The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-01
CHARITY WORK IN
INDIANA ATTRACTS
State Is Gaining an EnviabIe
Reputation in This Line
Of Activity.
LAWS FOR DEPENDENTS.
THEY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT OF
SOME WISE LEGISLATION RE-
CENTLY-DECRE IN CHILD
LABOR.


Indianapolis, Ind, August 81 The
work or cne last legislature in the en-
actment of laws relating to public
charities has attracted much attention
throughout the country as well as in
Indiana. The progress Indiana has
made in her charities in the past two
decades and especially in the last one,
is matter of general knowledge.
The Improvement began Immediate
ly following the excellent law in 1889
creating the Board of State Charities
Its good work is generally known and
recognized both at home and abroad
The following figures show strongly
the movement for the best laws. The
legislature of 1891 passed three laws
relating to charities; that of 1893. four
laws; 1895. five laws; 1905, fifteen
laws, and 1907. thirty-five.
Whole Field Covered.
More laws were passed by the last
legislature affecting charities than in
the preceding ten years. That does
not include the appropriation bill.
These n9T laws covered the whole
field of public charitable activity.
They relate to township charities, city
charities, county charities and state
charities. They apply to organizations
and institutions. They affect both
adults and children. They provide for
the better care of the dependents, de-
fectives and delinquents. They go
still farther and in a sane way pro-
vide means for the prevention of such
misfortunes and evils. They provide
for those who cannot care for them
selves.
Decreases Child Labor Dependence.
Among the most important laws
passed were those relating to children.
Heretofore dependents were made pub
lie wards by any one of several public
officials. In future no child can be-
come a public dependent in any coun-
ty except by the judge of the Juvenile
court Only on the order of that court
can any child hereafter be legally
supported by the county unless it
was properly a public charge when
the law went into effect. In all coun-
ties but Marion, the Judge of the cir
court. Heretofore many children have
been made public wards who should
not have been. Many parents neg
lected their natural responsibilities
and turned their children over to the
public to support. This law should
decrease child dependence in Indiana
and insure better records and better
care of the dependent children. This
new law makes wilful neglect of duty
towards children by parents or others
responsible for them an offense pun
ishable by fine not exceeding $500 and
Imprisonment in jail or workhouse.
Provision for Orphans.
Every child in an orphans home or
other custodial institution is to be
educated at the expense of the school
corporation where it has a legal set
tlement. County commissioners are
allowed to contract with organizations
or orphanages for the care and place
ment in families of dependent children
at rate not exceeding 50 cents
per day. The township trustee is
given authority to purchase burial
places for deceased soldiers. sailors
and marines. The county auditor is
required to keep a debit and credit
account with each township, balance
the account on the first of January
each year and transmit a statement to
the overseer of the poor This bal
ance is to be taken into account in
making the next levy for reimbursing
the county for money advanced for
poor relief A new law provides that
the proper authorities shall supply
free anti-toxine to poor persons at the
expense Of the county, city or town
board of health
For Non-Parsisan Boards.
A law for the uniform organization
and administration of all the state
institutions except the normal school
and the universities was passed This
provides for board of four members
at nominal salaries, for each institu-
ton. Not more than two members
can belong to the same political party.
The board of the Indiana girls school
and that of the Indiana woman's pris-
on are composed entirely of women
One member of the board of the school
for feeble-minded youth at Fort Wayne
is to be a woman, as is one member
of the board of the soldiers and sail
ors' orphans home at Knightstown
Each board is TO appoint the superin
tendent of its institution and the su
perintendent is to appoint all officers
and employees. No qualifications ex
cept fitness can be taken into consid
Grafton in making any appointments
provided for by the law. and the trus
tees are prohibited from interfering
in any way with the selection or dis.
charge of any employee
Another Hopeful Sign.
One of the most hcpeful measures