being To protect Its beneflciares
from imposition and extortion, and to render
It impossible for tho oppressor to longer act
upon tho sdpposition that thoy are too
ignorant to know their rights, and too poor
10 secure the services Of a lawyer. This Is q
practical work Of tho greatest Importance.
Working girls especially have been swindled
BY rascally employers In tho past with an
mpudent assurance which was caused by
knowledge OF the inability OF tho girls to
protect their rights and punish their de-
trauders. As the report says In speaking OF
this admirable method Of add ng tho poor,
1t teaches them to BIO more exact and care
hui In their dealings, giving them an OPP
pOrtunity to consult an appointed lawyer,
who shall have consented to overlook their
leases, labor contracts, purchases by INSTALL
ment, DC, and who saves them from tho
traps set to sweep away their earnings"
Thero u no part Of the work of the society more
needed than this, and 1t should be known to
all those In behalf OF whom 1t Is undertaken,
and heartily supported by everybody who
wishes to render assistance where 1t Is sure
TO accomplish good.
The society has done another good work
In Investigating the House OF Detention for
Witnesses, Q place whore men and women arc
imprisoned because they happen to know
something about crimes committed. or be-
cause they pretend to know something. Miss
GRACE H. DODGE tho Chairman Of tho COM
mittee who undertook the investigation, ad-
dressed to District Attorney MoKBoN last
Nay letter, In which she very forcibly and
correctly put the objections to that odious
prison pen As part Of any civilized admin
btration Of justice.
People, naturally enough, keep back vslu-
able testimony they might give. because
they wish to escape Incarceration In that
wrstched place. Miss DoDos gives case In
point A member Of tho committee saw .
rufian In Eighty-sixth street pursuing and
beating bis wife with stone Jug. ~ spoke
TO three men. who saw the whole affair."" she
says. "and asked why they did not inkerfere
to save the woman. They oil said tlsy could
not lose the time from their work. One
young man, . painter. said that should he
Interfere he would DO locked up as witness
and the villain would get bail, and afterward
receive only tentdsys." Indeed" adds Miss
DoDax ut L. natural that an unknown man
or woman, who does not wish to live for
time In the House Of Detention. should con.
~ knowledge Of ortmA" ThsR SsaiA. tho