New-York tribune., 1896-01-31
THE CARE OFPOOR CHILDREN
PUBLIC MONEY FOR THEIR SUPPORT
WITHHELD.
MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES, or TIE so
CrETIEs INTEREsTED--APPoINTME OF

A MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE so
c1ErrEs INTEREsrED--APPoINTMEN or
A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Nearly all Of the societies of this city having charge
Of destitute children supported IN part oy Puo',o
money were represented at meeting which was mel.
late yesterday afternooH the House of ptioh Oh
the Newly ork Juvenile Asylum No lo6 West twenty
seventh-st. Several women were among the oeie
gates There were present. also, William H. o'e""'.
president Of the State Board OF Charities; silas -
Croft president Of the Department OF Chariues !"
this city: Superintendent Blake. OF the ou'-Doo.
Poor Department Elbrdge T. Gerry. president OF
the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty 10 nm
dren and several other men who are in'e'es'eu :"
the work OF the State Board Of Chariles. i, W.
Devoe president OF the New-Iork JuVehhe Asylum"
presided at the meeting. and said II haa Dee'i V"N
60 talk over methods for getting the societies In
oositon 10 receive the public money which had been
withheld BY Controller Fitch. IN consequence VI "
failure to comply with rule OF the state i'A" ~ "
Charities 1t was announced that ConTo"eI r'."
had been prevented by Illness from attending inc
meeting. ,
U,,,,,an, p Stewart read a statemen. 10 make the
situation clear He said that the State Board "'
Charities had been apparently forced mo pos'V'
antagonistic 20 the societies by the wl'hno'ui"s "a
public money under the operation OF It's r"es' p"' -
was unwilling 10 assume such an attitude some VI
homes for destitute chldren instead Of asyiumS lor
.h.ar ,cmnorary care rule Of the State boaru
was intended 10 provide for an annual in9peo''o"
by the officer charged with the renef OF the Poo' ="
the county, and for the payment oil puoHS n"'"N9 O
the suppor. of only those children who had peei AZ
cen,.1 IN writing by such officer. Corporation Coun-
sci Scott had given an opinion that the president o
the Department of Charities and Correcuoh' o. '.
the division Of that Department, the pTes'deh. oi w
Department of Charities, was the proper oi''0i ~
givo such acceptances in this city Ihefe hau "ee ~
appropriat!on FOR an inspection of The city ihs''u-
.,ons having the care of the destitute children now
ever and the acceptances had not been gwen "l'hi"
the time required. and therefore there hau oee"
failure TO comply with the rule ana the Noh''o'''
had declined 20 pay over me pnDnc "'''' '' WV
support Of the destitute children
Continuing. Mr. Stewart spoke as io''o"'
So convinced is the State Board OF the neceSS,Y
for such annual acceptance OF uess,u', sa ~ nr
Sssn sn csaPPiapIs Or institutions th; az meeting held
on January g. 1896. 1t amended Kuie py stt'h,ls ui
out the words committed by any court OF es Mns,s
trate so that this rule requiring anaua acTeP,
ence public charge WI be OF sn,a seS,ai az IaTen
don after october. 1885, as to all desutu,r 'n-iu. ,
or adults in charitable Institutions under private
management supported at puoNc expense oeo.-.
elected appointed especially TO superv,r' an
ornss in s@PPer deermnng n yho shall be
upon their respective Localities IL VIII ne ho'''
ina sn1t i rhe is rus ananed that these are cases with
which the officers charged with the reEtf OF ne M
garded and treated as criminals
The great majority OF children now De.hS mann
ta,ned in asyums at the expense OF the c!ty o
Nev-York are known as "comnittef. hTdrth u al
Is. have been taken TO the asylum undeT commit
,pent from police or city magistrates. The COM,
1nssioners of Charities have heretofore exercised
|. supervision the reception and RETENTION o.
these children numerous other classes o.
dependents 50 that there Is at last moe'g ,ei OF
she destitufon for which tfe c'tE prCN.ues over
which these officers exercise no control II ~ main
taiDed that they should exercise such control ana
that Il is as much part OF their duty TO super
wise the admission OF city charges 10 the private
asylun5 as TO pass upon admissions 10 Ire cty IN
ettutiors the Islands
II was not the intention OF the trainers o. TN
Constitution shat the State Board Of Charities
should supersede the local poor officers. perform
any part OF their duties Tire state Board could
not were. Il so disposed, discharge the duty
imposed by the rule N question 1t must De ds.
just and practicable. and rs application III the
city of New York would concentrate respons.b.nty
6or the city's burden OF destution and dependence
fully belongs.
In the discussion which followed. Mr.. Gerry took
q prominent part. declaring that the rule OF the
not to compel an expensive annual examine ION
OF the Institutions by the Comm ssioners o. Char-
sies, but TO enable them to make cations In
ceEain when IL supposed that children
was resolved finally TO appoint committee to con
fer with the State Board OF Charities. the Con-
troer OF the city and the Commits ssoners of Chari-
ties In the city, with view OF nnding some way
OF the difficulty. The committee consists
Elbrdge I. Gerry. chairman: Bryan Lawrence. OF
the Catholic Protectory: Morris GOodheart. OF the
Hebrew Sheltering Guardian Society; Morris X
Jesup of the Five Points House 0. Industry. and
+. W. Devoe, OF the New-York Juvenile Asylum
The committee will probably meet sunday al
the rooms OF Mr.. Gerry's society.