New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
CLOSE OF THE CONFERENCE.
CHARITIES DELEGATES HOLD THEIR
LAST SESSION.
THE PREVENTION OF FEEBLE MINDEDNEss AND
STRICT SETTLEMENT LAWS DISCUSSED

STRICT SETTLEMENT LAWS DISCUSSED
SCOPE OF THE MEETINGS.
The closing meeting OF the twenty-nfth annual
Conference Of Charities and Correction was held In
Association Hall OF the Young Mems Christian
Association Building at Fourth-ave. and Twenty
third-st.. Yesterday morning. After discussions In
general session upon "The Prevention OF Feeble
mindedness, from Legal and Moral Standpoint
and Laws of Settlement and the Right TO Pubic
Relief" the closing exercises 81 this years 'oh-
ference were held. and the members adjourned I'M
Ill May OF next year, when the twenty-siNih annual
Conference will be had in Cincinnati
This years Conference, which marks the SILVER
jubilee OF the foundation of the osanization' Is
also notable IN other way1. Meetings such az TINS
Of comparatively recent date. The annual
meetings Of the British Association ana o'her
bodies probably responsible for the Inception
Of the idea. which has at the present time lea 10
such far-reachng results. Fifty years ago many
thoughtful people professed themselves doupu" d.
to whether not these meetings couid DE pro-
ductive Of any permanent results for good NO"
hardly any doubts their usefulness ana we
find in every country In the world annual CONFER
enccs science. art ana on almost every depart
mcnt Of organized human industry
OF these conferences that which has just closed
its annual meeting in This city is by no means the
least useful or the least productive OF permanent
results In the well-being OF the community Ana
II Is also certain although the real effects OF THESE
meetings do not appear until long after their close
that the twenty -hsth annual Conference OF 'hafi-
ties and Correction will be among the most mem
orahle OF those yet held. The range OF subjects
discussed has been "a larger one than at any pre-
vious Conference the number OF persons enrolled
as members Of the Conference has been greater
more states have been represented. and the ques-
tons discussed have been treated with an attention
TO detail and precision OF knowledge greater 'hah
ever before
GIFT FOR THE PRESIDENT.
william Rhinelander Stewart. the president OF
the Conference called the last meeting OF ms year
10 order yesterday morning at 10 o'clock There
was a full attendance Of members and delegates
and many New Workers who have been TeBu'a'
attendants AT the meetings since the Conference
was convened n week ago were also present mo
session was attended by all the members. as the
simultaneous section meetings came 10 close on
Monday.
In the course OF yesterdays meeting the satis-
faction which has been expressed by every one con
nected with the Conference with tho manner III
which the president has discharged his duties was
marked by the elft 20 him Of silver mounted
gavel The presentation was made ~ Na'h"hi''
: Roscnau OF the United Hebrew Charities W
eanizaiion Mr Hoscnau expressed the esteem III
which Mr. Stewart Is held In few wenohoFen
words and the president in briei speech 'nn''Aeu
Mr. Rosenau and the members OF the 'o"'s'S
generally for the GIT
The ors, subject for discussion The Pre-
vcn,,on Of Fcchle-mindedness. from n Lesa! ana
Moral Standpoint" on this subject paper war
read by Dr. James c. Carson. superntehueh' y.
the State Institution for Minded 'hlu''"' a.
Syracuse Or. Carson, In the course OF "'s ~
marks made an earnest appeal for tho recognition
-. ,h s,ote ~ its duty In preventing marriages OF
imheciles - n
Or Carson was followed by Or. George IL
knight superintendent OF tho School for l'"o'''''
al I.akevine. Conn. He said 49,,
ia
Inmates and criminals ar, as nuJdn aiiro"prning
articles are steam engine, eHe s Sreanle manu-,
sarforv are 40 complex that we ARE not "o'e u
follow them
TO REGULATE MARRIAGE.
We move slowly IN co9nesg eg, We 1 nsvS sa n%s
ep my,ctU,,orv iaw which provide mat no man ana
woman either % whom is epNeyuc imnsc,,s I,
igrr for,yaye yelr- ~ age Any person vola,,
ing or attempting 30 Violate any 81 ", :. rrieon
OF 'e ,1 % s"", not s ea fsn thr@e years The law
further provides NAT any PER-, ,ocrns or onnten,
nnclng violation o., ne 1% ~, Sn". ,h,n ITO or
w. 80, ,,,n.r, >or period OF year. or bo'h.
waraly every citizen is responsible for the incr'ns"
q nesl,mAte l' eToihsrs Keeper 70 this extent,
r. Tho face % the terrible Increase OF ms
every one OF US must strike a DO" Tor "eysi,t,ng
he Production Of idiocy. imbeciliiy. INSANITY anu
crime.
pr william T spra,lng, superintendent OF tho
cra,g Colony for Epneptics at sonea. y y reno
nanc- entitled THE Remedial Economic ana
Ethical value Of Labor FOR tho Defective ana Ne-
,erSon, Classes" lie said in part;
Is se ,mg classes hat leads plead Cor
their education along Industrial lines seven NM
ions OF dollars are spent annually IN the slhts ui
Ncw- York IN the maintenance or pnhhc chhFlel.s.
u It be done al less coz, 10y W. value
az necessity OF Industrial training, then let us
a more Industrial training ana better and I'M
,.d u education
me-, bufi charity. II would help ~
rr Spratng made an exhaustive explanation OF
tho .noc,s OF food and exercise on the body. espe-
c,aly in the cases Of cpleptics. In the genera
discussion that followed. Alexander Johnson OF
Indiana said that idiots and imbecies "efe ho'e
DANGEROUS TO tho community ana the body po'uc
Than were the actually insane. An imbecile. no
o,d was Ike a scotchmnn. for. as Dean Swift
sotd "lf you can catch Scotchmnn early you
can make a man out Of him. and 80 II Is II you
catch the irnbecile early-there Is possip'''y OF
making him a man. Mr.. Johnson contendeh that
one-third OF "A man, properly utilized ana on Ii
rational basis. can earn his living and maintain
FAMILY of from seven 10 nine children. provided the
climatic conditions are favorable. THIS state
nent evoked considerable laughter ana no sihhii
amount Of adverse comment
rne second discussion and the last al this annual
meeting OF the Conference. was upon Laws OF set
Element and tho Right OF Public Relief" DR. Fred
r,ck II Wines secretary OF the Board OF State
OF Public Charities OF Illinois. Inc
chairman Of the committee Oh this subject vas the
first speaker In the course of his remarks he s"id
mat privaie and public charities should be divorced
from each other apd that private charity should
he given from the public treasury OF any state or
municipality At this point Or. Wines diversed
from the subject under discussion 10 say tnat SOL
diers we're averse TO going into u foreign country
fl battle ana cOntondcd that the members Oh inc
volunteer army which had gone TO the 'front.' ala
so under pressure of public and patriotic enthusi-
asm lie sara It was the duty of the Nation to
see that their families were cared Tor ana IL WAS
tho fear ne said that the Government would not
40 us dutv that induced the giving and sepding OF
supplies by charitable organizations