Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-10
THE CONFERENCES OF PHHLAE.
TE3KDPlST,S.
Subjects Discussed at WiI2ard's Hall
Mr. Julian Hawthorne Reads Paper
The Proceedings Of the Closing Day.

Willard hall was we'll filled at last evenings
session of the convention of Charities and Cor
rection, many persons no doubt being attracted
by the announcement that Mr. Julian Haw
thorne would read Il paper Oh crime. In his re-
port from the committee on the prevention OF
pauperism, Mr.. Frank X. SANFORD, of Massa-
chusetts, declared that the names of the COM
mittee contained promise that could not be
fulfilled. Wherever civilization exists, there
VIII pauperism be- All that can be done Is to
check and reduce it. Mr.. Sanborn's report con-
l;tlneu series OF recommendations.
PAUPERISM IN THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. Richards, of this city. read paper on
pauperism in the District, giving the number
of inmates in each of the public institutions.
and estimating the amount of relief furnished
by the various church organizations to re-
spectacle families temporarily embarrassed.
lie outlined the work of the Associated Cnari-
ties and allied organizations. and claimed that
their work had resulted in the pracacal sup
preston of open beggary in the streets.
THE SUBJECr OF IMMIGRATION.
After brief discussion of these papers, DR..
Chas. S. Hoyt, OF Albany, N. Y. chairman
of the committee on immigration, read the re-
port of the committee. The report pointed out
detects and omissions in the act to regulate inn
migration passed by Congress in 1882, and Sts,
gested means Of periecting the law. Dr. IIoyt S
most serions objections We're that the eXamina
tons under the law proved to be superficial and
hurried, many undesirable imnli yrants-in-
sane or criminal-being allowed To land; and
tnat no penalty was imposed Tor infringement
OF the statute in bringing such immigrants
above indicated to these shores. DIR. Eoyt re-
commended that the execution of the law be
placed in the hands Of federal officers that the
capacity OF each Immigrant for self-support
should be conclusively proved before permit
ting him to land; and that our consuls and
agents abroad should take additional precau-
tions to prevent the shipment hither of luna.
Ties, pauperS and criminals. In conclusion,
DR.. Hoyt gave some startling figures bearing
on this question OF immigration. Il the re-
turns of the superintendent of the poor of the
state boards of charities there were Iound to be
in New York in 1850, 5G.O57 paupers in the
poOrhouses. of which number 21,145 were of
native birth, and 34.312 of foreign birth, the
proportion being one native paupcrt to .76 Of the
native population,ando one foreign pauper to35 of
the foreign population. Dr.Hoy says that while
IN the proportional number OF insane and other
dependents in the foreign population, induced
by climatic changes and the hardships incident
to immigration, the great disparity in these re-
spectS cannot satisfactorily be accounted for
from these causes, and the conclusion is there
fore forced upon us that this country is being
OF different European countries and with per-
sons from those countries enfeebled by priva-
tion and hardship through successive genera
tlons as to become insane or helpless under the
slightest exciting cause, who have departed
from their homes for no other purpose than to
relieve their several communities from the bur-
den and expense OF their support and care"
There was some spirited discussion of DIR,
Hoyts paper, and while some delegates dep
interference WIN immigration In any
but the slightest degree, the general feeling was
plainly in harmony with the sentiments put
forth by DIR. Hoyt.
MR.. JULIAN HAWTHORNE'S PAPER.
1t was after half-past nine before Mr.. Julian
Hawthorne was introduced to the audience.
He was received with applause, and began by
disclaiming any pretensions to the practical in
what he was about to say on the subject of
crime. His paper was made up of purely
theoretical, ABSTRACT notions, and he would be
n llI1s TO NV
fences bearing on the question. Mr.. Hawthorne
then proceeded to deliver his address, referring
frequently to the notes on the table before him.
lie spoke in an agreeable. conversational tone,
with deliberatiOn, and wa; listened t. with at
tention. His paper was of Il areligio-metaphysi-
cal character, dealing with vice and crime in
the most abstract manner, and coming to the
OLD conclusion that ito err is human'-that sin
is condition of humanity, an essential factor
In the great problem of evolution.
TO.day's Session.
This mornings session of the conference was
opened with prayer by Rev. DIR. Naylor. Hon.
Wm Letchworth, president of the New York
state board, read report from the business
committee recommending the appointment of
IL committee to investigate the subject of
kindergarten and report at the next meeting
of the Conference. Miss Haiiowell. of PhiIadei
phia; Miss Blow, of st. Louis, and Miss Pingrel.
OF Boston, were appointed ON the committee.
THIRTY-Two STATES REPRESENTED.
The president announced that Mrs. Hart, the
TepOFtcU lQlU lnlrCy.
two states were represented at the conference,
making in all 400 delegates.
OBJECTIONABLE IMMIGRATION,
A resolution was offered by Col Bersey, of
North Carolina, which had for its object an ex-
preston of opinion by the conference
that Congress should take some more
effective measures than any now in
force to prevent the immigration of
improper persons to this country from the
other continents. A long discussion followed
the resolution, the object Ofwhch was generally
approved but the advlsability of its adoption
by the conference was questioned upon the
grounds that it was not the habit of the confer
ence to pass that class of resolutions.
Mr.. Simon Wolf, OF the District of Columbia,
approved of employing the U. S. consuls abroad
in the suppression OF improper immigration.
He said that he knew from experience that our
consuls abroad generally went away tor their
might make themselves useful by Inspecting
immigrants from their ports for this country.
The resolution was referred to a committee on
M oe then read the
report OF the committee on statistics. in which
were statistical tables giving all possible infor-
nation concerning the Juvenile re1Ormatories
throughout the country.
CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS.
Mr.. johnson, of Cincinnati presented the re-
port of the committee on charity organZa-
tions. The report presented as the cardinal
ideas of charity organization a thorough in
hearty corporations of all charity organiZa-
tions and the aid of volunteer visitors, Forty
four reports from various societies had been
received. OF these Al societies 40 cover the
whole field of their various cities; only one of the
number reports perfect cooperation of the
charities in their district. Only three cities
report perfect cooperation of their churches in
this charitable work. The report took the
grounds that the inetictiveness of many chari-
table organizations was due to their neglect of
records and registration. The report was dis
cusSed for few minutes.
$4,000 BOSTON TRAMPS
A paper on the "Boston tramps," by Mr.. Ring,
of Boston, was read. The paper said that from
the fact that over SO 900 tramps were lodged in
the Boston station houses in single year con-
vinced the Boston people that some other pro-
vision must be made for the homeless wan
derers. A lOdging-hOuse was established where
the tramps were given a bath, tagged" and
sent to sleep on a bed numbered like his s'tag"
doing some sort of work. The greater number
of dodgers were young men. The hardened old
tramp who hangs about drinking saloons avoids
the Boston lodginSs.house and bath, except on
ing SS4 were over 900. Most of these were
persons temporarily out of work and money.
THE WASHINGTON NIGHT LODGING HOUSE.
During the discussion of the paper Mr.. Abra-
hams referred to the night lodging house of this
city and its manner of work. It would he said
surprise them to know the good character Of
many Of the people who sought shelter there,
against the government. There were, he said,
OF course some tramps among them. He thought
it was to be regretted that this institution had
to be closed during half OF the year owing to q
The report of the committee on statistics was
read and adopted and the conference then ad-
journed till two o'clock.
RopprpYrs RrpoRrED-Mrs Iottio Eroob,