The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-13

forces is that of intelligent and fruit
full labor The ideal conditions of
prison labor are secured when the pris-
oner is employed in industries which
are both educative and productive, in
which discipline is not disturbed, in
which by the labor of the prisoner the
state is reimbursed for his support, and
in which the prisoner himself secures
a share of his earnings. In the selection
of labor for prisoners that form should
be chosen which will do most TO fit
the prisoner for self-support when at
liberty"
Among the other speakers at to-
days sessions were DR.. d. j. Mcmahon
of New York, A. w. Gutridge of st.
Paul, Mimi; Mrs. Emily Williamson
of Elizabeth, n. j., Mrs. Alice Lincoln
of Boston, and Homer Folks, commits
sioner of charities of New York city.
Mr. Folks, address follows, in part:
"A most cursory examination of the
causes of restitution, whether in con-
nection with the assistance of the poor
in their homes or their care in public
institutions, shows that sickness is al
ways one of the leading causes. and is
usually the leading cause of depend
ency. The tendency of recent charity
administration is to make physical dis
ability the one indispensab BILE condition
for admission TO a public charitable
institution, and to commit Migrants
and able bodied paupers to correctional
institutions. The municipal lodging
houses AFFORD shelter for a few days
to people temporarily homeless and des-
tftute, but under ordinary conditions,
and with the opportunities for tenn
porary work afforded by modern char
liable agencies, there seems now TO be
no reason for admitting to almshouses
or other public institutions those who
are able-bodied.
Observation and experience lead me
to the conclusion that we could and
should regard these people with more
consideration than we have been ac-
customed to give the inmates of the
almshouses. We instinctively feel that
the word 'pauper' is a harsh word,
and does a measure of injustice when
applied to them Do we not also
instinctively feel that age, as such,
should receive a degree of considera-
ton, very measureably in advance of
that which should be accorded the
middle-aged, voluntary, able bodied,
pauDer?
1T is no doubt true that the disea Sc
and infirmity which bring these peo-
pie to IA condition of dependence are
themselves due to earlier causes
which may or may not imply i'll desert
TO intemperance. The excessive use
of alcoholic liquors and other forms
of dissipation are the occasion of
very large amount of tuberculosis No
doubt an appreciate number of those
who in their extreme old age seek the
shelter of the almshouse, have led lives
which have at least some chapters that
had best be left unread.
The consideration of the topic Dis
ease and Dependency. and my observa-
ton and experience of the care of
hospital Notwithstanding every gra-
dation from those suffering from acute
disease to those who are simply suf-
fering from the disease of old age.
lead me TO believe that a reconstruc-
ton of our ideas in regard to the prom
er care of the aged is necessary. and
that the conditions which might have
made certain changes of doubtful
wisdom in the past no longer exist.
now that we have gotten rid of the
able-bodied pauper as an appreciable
factor in the charity situation. I be-
heNe, therefore. in a more individual
care Of the aged: in smaller groups.
even in individual rooms for some: i'm
separate quarters for aged couples: in
better food; in more privacy: in less
urattractive dining room service; in
less barren monotOny OF clothing: I'm
t''N' DpP'l AhHAlg LOT out OF door life,
IN employment, which need not be re-
munerative but should be attractive
~ other words, in a life for aged and
inhlm dependents which shall moi bo
SIMPLY waiting for the end. but
which shall round out IN a more nat
ural way the closing years, affording
such opportunity for activity as each
Is capable o. and measurable varle-
- OF things 10 interest and occupy"
Most Of the delegates will leave Tor
their homes tomorrow.