The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-27
Charities and Corrections.

county agent j. +. MaDin gives the f0l-
lowing report of the meeting of the State
Board of Charities and County agents re-
Gently held in Detroit. There was a large
attendance and the report gives an outline
of the of the reports, discussions, etc. The
report 10 as follows:
- Said John Cullen, of Greenville, as he
took the savel at the State Board of Chart
ties meeting: michigan reminds the widow
with the hayward child that her offspring
will be cared for, and that her death-bed
will be comforted with the reflection that
her children will not be abandoned to an
unfeeling world. Michigan is pledged not
only to give good homes to poor and erring
children, but to follow them up and see
that they are treated well and brought up
in moral environment"
John Hosmer, county agent for Wayne,
read the irst paper on the duty of society
toward insuborilinate and vicious children.
The class of children who are vicious and
ineorrigible are of poor parentage, have bad
surroundings, run away from home, COM
nit petty larceny and remain cut nights,
shifting for lodgings in dry goods boxes and
barrels found in alleys. These, he said,
society should take at a tender age and
care for
Agent Green, OF Washtenaw, said that
the process Of reform presented puzzle.
boy was sent from bad home and re-
formed; sent back hsme and spoiled again.
Then the process Is repeated, for what has
spoiled the boy once was pretty sure to
spoil him again. Boys advanced with such
wonderful rapidity in wickedness in these
days that it seemed as though the cradle
would have to be introduced in the reform
atsries.
Bradford Smiths experience taught him
that it was as easy to handle 10 boys as one
girl. He thought the object of the state
was to take care of the girls until they
could take care of themselves, the condition
was one of guardianship by the state and
not of imprisonment. He would not take
the girls from the care OF philanthropic
women to give them to vicious men who
waited on the out side.
Bishop Foley presided at the evening
meeting and made an appropriate address
in which he stated the object Of the conven-
ton was to increase the benefcent work of
charity.
Jno. McGrath made an address OF wei
come in the absence of Mayor Pridgeon and
| Bishop Gillespie responded.
DR.. J. A. Post gave view of Detroit
charities. Total value of property held by
the institutions is 81, 527, 400; capacity 2,911;
| total inmates, 2,202; annual expenses $3.50,
800, of which Detroit contributes 1901, 900.
| Warden Hatch, of Jackson Prison, gave an
off hand talk on prison reform and the con-
vention for the day was brought to close.
Detroit, Dec. 10, 1889.
Bishop Gillespie was the first at Phillhar-
monic hall this morning. Geo. c. Palmer,
of Kalamazoo Insane Asylum, came in
shortly afterward and exhibited the plan OF
the new chapel which the Bishop inspected
with manifest interest. There are few
articles, the work of the blind, on exhibition:
little mats, cushions, dolls, paper work
in toys, that, associated as they are with the
patient toll of the unfortunate little ones are
most touching, and all who examine them
wear a strange look as though if it were moi
in such public place, but in some private
corner they would like to have little cry
over them.
| Letters Of regret at being unable to at
tend the conference were read, from G. Lar
zelere, Of Dowagiac county, Albert Miller
of Bay county; Hon. Franklin Wells, Of the
Michigan State Board Of Agriculture; Chas
ID. Blanchard, of Marquette county; Johr
,Ieffries, of Van Buren, county; Ben w
| Wetmore, of CassopOlis, Mich; Ii. s. Rus
sell, of Lenawee county; and r. Brnkar
hoof, member Of the Ohio State Board.
The committee on resolutions appointed
by the chairman consisted of Hon. Levi l.
Barbour, Mrs. William Jehnison, Mrs. Hugl
Mcmillan, Mrs. Sarah Preston and Herr!
Utley.
John HolcOmb, agent for Kent county
said: 1.-The industrial school for girls SHOULD
be what the reform school Is for boys
Girls between 10 and IL years of age may
be sentenced until 81 years of age. The
\ law is too severe in the case of girls. My
proposition is that girls sentenced should be
absolutely released from all connection will
the school at 1e years of age"
Reports from county agents were submit
ted as follows: Thomas Dawson, Of Macemb;
G. A. Armitage, of Monroe; ID. g. Jacobs,
of Oakland; +. Harris, of Port Huron; j.
Gould of Van Buren,; ID. Green, of Washte-
| nav; John Hosmcr. of Wayne; j. Holcomb,
I of Kent; Riley Orittenden, Of Livingston;
George Turner, of Genesee; II. McCallum,
Mason; Hezekfah Brow, Of Osceola; ALFRED
| Moods of O,,tonapan. II Russall of Lena