New-York tribune., 1896-11-19
COMMISSIONER LETCHWORTH RETIRES.
HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED on THE STATE BoARI
OF CHARITIES BY HARVEY W. PUT
NAM OF BUFFALO.

HE WILL. BE SUCCEEDED on THE STATE BOARD
OF CHARITIES BY HARVEY W. PUT
NAM OF BUFFALO.
William F. Letchworth. OF Portage. Commissioners
representing the Eighth Judicial District on the
State Board of Charities. has sent his resisna-
tion to Governor Morton. Originally commissioners
by Governor Dix in. 1873. under successive reap
pontments Mr. Lctchworth has been mefnpe'
CT the Board since that date and at the tiihe
Of his retirement was It's senior Tember In time
Of service His long faithful and useful discharge
of unremunerated official duty deserves more 'hdh
passing notice.
Born in 1893. upon taking his seat upon the Board
Mr. Ictchworth came well equipped by nature, eN-
perienco and study TO take "A leading part IN us
humane work; and to the ameoration of the con-
dition of the dependent wards OF the State ana
the consideration of social problems cohheceu
Herewith the maturer years of his life nave peeh
devoted. Desiring to fit himself for the best per-
formance of his official duties. Mr.. Iotch"orth
made wi.ic inspections and examination OF char
table institutions in other States and countries
He Is perhaps moie wild ,ly known In this country
and Europe IN connection with his special WORN
than any other living American. and might be
fairly called the Lord SALISBURY of the United
States.
In 1873 and for nine following years he served
bv election as president Of the Board. and for
many years represented 1t as a delegate at Ma
tiona conferences Of charities: I'm 1854 he was hon
ored by an election 10 the presidency OF the con-
ference for that year
For several years chairman. Of its Committee on
the Insane at a time when these unforunates were
under the supervision of the State Board OF Chafi-
ties Mr.. Lntchworth became an earnest advocate OF
the care of suitable chronic cases on the colony
pan. lie brought from Alt-Scherbitz. In Saxony'
plans the colony there, and had the satisfaction
after years of perseverihc effort OF seeing mem
availed of In the establishment of the citys farm
fer the insane now in successful operation AT Islp
Long Island In many other Humanitarian move
ments Mr. Ietchworth leader. notably In
those which led to the exclusion or children from
the poorhousas of the State and to better admins
tration within them. and to the erection or well
planned poorhOuses opportunity oiIcrcd i'cn-
biological instruction introduced IN juvenile
reforma tories and elsewhere on his initiation.
4 ralnstaking and scholarly writer. the annual
reports of the State Board of Charities contain
many valuable contributions from his pen IN
lsSe he published important work on The In
Of Child -Sa wing Work in the State of New
York" both of which have been widely READ ana
approved. ~, IL. ,
The onerous demands made upon his time ana
strength by the discharge of the duties OF his ONCE
have caused the retirement of Mr. LetchWortn,
whose term would not have expired until l.ll. III
Is ntimated that in consideration of long ana use
ful public service Governor Morton allowed MT
Letchworth TO suggest the name of his successor
Harvey w Putnam who has been thus appointed.
is a Young and prominent citizen of Buffalo. q
lawyer of ability and reputation, and Il member OF
the last Constitutional Convention.