The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-08
Movement to Have a Bu-
reau Established.
Draft of a Bill to Be Sent to
Assembly Presented.
Some Interesting Addresses at the
Three Sessions Held.


court room In the Central police station
building last night were treated to very
entertaining talks about child saving and
child care, the meeting having been
called by the Providence Society for Or
ganizing Charities with the intention OF
stirring up interest In obtaining legisla-
iton for the better protection OF the
young. Professor Henry B. Gardner pre-
sided and made brief address, en-
pbasizing the need OF concerted action.
Rev. DIR. Thomas II. Doran spoke of the
duties pertaining TO the care OF children
and told how orphans are handicapped at
the outset IN that We have not done our
best to ameiiorate their conditions. To
insure good citizenship in the State these
should be carefully guarded.
Mrs. Hannah Il. Garrett OF Lynn, who
Is thoroughly familiar with the probation
work in Massachusetts,, described II in
an interesting manner, although her work
had more TO do with adults than with
children.
Mrs. s. p. Clapp, for more than 20
years concerned In the care OF feeble
minded children, read a very interesting
paper describing her work. Object tea CHI
Ing and kindergarten work were empha-
tically endorsed.
Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer read a paper
prepared by Mr.. Homer Folks OF the State
Charities. who was obliged to remain in
bureau for child-caring.
The Second Session.
The object of the meeting of persons
interested in child saving is to get the
General Assembly to enact a law provid-
Ing for the esta blishment Of a State Child
ren's Bureau and appropristing $4,000 per
Rnnum, at present, TO carry on the work.
The second session of the con terence was
held In the same place, beginning about
10 o'clock this forenoon. Rev. Floyd w.
Tomkins, Jr., presided and read draft
Of the bill TO be presented to the Legisla-
turr, commenting upon each section
which be thought needed comment as he
went along. The prime purpose of the
bill Is TO provide an agency, such as the
state has not, for placing out dependent
children in foster homes and a proper
supervision Of them by system OF vista
tion. incidentally, monthly reports from
those in charge OF the children are men,
TONED, as we'll as such legislation as
will enable the courts, and especially the
probate court, to make judicious decis-
ions as to the disposal of child cases
which come before them. A probation
officer Is also desired.
Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer spoke for the
committee in charge of the scheme, which
committee is made up OF representatives
D, various societies interested in.phiIan-
thropic work, and ably set forth the in
tentions OF the bill and met all object ions
which have been suggested. Among
other things she said that the fundamental
principles OF child care differed in he |
various states of the Union, and are not |
generally understood. She told of the in |
ternational conference of charities and |
corrections atsthe Worlds Fair, OF which |
she was chairman, and said that the !
difference between the states were a great |
surprise TO the foreign delegates. In ref |
erence TO the method of procedure out |
lined in the proposed bill she said that |
the Australian method had been proposed |
because II was easier for us, just starting |
In this work, to obtain the desired leg
islation than for State already burdened /
with much political machinery. The
efficiency can be increased by not tearing
things to pieces. At the international
convention Australia led the world in
her reports relating to care of depend
ents. Receiving families, licensed to take
care OF children, were found to prove a
great help in solving tone of the greatest
problems of the times.
In Rhode Island il Is not the intention
10 take away any existing powers OF the
State, but to secure supervising agency
and bring the care of children to a high
standard. The plscing-out plan, with the
attendant inspection, offers more fiexi-
BILE method OF dealing with children and
insures more thorough inspection.
There Is nothing on earth so dangerous
as placing children I'm private homes
without sufficient supervision, howev er.
AS things arc now there is not
enough systematic, official aud constant
supervision. There should be some great
agency interested in the home plan.
something not for particular class OF
children, but for every child that needs
fatherly and motherly care. With the
compactness and small area of the State
II is manageable here. Today there is no
agency which stands committed to seek
out children who need homes and seek
a hn hntf,ao far kA,.. |
some provision for boarding out also, for
there are plenty OF persons willing to
take care of such dependents who are not |
pecuniarily able TO do SO, hence the OBJ
ject in asking-the Legislature to appro-
pirate from time 70 time such sums ss
may be required.
There are two classes of children, some
with fathers and mothers. while others
have none, and great many who are |
unattractive and would not be likely to
be chosen. Those with fathers and
mothers are often the most trou blesome.
and the unattractive often develop won.
derfully in the influence OF private homes.
Rev. MIR. TomplSius endorsed the Aus
tralian ballot and caucus system and en-
phasized the great help State Children's
Bureau must be to any philantrophic in
stitution, society or person.
Mr.. thomas Is. Stockwell thought some
plan should be adopted for obtaining
more deiinNe information by an inde-
pendent system, whereby every child, no ,,
matter how or by whom placed i'm an in :
stitution or home, may be invest igated as :
TO antecedents, character, etc. Children
brought before a court should be properly !,
found out about before decision Is ,
reached, and for that reason a probation
system is desirable in connection with
the placing out plan. As TO specific re- :
ports at stated periods, be thought them :
little better than useless, but reports from :
school teachersS who are opt TO be disin-
tefested, be c6nsidered very valuable. 4
Mr.. j. L. Cotton of Newport rad aided \
IN putting out many children In Penn-
sylyania, Illinois and other States and !,
had found that the only successful plan !,
was to leave oct monthly reports,', and l
RELY mainly upon visitations.
MIR. W. u. Crandell moved and II was
carried, that each section of the proposed |,
bill be discussed andvoted upon separately. =
The Afternoon Session. c
-.