The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-26

stitute for the privacy of the bed room in a natural family. Every consideration points to the desirability of abandoning the institutional plan. Institutions here after should serve but one purpose. that of affording temporary shelter until homes are found for those that need them. To find well equipped guardians is by no means a matter of insuperahle difficulty.
 Character of Society.
 "The state board of charities must pass upon the character of any society organ ized for home finding, and when a cer- tifcate is granted 1t is only for one year, renewal depending upon the favorable judgment of the board. In this way raids of selfish men and women on the com munity under pretense of finding homes for dependent children are circumvented. The state, however, should be entrusted only with the general supervision of all the societies engaged in this work.
 ''In the long run, pensioning mothers Is cheaper than building almshouses and jails and reformatories. Keep the moth CTS at home and a long stride is taken on the road leading away from pauperism and that which causes it-alcoholism and domestic anarchy. I should never sepa- rate children from their parents or brothers and sisters from one another wherever it is possible to keep the fam fly intact. In this work, Preserve the family must be our watchword"
 MT. Buffers Views.
 Amos w. Butler, secretary of state charities of Indianapolis, discussed the question, "Should the State Inspect the Work of All Child-Cariug Agencies, h. cluding Both Institutions and Home Finding Societies?' 'The conditions in Indiana" said MT. Butler, ''are probably similar to those in other states. We have a number of good institutions for children, equipped and carefully administered. want to give these full credit for the work they do. Those which receive pub lie support are subject to state inspection and to regulation in certain ways. on the other hand there are a number which are only nominally homes. In these the children lack proper care and training. No records are kept and 1t Is sometimes impossible to tell what became of their wards There are other kinds of institu- tions in Indiana which have to dc with children-maternity homes, founding homes, children's homes and child-placing agencies Some are wholly or partly sup ported from public funds; others are pri- vate enterprises. Some are subject to tn- spection and investigation, others to visi- tation by the board of state charities. Under the recent law no such association can be incorporated without the approval of that board.
 Ut seems to me that where such organi- cations, institutions or agencies are en- gagged In doing a service for the public and where, as in some cases, they receive recognition by charters from the state, 1t is proper and desirable that at least cer- tain classes of them should be licensed or certified and that all should be subject to inspection. I believe that there should be official inspection of all children S agencies; provision for licensing such classes of institutions dealing with infants as have been shown to be injurious or de- structive to chill life or careless or negectful in the disposition of children; provision for visitation of all public wards in foster homes until they are adopted. All this should be done in a tactful and helpful manner. No child should be made public ward that can