The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-12
false economic policy than an lllibcral

want to say that with regard to the
county Jails and county al1nsliouses, b,ll
inspections had a most remarkable effect
Wo found the conditions of tho 1ails and
nlmshouses to DO absolutely dcrlornbe
NY father used to say that II tho people
OF the United States could have nll the
jnia brought together In ono place. the
roofs taken on and q bridge arranged 40
they could walk over md look down into
them they would not tolerate tho exist
ING conditions for nj hour. Tho best aro
bad enough, but the worst nro simply an
lntolerablo nuisance.
BY criticislng and going to tho editors
terested and taking them to visit tho diff
fclent Institutions and soc for themselves
precisely what they were, we slccoeded in
nrous1nfE opposition to tho mlsmanngo-
mcnt Of these institutions, which resulted
IN improvements, better men placed in
charge OF them and better provision made
for the care Of the inmates,
That would DO the result, unquestion.
ably, If the organization of state Board
IN this State were effected, with power to
visit and make reports. Tho people OF
these United States don't intend to do
wrong they do wrong through ignorance,
because they don't realize what they arc
doing. ~
WORK rs EDUCATIONAL.
a = no 81 Cal NOA ~ VI u SLd 70 IOdEQ Is eQu.
catlonal, and, as was said last light by
Mr.. Bracket. is has power to educate tho
public mind to bring their attention to
subjects which would otherwise never
reach them. Tho educational function OF
such a board Is Its most important fllnc-
ton, and the work done in that direction
is the most important work.
Such a board becomes the head of the
entire charitable work in tho State In
which It exists. 1t is ordinarily given
power to establish local boards Of county
visitors, auxiliary boards, which work in
harmony with IT., visit the different coun-
ties and get information as to what IS
go'n on. State Board Of Charity be-
comes acquainted with all who are en-
gagged in charitable work in the State,
all who are IN charge Of private, as we'll
as public institutions, all who are engaged
in the placing out Of children or in tho
re.lef OF the afflicted and suffering, and its
influence for good Is simply incalculablc.
one word In conclusion In regard to q
question which Is agitated In many States,
am to speak or 1t In New Jersey. wheth-
err such board should be an executive
board or supervisory board merely.
Ihere are some who wish to make 1t a
State Board of Control. Ono fact that
makes me feel that 1t is not the best sys-
TEN is that the arguments advanced In
FAVOR OF It are mostly business argu-
ments, which will suggest themselves to
you. The motive that lies behind It is
to build up a political machine. If you
put Into the hands Of the State Board of
control such patronage. the purchase of
supplies for all institutions they can do
very much to facilitate the election of this
man or hinder the election Of that, and
such a board would, In my opinion, tend
70 strengthen the power of what is known
as the political boss or ring In power, and
FOR that reason politicians very orten
favor it,
what Is lost in that direction is lost
in the management of State institutions
which have no political purpose which
are supported by people of all political
parties, and whose names are taken from
all grades of society, and board of that
sort ought to be free from political bias
IN any relation to the political machine.
WITHOUT SUPERVISION.
Bnt the great argument against the
consolidation of this power is that such
board Is without supervision. 1t is this
function of supervision and criticism
which is exercised by other boards which
vas felt to be necessary and led to the
spread of the system all over the country
and which has preserved 1t in existence
In spite Of all the movements for its
overthrow. and If a State board of con-
troll is established without board OF
CHARITIES. you get no additional advan-
tage that I can see that you don't have
in the executive power intr,lsted to local
boards. You lose the particular interest
felt by each local board In the institu-
ton and the knowledge which they OBJ
tain of each in detail. You lose the
touch with the people. for board OF
control is never In touch with the people
as a supervisory board is. a board OF
control prefers to manage affairs In its
own way.
When Mr.. George Gable made talk
In Louisville upon the essees system
one statement he made was to the effect
that he had written a letter to a director
of the penitentary of Arkansas and that
he received In reply a Very curt letter
saying that the affairs Of the peniten-
tiary of Arkansas were his private af-
fairs, and declined to give any informa-
ton
/ have no doubt that the inspiration
which has led to this conference will lead
to a State Board of Charities In Virginia,
and l feel sure that such board will
be found to be immensely useful in drec-
tons in which you have not been able
to grasp IN your thoughts, but that It is
coming is absolutely certain; it Is In the
air.
Philanthropic work is business, Just
ilhc any OAilsi 1Ou might JUS
as we'll try to establish a cotton factory
without knowing anything about 1t as
to try TO have ably administered institu-
tons by men who don't know the prin-
ciple which underlies the whole system
and don't know how to make an organi-
zation and administration conform to
those principles.
MUST GO TO WORK.
You don't learn the principles by sitting
down in your library. You have to go to
work; get In touch with men who have
found out what Is practical what has
been found advantageous and what dis
advantageous. A State Board OF Chart
ties, with q secretary is engaged forever
in looking into this matter. reading re-
ports of conferences in other parts OF
the country taking part in discussions,
going around visiting Institutions; and
they get ideas and see better methods
of taking care of the poor and insane.
lie brings these things back In the
shape Of reports which reach the people
through the public press, and thus public
Onion Is enlshtened, which in time con-
trolls the action of the Legislature and
tho Governor. The result is more effec-
tive care OF the unfortunate and deener