The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-23
fRE[HOLDERS SCORED.
State Charities Aid Assoeia-
ton Say They Are
Incompetent.
ANNUAL MEETING TO-DAY
Major Pangbofn 'Denounces
the System Of Appointing
Assistants to Medical
Superintendent.
ANNUAL MEETING TO-DAY

criticism this morning from a committee
or 1he State Charities Aid Association,
which held its annual meeting in Fay
lors Hotel The report of the committee
in substance said that the Freeholders
were wIckedly negligent of their duties
and utterly incompetent as board IN
the management of the poor unfortunate
children committed to their care
After Chairman Rev. Geo. S. Mott, D.
D.. OF Newark, opened the meeting and
Mrs. E. E. Williamson. of Elizabeth, the
Secretary. read her report. Mr.. Hugh r.
Fox. OF Bayonne. presented the follow
ing aeport:-
Report Of Committee on Children to the
State Charities Aid Association of New
Jersey.
The act providing for a estate Board Of
Children's Guardians, with county
branches, which was submitted to the
Senate by the Commission on Dependent
Children unfortunately failed of passage
The act was prepared with the utmost
care and was approved by the leaders IN
child saving work throughout the coun-
try. From the New Jersey point OF view
1t was. however, q very radical measure,
ana naturally met with some opposition,
which so delayed its progress that it did
not get through the committee stage until
late in the session, and the Legislature
adjourned before it ever reached the AS
sembly The Commission still has the
matter in hand and will submit another
plan to the Legislature as soon as it con-
venes.
Your Standing Committee on Children
feel that review of the situation in Hud-
son county should be made to this asso-
citation in view of the fact that there are
more children in the Hudson County
Almshouse than in all the other aims
houses combined.
In the summer of 1897 the Freeholders
were violently attacked in the public press
for their sins of omission and commission
in caring for the eounty's dependent
children. AS a sop to the public they
proposed in July 1897, to appropriate s20,-
600 to erect a separate pavilion for the
housing of the children.
The State Commissioners had a confer
ence with the Freeholders and learned
that the money would not be available
until December 1, that the proposed build
ing could not be started during the winter
months and the work could hardly begin
before March or April. It was evident to
the Commissioners that the proposition
of the Freeholders would not prevent the
mngling of the children with the adult
paupers and prisoners in the day time;
it would not admit of any provision for
industrial training for the improved
schooling, for proper oversight, or for
any of the elementary requirements of a
children's home Neither would it in any
way remove the stigma resting upon a
child which graduates from poorhouse.
In short the proposition seemed to be
merely a makeshift. to satisfy popular
clamor.
The Commissioners felt that nothing
would be lost by awaiting the action OF
the Legislature, which was to meet in
January and therefore induced the
Freehalders to withhold the proposed ap-
preparation. When the Legislature
adjourned without taking any action, your
Committee on Children went before the
Hudson County Freeholders and pre-
sented a plea for the disposition of
dependent children, of which the follow
ing is a synopsis
First-The engaging of an agent, whose
duty it shall be to ultimately find homes
for all the children (dependen) who are
now inmates of or who may be sent to
the Almhouse at Snake Hill.
all houses before placing children there,
reporting to joint committee of your
Board Of Freeholders and the State
Charities Aid Association. and that this
investigation shall be of such a character
that the best results may be obtained
Third-That after placing children in
homes. a system shall be adopted that
will keep your joint committee informed
by the priest. pastor. school teacher and
neighbor of the welfare of said child or
children.
Fourth-That the said committee shall
have the power when necessary, to pay
board not exceeding 50 per month, for
each child placed in home.
Fifth-That your Board appropriate
leach Year, the sum of $1,000 to cover the
salary of the agent and incidental ex-
penses.
sixth-That every child when possible
shall be placed in a home according to
the religion Of its father or mother, or
both, or of its guardians.
AS there are number of children now
at Snake Hill Almshouse who have
parents and relatives able to take care
Of them. 1t would naturally become the
just duty of the agent to investigate each
case in the Airnshouse carefully before
placing any child in a home. with the
end ir view Of returning children TO
relatives who will be obliged by law to
care for them.
The law requires that relatives shall be
made to support said children. We find
upon investigation that there are in this
State a number of good homes for chill
dren Of all ages and of all creeds. In
the southern and western counties Of the
State, such as Cumberland and Burling-
ton, there are a large number Of Quaker
families who are willing to give good,
free flones to children. In the cities of
Paterson, Elizabeth and Camcen It is
possible to find good BONES for small
board in Roman Catholic families.
We recommend that your Freehoder
Committee be given the power to asso-
ciate with them five members Of the
State Charities Aid Association, who, by
their joint action, may carry out the
plan.
we ask this because the association.
having the general supervision OF the tax
psyers charities. penal and pauper, Is Ia
a position to prevent abuses.
The Freehoiders agreed to consider Il