The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-28
CHARITIES, CORRECTION.
Review of the Report Of the
Last Conference by Miss
Witherspoon.

The following review was written, by
request of The Spy. by Miss Miriam F.
Witherspoon, secretary Of the Assoc
ciated Charities:
Last May the twenty-fifth annual
conference of charities and correction
was held in New York. The report of
the proceedings has recently been pub
lished, and is valuable addition to
sociological literature. About eighty
pages are devoted to reports from the
different states. All changes in legis-
lation bearing upon state care Of the
dependent, delinquent and defective
are reported; statistics Of the number
so cared for in each state are given,
and special note is made of any sug-
gestive item Of interest connected with
such care. Under the heading 'Coun-
ty and municipal charities" attention
IS called to the fact that everywhere
the tendency is toward a differentiation
of the different classes cared for at
public expense, and the placing of each
distincI class under the management Of
a separate official sponsibility." The
discussion which follows as to what
constitutes the most efficient govern
ing authority of a charities department
"a board Of unpaid trustees, similar to
those in charge of institutions, or a
salaried commission with a concentra-
ton Of responsibility in the hands of
one, or, at most, three men, is well
handled and is Of practical interest to
every thinking taxpayer.
From the first addresses, given orig
fnaliy in Carnegie hall, before an i'm
mense audience, by such men as VIM
Rhinelander Stewart, the president of
the conference, Bishop Potter, Arch
bishop Corrigan, Hon. Seth Low, and
SIGN, each paper is a most helpful con-
tribution to the literature on its sub
Ject, not only in what it actually
teaches, but In what it suggests for flu
ture thought and study.
One chapter is devoted to the Laws
of settlement" with papers by men so
well qualified to speak on the subject
as F. H. Wines and Frank B. Sam
born, showing how the laws of settle
Inent in New England grew out of the
conception in the minds Of our ances-
tors Of the great privilege Of being
free men and citizens, and with what
jealous care they guarded the rights
of such citizenship.
Those Of us who are engaged in pri-
vate charity work in New England,
realize OF what advantage N our study
plete histories which we find Of our
psuper females. No student Of the
history OF New England can afford to
leave out Of consideration the poor
lava.
The chapter on Politics in our pub
lie Institutions" gives US as side is
sue a. most interesting discussion on
labor IN prisons-contract labor with
its competition with free labor and
the consequent aotagonisn Of the labor
unions, as opposed to absolute idleness,
or at most only such labor as is nee
essary TO produce what can be used
IN the state institutions, and with this
restriction. the idleness Of many pris-
onere.
Chapters are also devoted TO 'Imn,i-
grafton, and the Interstate migration:
The care Of the insane especially the
aftercare between the institution and
full support, and the Detective ard
dependent classes" Medical charities
come for The first time into the dis
.cussion Of TIE conference and are con-
ssdered n fHs able papers. handling