The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-02
a A ORPHAN AGENT
w. Ii. STREETER. OF MICHIGAN. CHIC
T. BY BOARD OF CHARITIES.
His Experience i'm Similar Work
Many Applicants Before the Board
No More P~OOrhOuse Children.

The State Board of Charities was in ses-
sion until midnight last night engaged in
an effort to determine who should be Sc
lected as orphan agent of the board, 30
have charge of it's work i'm putting into
effect the new law for the care of de-
pendent children The place pays but $500
a year and expenses and it's duties are
various and of a character that will keep
the agent fitting about the State all the
time. yet the following people were will
ing and even anxious to serve:
Jesse II. Brown, of indianapolis: w. c.
Smallwocd and w. r.. Hunter. of Terre
Haute; DR.. Margaret Reynolds. of Rich
mond; Miss Anna Dunlop, of Indianapolis:
Miss Mate Lewis. of Darlington: w; A.
Wayne: Mrs. Geo. Fl. Dunn of Shelby
vile: Mrs. Orpha James. of Brazil; Callie
S~treeter. of Kalamazoo, Mich; Mrs. DR..
w. b.. Hawkins. of Brazil; Mrs. Martha
Richardson and Rev. II. S. Hilton, OF In
dianapolis.
In behalf of these people the board had
before it a stack of letters a foot high and
made a conscientious effort to wade
through them all. 1t also had a number
of the applicants before it and questioned
them about their experience and capabil-
tiles.
w. B. streeter. of Kalamazoo, Mich, was
finally chosen. Mr.. Streeter was for four
years state agent of the Michigan State
Public School. a general home for the care
and custody of children, where he received
the right training to make him valuable IN
the position to which he has been appoint
ed. MIR. Streeter comes from Michigan
highly recommended. He is a man of fam
lily, about thirty-nine years of age, and a
graduate of the Michigan State University.
at Ann Arbor. His duties will
next Monday. The Legislature appropriated
81, 0C0 for the use of the board in paying sal
aries and travelling expenses of the agent.
The board has decided to allow Mr.. Street
er 1900 a year and all travelling expenses.
His appointment will be something of a
surprise TO the sixteen applicants mere in
Indianapolis and other parts of the State.
After giving the subject considerable
thought and canvassing the situation care
fully. Mr.. Streeter was considered the most
available candidate. especially in view of
his past training in identical work. The
members of the board present last night
were John r. Elder. Mrs. Mary +. Peelle,
DR., Mary Sphinx. Prof. d. c: Brown and
Secretary Bicknell. Mr.. Streeter was pres
ent. He expects to bring his family to In
dianapolis.
The new state agent will nave practically
virgin soil in which to begin. The State
Board of Charities has an ample list of
all orphans and dependent children's
homes now established; but so far no
movement has been taken in counties in
which there are no homes to obey the law.
the county commissioners seeming to hold
back for the board To take the Initiative.
Briefly stated. the law authorizes the COM
missioners of each county to either build
homes for dependent children or make con-
tracts with societies dlreauy orSdhlZeu OF 10
be organized for that purpose 10 care for
them. After Jan. ], 1895, ii becomes unlawful
for county commissioners TO allow children
TO remain in poorhouses. The state agent
is to see that this law is carried out. 1t is
also his duty to see that the managers of
the different institutions procure proper
homes for the children and then to keep a
supervision over the children after places
have been found for them. The office car
ries with it a great deal of work and re-
sponsibility.
Mr.. Streeter is "a comparatively recent
candidate for the office. Much attention
has been given by other States to the law
passed here. Copies CT il fell into the hands
of some of Mr.. Streeters friends. who sug-
gested that he apply for the position. His
application has only been under considera-
ton about ten days.