The record-union., 1891-02-06
STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES.
The Noble Work Done in Many States
of the Union.
California should Have Such Board
and should Have 1t at Once
Reasons For It.

EDS. REcoRp-UNioN: I read with
great pleasure this mornings editorial in
the RECoRD-UNIoN on the proposed
State Board of Charities There is
no bill before the Legislature that
should receive more attention and
heartier Endorsement than this. The
present Legislature is. committed to
two principles. economy and eff
cheney, in the management of the
affairs of the State. The establishment of
of a Board of Charities. composed of able
philanthropic citizens, serving without
pay, would contribute beyond measure
to the economical and efficient manage
ment of our correctional and charitable
institutions. The largest tax paid by the
people, apart from the support of public
schools, is the tax paid for the support of
the unfortunate and the criminal This
tax is paid cheerfully, for no one desires
to be penurious toward the poor, the
orphan, the insane, the fdeble-minded,
the deaf, dumb and blind. These unfor-
tunates should receive the tcnderest,
wiSeSt and most humane care Of the State
The criminal, too. needs wise care and
humane treatment. The trend of modern
penal work is TO reform the criminal and
help him back 10 citizenship. The Jail
and penitentiary are regarded as moral
hospitals, and not merely places Of pun
lshment, though punishment mist have
its place there ASA means to an end.
Every man and woman who has given
any thought st all to these matters knows
tliat these correctional and charitable in
solutions demand. the best brain and
t,a <Nft 10 ~
And yet II is patent to al that some of
the most brutal and i:lhuman wrongs
have been perpetrated on those unfortu-
mates who by loss OF reason,
LOSS OF MORAL POWER,
Loss of physical strength, and other
causes. have been made inmates of these
correctional and charitable institutions.
The newspapers are constantly bringing
to light horrible crimes committed in
these institutions. There is work to-day
in our own land for q score Of j ohm How
ards. OF the extravaganza and waste OF
public money in many of these iRstitu-
tons | need not speak here. 1t IS known
TO all who have looked into the matter
California's unbounded generosity in
providing for the unfortunates has been
and is yet shamfully abused by those
who dispense her p,incaly charities
There iSFno institution that has done
paTtments than the State Boards Of Char
ity. These boards exist in New York,
Massachusetts,, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Hi
nois, Indiana, Wisconsin. Michigan.
Minnesota, Kansas, etc. They have the
support and endorsement of all our best
philanthropists, among whom may be
mentioned, Hon. +. B. Sanhorn, of Massa-
chusetts; Hon. w. p. Letchworth, OF New
York; Hon. %. Elmon, of Wisconsin;
General r. Brinkerhofi, of Ohio; Bishop
ireland, of Minnesota, and many more
4 study of the important changes effected
by these Boards is the best argument in
their favor.
The New York board to which YOU re-
fer began in 1874 to study the causes of
pauperism and crime. One resait of their
inquiry was to break up the system of
rearing children with adult paupers in
poor-houses. This board has executive
power IN some particulars. They have
prevented the dumping down in New
York Of paupers from European coun-
tries. The Pennsylvania beard brought
about a great improvement in the care of
the insane. The board for the State of
Illinois greatly reduced the expense of
maintaining public institutions, and at
the same time increased their efficiency.
The Wisconsin board has the credit of
an
ORIGINAL AND EFFICIENT
Treatment of the insane. The Michigan
board has performed wonders in the care
of dependent children. That State now
stands the lowest, / believe, as California
stands the highest, in the number of chill
dren dependent on State funds. Minnie
sofa has had board for eight years, which
has rendered immense service TO the
State in its charitable and correctional
work. 1T has supervisory power over
the State, county and municipal correc-
tonal charitable institutions. Monthly
reports of the expenditure for the care of
the insane, paupers, prisoners, are sent to
this board, and the board publishes quar-
terly statements, cayefully compiled and
classified, showing the expense of these
several institutions. In this way it is
not necessary to wait until the close of a
year to learn how the expenses are rum
ming. 1t has greatly improved the con-
clifton of its county jails. These State
Boards OF Charity have been rightly, des-
ignated as balance wheel to steady the
motion of the charitable machinery of the
State. That this State needs such bal
ance wheel no one wiildeny,
The greatest care should be exercised
in the selection of the board. Those
selected should have special fitness for
4his work. They should be men and
women who have sympathy for the UNI
f9TnnqtS ana ersng They shoqld be
They should be chosen because of their
interest in and knowledge of charitable
and correctional work. They should
serve without pay, except necessary ex-
penses of travel. They should be selected
without regard to their politics or re-
ligion. In order that they should be
above suspicion Of favoritism or COM
plant, they should have no appointments
at their disposal except those Of its office
employees, An efficient secretary is the,
great desideratinl. The Judgment of those
most conversant with such boards is they
should be advisory and not executive,
though in some States, as New York,
Massachusetts, Kansas and few others.
they have more or less executive power
The State Of California needs such "a
board, and needs it now. The present
Legislature can give no surcr proof to the
people of the sincerity of its promise to
conduct the affairs of the people with
efficiency and economy than by the es-
Enlistment of sueh a board. There are
in California people who are wise enough,
humane enough, patriotic enough, to
serve on such a board without other fee
or reward than the satisfaction of helping
the State in its care of the unfortunate
and dependent class. Yours truly,
j. B. SILCox.
Sacramento, February 5, 1891.