Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-07
TO DIRECT CHARITY
Subject Of Discussion at Ma
tional Conference.
MATTER OF VAGRANCY
GREAT MISTAKE OF INDIsCRIMI-
NATE GIVING.
wv. Allan
w. h. Allen Declares the Giver to
Tramps is Worse Than
the Receiver.

| ATLANTA, Ga, May THE second day'a
| session OF the national conference Of char
| tues and corrections was opened this MORN
Ing with an invocation by Bishop Benja-
| min j. Kelley of Savannah. The general
! schedule of the day was county and
| municipal institutions:" Outdoor relief and
vagrancy;" and the committee upon this
branch Of the work. through its chairman.
e l.. Stonaker Of Denver Col. presented
the following resolution:
In the broad field of public charities there
| is no distinct line Of separation between
state, county and municipal charities. The
nearest approach to line of separation
between county and municipality on the one
hand, and the state on the other is I'm the
puphc corrections. Yet even here 1t is not
uniformly observed.
The rapid growth of American cities and
great changes in social conditions relative
'hereto has given rise to the present de-
mand for municipal lodging houses separate
! ana apart from Jails and police stations.
| whlle the new methods of treating juvenile
ueHhquentS by probationry regulations have
| become so popular that rapid changes in
| former systems in municipal and county
corrections are at this time readily ac-
cepted. az
:, Uniformity IN the states relative to pub
TIC charities does not exist. Each state has
| evolved its own system or rather lack of
| system, by slow process The student Who
Undertakes to investigate the subject will
ieauiiy discover that state care has slowly
developed from the old colonial town care
me old town almshOuse remains and he
comes the county poor farm Throughout the
land, while the development of our urban
civilization has brought with it hospitals
ihnffnarles and municipal almshouses
The Problem of the Dav.
Our present day problem is best how To
aid this work of separation and elimination
or undesirable and unsuitable members of
our almshouse population.
The great evil of the county and mu-
nicipal institutions Is lack of intelligent ad-
ministration.
The centralized board of control for pub
llc charities, Just now SO prominently dis
cussed. may well aid in the development
of municipal and county charities at this
time although the future must show if
these boards of control shall eventually
discover the necessity of fostering public
sentiment favorable to a better admnis-
traton of county institutions So far these
boards of control have not displayed any
great interest or zeal in improving condi-
tions. ,l-ar
Your committee believes that at this lime
there should be advocated the provision by
law in each state for an inspector of coun-
ty and municipal institutions, whether un-
a
of state board of charities, or by ap-
pointment by the governor is imma terial.
The inspector of county and municipal
charities under state pay and Endorsement
and with sufficient length OF term to war
rant him in preparing himself properly for
his duties, by personal visitation publica-
ton Of reports, suggestions and advice.
could give the proper impetus to reforms
that result in great Improvement in a very
short time.
The development of public interest can
likewise be advanced through the estab-
lishment Of a state board of charities with
advisory power, or by volunteer societies,
such the State Charities Aid Societies OF
New York and New Jersey. The results OF
this volunteer society work in the state
charities aid associations of New York
and New Jersey are of such a character
and value that your committee is dis
posed to recommend the organization OF
such societies In all states regardless OF
whether such states have advisory
board of charities or central board Of
control
A review Of the condition of the statutes
of the various states on the subject of mu-
nicpal and county charities and outdoor
relief shows that In very few states has
much thought or attention been given in
recent years to the modification i'm
provement of ancient laws.
Address by w. H. Allen.
William II. Allen. general agent OF the
New York mission for improving the con-
dition of the poor. delivered an address.
taking as his subject Social Parasite
Social Product" The salient portion Of his
address follows:
"One phase of vagrancy infects a great
number of people and represents great
menace to social welfare the source and
support of the individual vagrant and the
stronghold of the disease. I refer to the
vagrancy of giving. that tramp philan-
thropy, that superficial samaritanism. that
vagrant interest in ones fellow men which
purcha ses self-compa cency, relief from
annoyance, reputation for generosity and
spurious mortgages on mansions in the
Skies from vendors OF hard-luck stories.
inventors of mutilated limbs and exhibitors
of moral and physical deformites. The
real vagrancy Is the vagrancy of intellect
and sympathy, whether the gift be a mite
million, which attempts to obtain sat
isfaction entirely out Of proportion TO the
thought and time expended in giving; which
confuses almost justice and relief 1t is
the recipient who is wronged, not the giver.
1t is most uncharitabie and irresponsible
for an individual citizen on the street to
prescribe for vagrancy for hydrophobia
or typhoid fever. Our problem Is primarily
to convince and correct this citizen giver1
rather than to convince and reclaim thev
tramp. We shall never be rid Of the MANI
who would rather beg than saw wood:
may hope to be rid Of the man who would
rather give a nickel to a beggar than send
him to agency which can make him self
supporting.
Other addresses upon the general subject
of vagrancy were given by Joseph Forbes
of New York and Livingston Minis of At
lanta During the afternoon sectional
meetings were held.