The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-02-27
THE CONFERENCE IN TRENTON
state Charities and Correction People
Hold an Interesting Session In that
City Two Days Last Week.

City Two Days Last Week.
| The first State Conference of Charities
and Corrections, which was held last year
in Trenton. had already confirmed the
need of center for the exchange of in
formation and opinion regarding the
many different philanthropic and chari-
table interests throughout the State.
Thus the second State Conference, which
was held in Trenton last week-February
19-20-cannot be regarded in the light OF
an experiment, but of an established
fact. The Conference was attended by
large and representative audience.
Mrs. Emily E. Williamson occupied the
chair and controlled the proceedings
with an able hand.
The address of welcome was made by
Mr.. Francis B. Lee. The Rev. ]. r
Atkinson discussed the purposes and
scope of the Conference. The Rev. Hen
ry Collin Minton spoke on 'Child saving
and the Defaulting Parent" He dwelt
/
motives of personal ease or pleasure, GO
through life childless.r gardless of their
responsibility to society He branded
the deserter of wife or child as little bet
ter than a murderer.
Sherman c. Kingsley, general secre-
tary of the Boston Children 3 Friend So.
ciety, gave his opinion, based on wide
experience, that family care for children
should be substituted wherever and
whenever possible for institutional care
Family life is the life that nature planned
for all, he said. Furthermore, he stated
that such provision for children was not
only more healthful physically and NOR
ally. but also more economical
Father Moran, of the Sacred Heart
Industrial School, agreed that the home
was the best place for the child, but he
also insisted upon the value of the insti.
tuition for those children for whom good
homes could not be found, or for those
who were for some reason unfit for fam
lily life.
Mr. John Edward Taylor read paper
on the Morris County Home, which
maintains an average of abont sixty
child inmates-more boys than girls--
from three to fifteen years of age. The
report shows the institution to be in
prosperous condition
Mrs. F. S. Bennett spoke of the diff
Guilty of drawing the line between tn,
fit and unfit home for the child. Sh,
said that it was often better for boy o
girl to remain with seemingly unfit par
ents than to be removed to other care
Father Foy reai an interesting pape
on ''Work for Neg glected Children.
Judge Alfred F. Skinner then mad
an address on the subject of the proba
tion law He gave evidence of his keel
understanding OF boy nature by assuring
his audience that boys should be classi
fled as "Boys and-bad boys" He spok
in glowing terms of the probation law
and his understanding of and enthusiasm
for probation methods should convinc
and inspire those whose doubts of tht
practicability of such methods hav,
placed them in the rearguard of reform
Judge Skinner has had large experienc,
in dealing with juvenile offenders, ant
knows whereof he speaks. He stated
that the system has proved itself self
supporting in New Jersey, and tina
no amendments OF it seem necessary
He recommends, however. an extension
of it, which shall make provision tina
any magistrate in the State before whom
a juvenile is convicted of any misde
meanor or crime shall have power to sus
pend sentence and commit the offende
to the care of probation officer. II,
also would furnish further stimulus t,
good behavior among probationers-
stimulus which could be secured by dim
mutton of fine, reduction of time of pro
baton, and of frequency of reporting.
A discussion of juvenile delinquenc,
followed. led by Judge G. v. d. Joline
The remainder of the afternoon wa
devoted to the subject of a woman's re
formatory. Mrs. George W. Blackwell
urged the need of such an institution
pointing out the evils wrought upol
woman offenders by detention in ou
county jails.
The discussion was led by the Rev
Walter Reid Hunt He expressed tn,
hope that the legislature would surely
grant 81 900 to establish commission
which shall investigate the need, cost
etc, of such reformatory, reporting
next year whatever conclusions it ma,
reach.
"The New Altruism' was the genera
theme of the Thursday evening session
Chancellor John W. Norris. representing
Bishop James McFaul, who was unabl,
to be present, made the address of wei
come.
Governor Murphy again assured tn
Conference of his hearty cooperation.
Mrs. Emily E Williamson, the retir
ing president, read paper which wa
full Of her usual helpful optimism. Sh
passed in rapid review numerous institu
tions throughout 1.-THE State, declaring
that the Village for Epileptics woult
soon be able to care for all dependen
epilcptics in New jersey; that there ar
now no children in almshouses; and tina