The Washington critic., 1885-06-05
DISCUSSING REMEDIES.
The National Conference of Charities
and Correction.

inc National Conference OF Charities
and Correction.
Judge Macarthur called the twelfth an
nual National Conference of Charities and
Correction to order at Willard Hall last
night Rev. S. H. Giesey of Epiphany
Church offered prayer. Addresses of well
come were delivered by Judge Macarthur
and Commissioners Edmonds. A letter
from Colonel Lamont was read expressing
President Clevelands regret at his inabil-
ity to be present and his sympathy with
the objects of the association. Ex-Gov-
ernors Anderson of Kentucky and Hoyt
of Pennsylvania responded to the ad-
dresses of welcome. MIR. Phillip G. Gar
rett of Pennsylvania, the president of the
conference, delivered the opening adj
dress. He explained the objects of The
organization and the progress which has
been made in the practical application of
its ideas. Among the most fertile causes
of crime, he said are the habit of carrying
deadly weapons and the frequent miscar-
riage of justice in criminal cases, where
false pleas, such as that of insanity. are
allowed to shield the guilty. ave must
all lament, he added, "the increase in
the practice of lynch law, which has of
late years become alarmingly prevalent.
But so longas lynchers are allowed to go
unpunished murders of this kind will con-
tinue to increase i'm number"
The tramp was, he said, the greatest foe
of society. He spoke of the evils of intem-
perance and said: "Unfortunately many
earnest anti-liquor men are among the
strongest opponents of efforts to diminish
drunkenness, and governed by the idea
that total prohibition is the only remedy
obstruct the attainment of the good result
desired by all good men" After the adj
dress an adjournment to the parlors and
breakfast-room of Willard was had upon
the invitation of Mrs. Sara A. Spencer in
behalf of the local committee. a recep-
ton was held IN those rooms.
The first business session of the con-
ference was held at Willard Hall this
morning. The session was opened with
prayer by Rev. S. NJ. Newman. The
president, Philip c. Garrett, in calling the
assembly to order, announced that the
meeting had assembled late, and to save
time the credentials of the delegates
would not be read. Mr.. Pratt of the local
committee announced that application
could be made to him for the certificates
of transportation. Resolutions were then
adopted limiting the time of speeches and
reports from States to ten minutes. A
committee of five on organization and
committee composed of delegates from
each State delegation TO select place and
appoint the time for holding the next
meeting were appointed.
A letter from the authorities inviting
the conference to visit the Maryland peni-
tentiary was read. The president stated
to visit the institution in a body was i'm
possible, but individual members could
visit the penitentiary. The corresponding
secretary was authorized to acknowledge
the invitation. Mr.. Meth, chairman of
the Committee on States, read the COM
mittees report. He said that he had not
received reports from all the States, but
the reports they had received showed the
wide extent of the workings of the
society
Reports were then presented from the
following States Alabama, Arizona, Cali
fornia, Dakota, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas, New York, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michi-
gan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ne
braska Nevada and New Hampshire
The following resolution was then
odo,pttedl :, ,,,,., ,,.,,,,,., :, ,.,
to the twelfth annual conference, to wit
members of board of State charities, per-
sons appointed officially as delegates by
the Governors of States and Territories,
all persons accredited to from charity
organizations and all bodies and institu-
tions which have for their object either
the prevention or cure of social ills, shall
be recognized as active members of this
conference and entitled to participation"
At II o'clock the reading of the remain
der of the reports was postponed. Mrs.
Spencer announced int few witty remarks
the programme for the social visits of the
conference this afternoon, after which the
meeting adjourned until this evening.
The President received the members of
the conference this afternoon.