The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-21
BOARD OF CHARITIES.
Good Work at Lawrence With
Reports for the Year.

Lawrence Kas., Nov 21.-The main
point brought out in the speeches at the
second days session Of the Kansas As
sOciation of Charities and Corrections
was the fact that inferior homes are re-
SDonsible for the greater number of the
criminals of today. There were many
neglected children might be placed in
good homes where their morals might
be improved and they might be started
upon the way to good citizenship.
In the dispensing of aid to the poor 1t
was advocated that some return should
be made by the recipients in order that
the children be taught to work for what
they get.
Among the speakers were Supt E.
Terry Bingham, of the Kansas City
Helping Hand institute: Police Matron
Thorpe, of Topeka; Judge B. Lindsey, OF
the Denver Juvenile court; Supt. Charles
Noble Prentiss. of Kansas City; Rev
E. A. Fredenhagen, of Kansas City, su-
Derintendent of the Kansas Society for
the Friendless; J. H. Hanson, of Kansas
Citv: Henry ]. Allen, of Ottawa: Rev.
F. M. Burnett, of Lawrence, and E. l.
Hills, superintendent State Orphans
home at Atchison.
The principal speaker at last nights
session was Prof, Graham Taylor, Chi
cago Commons, H. Mr.. Taylor is one
of the greatest charity workers in the
United States. and his speech was espe-
cially interesting and instructive. His
subject was Patriotism in Philan-
thrOpy."
He spoke with the assurance and ex-
Derience gained from twelve and one
half years of labor among the paupers
Prof. Taylor argued that patriotism
calls for retaining of criminals and
unfortunates. He held that a nation
can not afford to allow the lower classes
on lnha1rnd The
raigned the present system of political
Dreferment N tie care of the poor ana
guilty and advocated a civil service sys-
tenn to look after such affairs.
Judge Carver. president of the Kansas
Society for the Friendless. in his adj
dress held that the warden instead of
the governor should have the right of
issuing paroles to prisoners. He also
spoke strongly in favor of parole after
conviction and before Imprisonment at
the courts discretion. This system has
worked with good success in Indiana.
The Secretary'S report in part follows:
During the year your secretary has held
his Office a debt of over $50 owing to the
president for money advanced has been
paid, seven of the state institutions Wis
tied, the Associated Charities of Law
with the Associated Charities in Wich-
ita, and several meetings with the COM
mittee of the ministers union working
to organize a charities association in
Topeka; he has also visited the national
conference at Detroit.
The officers of the Associated Chari-
ties at Wichita. under the leadership of
Mrs l. 8. Couch, secretary. and Mr..
Howard, president, have done splendid
work. A work room is maintained. In
/ Topeka the movement for organization
has grown out of the efforts of Mrs. l..
| E. ThOr9e This devoted woman, be-
sides being police matron, is both a bu.
reau of charities and principal of in
dustrial schools.
AS there are conditions existing which
ought to be changed permit me to rec
ommend as follows
l. That the approximations for the
| maintenance of our public institutions,
especially for the hospitals and schools,
! should be largely increased. Every SUI
perintendent interviewed asserted that
the salaries paid to attendants and
teachers were so low that good workers
could not be kept. even if secured
! .. The massage of civil service act,
1 governing the appointment OF employees
! in our public institutions. With but few
exceptions. the positions referred to are
| dCled out as rev ards for ald IN carrying
! elections. FitT1ss FOR a position is, t
best, a secondary consideration. Hence,
/ some of the nrccintees, especially the
| lesser positions. sie Incompetent, some
are vicious. so.ss" ssre both. or worse.
? The thirl communication is that
/ a law be enaoLss Gbolishing the fee
! system is tire method of paying
public officials i'll county offices by fees,
- that salaries be substituted lHeTe-
for.
:. The fourth recommendation is that
n county charities law be enacted tax
ing Douglas county as model
5. The fifth recommendation is that
this association recognize as fundament-
al the principle that institutions for fe-
male delinquents, such as the woman's
prison, at Lansing, and the Girls In
dustrial school. at Beloit, should be
separated both by location and admins
tration frcm similar institutions fol
males, and that their boards of trustees
be composed either wholly, or partly, OF
women.
6. The sixth and last. but not least
recommendation is that this association
geek to secure a law establishing stat
board Of charities, modelled after those
of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and simllal
sta ties. In Kansas our penitentlary ant
reformatory are under separate board:
of three directors each, while the hos
pitfalls and schools are grouped under {
single board of five trustees The las
has been called the board of charities
The state board of charities consist:
of from three to five members VINO. witt
} one exception, serve without salary, th'
state paying their expenses The ex
ception is the secretary who is paid by
the state. He holds his office under
civil service rules and is removed only