New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-29
THE EAST SIDE WORKERS.
MRS. RUSSELL LOWELL READS PAPER
ON THE DEPENDENT CHILDREN
OF NETWORK CITY"

A meeting Of the Federation OF East Side Work.
ers was held yesterday afternoon at No 33s East
Fourth-st.. and many men and women interested in
benevolent work were present The president John
B. Devins. presided.
The object OF the Federation is to increase the
efficiency OF philanthropic work in this city south
OF Fourteenth-st and east OF Broadway by care
full study of the needs of the people by earnest
corporation. II aims. by conference lectures and
publications. to bring churches and benevolent So
cieties laboring in the district into perfect accord
and thus present united front in humane work.
The topic for discussion yesterday The De-
pendent Children OF New York city" Mrs. Charles
Russell Lowell's paper dealt with the children
in private institutions that are supported by the
public and with the rules OF the State Board of
Charities. She first spoke OF the financial cxpendi-
OF the city for the 1900 children in its public
and semi-private institutions which reaches the
large sum Of more than sl,5OocO. and is drawn
from the excise fund
There many evils attendant on the large in
stitutions where the managers. being paid
much per capita. financially tempted TO in
crease the number of the inmates. and the board
of managers also TO certain extent irrespon-
sible.
Mrs Lowell alluded to the resolution presented
by her to the Charter Commission for changing
the penal code which compels the arrest of
destitute children and sending them to the House
Of Refuge to minge with criminals
The proper education OF children In the various
institutions W - declared TO be OF far greater i'm
portance than the financial cost. The principal
evil was that being brought up by rule dressed
and fed alike relieved them of all sense OF per-
sonal responsibility and gave them "a community
OF goods" idea disastrous TO their moral nature In
the future .
The remedy suggested by Mrs. Lowell for these
Ills Is to have a special officer appointed by the
Mayor who shall act Independently Of the Chart
ties Commissioners and VINO shall have power TO
decide how long or short time the children may
In in ha
Mornay Williams. the new president or the New
York Juvenile Asylum. presented the Institutional
side of the question and controverted some OF the
statements made by Mrs Lowell. In the institu-
ton governed by him there was expended last
year yl4l 90 and II received from the city S0,vO
There were $50 children. on an average. which al
lowed even with outside expenditures more than
& a week for each child when Is me price counted
on i'm the public institutions.
lie Objected to the statement that the managers
are IRRESPONSIBLE they are under the direct
SUPERVISION OF the State Board. which has the
nower 10 close any institution which is misman-
aaoeJ lie believes with Mrs. Lowell. that better
results would be obtained II. instead OF an aggre-
pstion OF numbers there could be cottage treat.
,nent where not more than hfy or hundred
children kept together. 80 ,, l.,
MIR Williams also disagreed with Mrs. Lower III
,h,nking a specal officer would have a salutary
amant on institutional work and he also criticised
Sec,ion IL OF the new charter. when prevents boys
or girls Of sixteen years from being sent or re-
mailing in public institutions. {. l.oring brace;
sacre,arv Of the Chidren's Aid Society. explained
tta me,hods of caring for friendless children, ana
described Its farm schools