The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-01
MIsHAwAKA ORPHANS HOME.
Ladies from the Home Make a Plea
for nm Extension of Its Benefits.

Ladies' from the Home MAKE n PIea
for an Extension of Its Benefits.
The State Board of Charities has asked
all persons or societies interested in the
care of dependent children to appear before
the legislative committee having in charge
the bill providing for the establishment of
State institution for the purpose. In COM
pliance with this request Mary lie Van,
Mary Stute Studebaker, Maria G. Bogue
and Elizabeth c. Retiring, representing the
Children's Aid Society of Indiana, which
controls the Mishawaka Orphans Home,
appeared before the committee yesterday
and made the following statement:
Our attention has been called to- and
our influence sought, in favor. of a. bill now
cular letter sent out by the Board of State
Charities; bill providing for the estab-
lishment Of a State school for dependent
children. Not having seen the bill We were
not in position to use our influence in
diligently for or against it. We have been
requested to appear before your honorable
committee with brief statement of facts
concerning the thirteen years work of a
voluntary society organized in the interest
drens Aid Society of Indiana, located at
This society receives the patronage of
2O7, 495. or about one-tenth of the population
Of the State. The average cost of running
the institution has been 81 s5S 05 per annurn,
of $741S for each child received and To-
Gated, which includes clothing. schooling
and locating in homes In families. An
itemized statement of accounts with each
county is rendered and allowed by the
County Commissioners quarterly.
THE purpose of this institution is to
place dependent children in good homes, the
family life being the best and only natural
life for any child Our plan III locating is
to find out by our agents the ability of APP
plicants for children to provide suitable care
and training. Then when a child is placed.
to reserve the right to recall it within five
years for good reasons and ito maintain
supervision over it during this time. Chill
dren remain in our home an average of
six and seven-tenths months, which time
the children who are ineligible for placing
out because of Sickness deformity and
other causes. A school ia carried on in the
institution under the supervision of the
city superintendent, and all children of the
proper age are provided with competent in
structors. An important question to be
considered is whether voluntary society
the better work for the unfortunate. Were
this plan adopted oyer the entire State the
annual average cost would come within $780,
co.,"
The ladies' were represented as being OPP
posed to the proposed plan of Secretary
Bicknell for the State home for INDECENT
children for which an appropriation of $780,,
They did not, however, make known their
particular want in appearing before the
committee. According to Mr.. BicknelFs
figures, their plan costs less than the Michi-
gan home after which it is proposed to
model the Indiana home, but 1t was not
demonstrated that the system at the same
ratio Of expense could be applied to the
ia n