The record-union., 1897-12-01
FOR THE CHILDREN'S SAKE.
THE ANTI-CRUELTY SOCIETY
AND ITS WORK.
What is Being Done for Abused
and Neglected Ones-New
Cases.

The Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children held its November
meeting last night at the office of SUI
perintendent of Schools O. w. Erie
wine, President Charles Van Norden in
the chair and Rev. Abram Simon Sec
retary. The usual routine of business
was discharged, one new member elect
ed and then the report of the officer of
the society was received and considered.
1t showed something like a dozen
new cases in hand, and that Officer
Healy had been kept very busy attend
Secretary Simon reported he had sent
| the officer to a point outside OF the
county to attend -----s- that seemed to
warrant it. He asked for orders to
define the limits within which he should
act when called upon from afar.
The society decided to leave all such
matters to the discretion of the execu-
tive officers, but the understanding was
general that the rule should be that
outside cases could not be responded
to. The Jurisdiction Of the society is
Sacramento County 1t secures its
revenue from people of the city and
the county, and it has no legal stand
ms OulSlQt VI TIE COuity. HC b'OSiS
tary said the appeals from the outside
are many and constant and are usu-
ally pitiful. The whole central sec
tion seemed to have got the idea that
the Sacramento Society has jurisdiction
anywhere and is unlimited in its bene-
| ficent labors.
! On the report of the special officer, ID.
Healy, the executive officers were au-
thorized to proceed to-day in given
case and take a young girl from dis
| solute mother and ask the Superior
| Court to nominate the society as the
guardian of the child, as the law per-
mitS.
| This case was a sample Of a good
| many which occasion the society unrest
| on account of the question always in
yolved in taking guardianship OF chill
| dren, What shall we do with them :"
| 1t was resolved however, that where
| duty is clear in the premises, the So
ciety will act first and answer the ques-
ton afterwards by seeking out homes
| for such rescued children. The action
taken in the case referred to, was TAX
en- as fairly settling the policy of the
| society.
| In another case a still more difficult
problem presented itself that of child
already in charge of the society and
a charge upon it, in which the officers
are in extremely great doubt just what
to do with the minor, fearing to place
| it in home, and yet fearing to do it
| injury by sending it to reformatory,
such is the extreme doubt as to what
the real status of the child is. The
society afforded the executive officers
no further relief than to leave the case
| in their bands for another month of
cogitation
| President Val. >Iorden reported that
as Chairman of a committee to solicit
aid for the next years support his COM
mittee F. l.. Gray, Mr.. Healy and him
self, had made a partial canvass and
had received S430 in cash donations,
and they expected to raise it to $1,000
| to insure the society enough means for
| next years work exclusive Of payment
| of the officer for whom the city and
| county provide and without touching
the nest egg it has in bank, as a nucleus
| for possible home fund.
| 1t had been thought far better to
adopt this plan of direct solicitation
than to get up picnics and fairs, which
at best involve so much labor and vex
| alton, and do not give fully compen-
sating results. The chair called atten-
| ton to the fact that all the giving had
! been glad giving. 1t had come cheer
fully, warmly, and with a God bless
you sort of benediction that made it
| thrice blessed. II really put every
| giver back of the society as a moral
force and a practical helper and thus
builds about the organization commu-
nifty sentiment, that helps the people
even more than ii aids the society
! 1t was good to give in such cause,
for it denoted generosity and human
charity and sympathy Of the very high
| est types. Other committees would
| follow his committee and he felt as
sured that the necessary 81 900 would
be raised. He read the names of the
subscribers, but said full list would
be reported and published when the
work is completed.
There We're several reports Of inter-
| est made by members as to particular
| cases, and after comment upon them
| the society adjourned for a month, at
| which time a complete report Of all the
doings of the society will be presented
| in book form, being the first report
made by the society to its membership