New-York tribune., 1895-12-23
INSPECTION or CHTLDREN'S HOMES

INSPECTION or CHILDREN'S HOMES.
The request of the State Charities Aid AsSo-
citation to the Board of Estimate to make ap-
propration for the expenses Of inspectors whose
duty ii shall be TO 90 into various charitable
institutions of this city and weed out the chill
drcn that are old enough to be sent into the
country is not of necessity reflection upon the
management of those institutions 1t Is no in
dictment OF the devotion or good faith of any
association engaged in benevolent work for
which the public pays 10 say that it is not the
best Judge of the wisdom Of its efforts, ana
that the city should have an oversight Of the
way its money is spent. 4 trustee does not con-
slider himself insuted when asked to submit
his accounts to an auditor. The institutions
have no reason TO complain if the city deems
itself entitled to information of its own gather
ing about them, and is not satisfied with their
reports of their own doings willing to dele
gate the inspection to any society working along
similar lines with those of the inspected insttu-
tiOns.
The Gerry Society opposes the proposition for
new inspectors on the ground that 1t is fully
competent to perform their functions but the
reasons presented by Mr. Joseph ii. Choatc. him
self q director in the society, for inspection by
the city are weighty. His figures show that in
this city child out Of every III is in an in
stitution, while in London the proportion is l
to 216 in Boston / in 500 and in Philadelphia
1 in 1000. This city spends 81 100000 year
for committed children, and Mr.. Choate holds
that half that sum is spent in uniting them for
citizenship and rendering them paupers. Chill
dren that should be in country homes are kept
in the institutions when they are nearly grown,
and go out into the world finally unused to fam
lily life and bearing the marks Of community
living on them, often seeming disgraced in the
eyes of those with whom they are thrown in
contact, while if they were sent out as mere
children this stigma would not attach to them.
or the twenty-cght institutions in the city
caring for children. he reports that only four
teen have placed a single child in a family with
in a year, and he says: $50 long as the city
pays 81 week for the support OF each child
1.-THE institutions. if they are not looked after,
will keep the children as long as they can. and
they do it," Such motive, coupled with the
natural conviction of every charitable worker
that his efforts are as beneficial as could be
desired doubtless operates in some cases. The
81 is more than sufficient for child. and helps
to support the good work for children who are
ton gets the largest income possible. But less
mercenary motives cause improper swelling Of
the number Of inmates. Zeal to benefit as many
possible and influence them as long as pos
slble plays a part, particularly in the case OF
institutions associated with religious pr0pa
ganda. No effort is spared by missionary 10
extend his influence, and il he can receive 81
a week each for all the children the city puts
under his care he is encouraged by much to
force his work even beyond the bounds Of wis
dom and propriey. Moreover, pity brings many
children into public institutions who should be
supported at private expense An association
with the best intentions in the world takes a
boy and asks the city TO pay his board when a
wiser course would he to compel the parents
TO do their duty by him. II the city exercised
more careful supervision parents might not be
encouraged to neglect their offspring in the as.