The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-04
''JOE" BRENNAN
 HAS MADE GOOD
His Administration as Su- perintendent of Charities Has Been Most Efficient How He Started as Pre- scription Clerk in Depart ment of Charities.

Joseph Vincent Brennan. the efficient superintendent of the poor of this city was born in a little house on the corn CT of High street and Washington ave- nue in 1872. He is Bridgeport pro- duct and has ever been proud of his birthplace and ready to defend it against all corners. His first schooling school house well remembered by many boys who have since become prominent in various callings in the city. Like all of the boys of that period he had his share of the vigor which seems to have been lost in later generations.
 Miss Fannie Gavett and Miss Ellen Lee were his teachers and they started him in the right track for here and later at the Washington school he made good progress although he was always busy and his surplus energy found vent in the pranks of the aver age school boy of the period. He fin ished up his schooling at the Congress street school which later became the High school.
 At the age of A. he entered the em- ploy of Charles Shelton who then con- Main street and Fairfield avenue. He remained here for three years and in that time learned the intricacies of prescription pharmacy. He later work ed for George Malone on Pequonnock street. On Nov. Is. 1890 he was ap- pointed pharmaciet at the old Elmer gency hospital in Court street He served pharmacist and ambulance pointed cler!. of the board of charities.
 In 1897 he succeeded the late William H. Bunnell as superintendent of the poor Daniel Davenport was then members were w. W. Ingham. John M. Hawley. J. H. McElroy. William Hickey and John Beck. Since his ap- pointment to the board of charities he has seen the business of the depart ment increase from a comparatively small affair to the immense business transacted by the present board. Dur ing all this time he has steered his ship clear of all political rocks. The department has been conducted en- tirely independent of politics as far as Supt. Brennan is concerned and the care with which he has watched oyer the interest of the taxpayers has com manded the admiration Of the differ ent boards which have succeeded each other as administrations have changed.
 The year of 1893 was a record break CT. The number of families under the care of the department rose to 165, figure never before reached in the his> tory of the city. Last year-the year of the panic-there were over PTS fami- lies who received aid from the depart ment. During these years Superintend- ent Brennan has conducted the de- partment with little friction. He has managed to conserve the interests of the ClIy anu dlSO to SdClSIy US non wards. No rational complaint has ever been made against him.
 The secret of his success has been his careful attention to his duties and his painstaking methods of conducting the department. Probably no poor de- pertinent in the state has been less imposed upon by unworthy applicants than the department in this city. One principle which has governed the ac- tions of the superintendent has been noteworthy. It is his never deviating effort to keep the families which come 6nder his care together as long as any benefit to them or to the city will ac- crue- In the long run this policy is economical. Under this system fami- lies grow out of their vicisSitudes and take their places as independent self supporting indiyiduals with unbroken home ties.
 Many young men who are now credit to themselves and to the city have been through this experience and are now supporting the widowed moth CTS who continued the home after the death of the mainStay of the family. The money spent in this way comes back to the city indirectly.
 Supt. Brennan is one of the best judges of human nature in the state and he has the ability to get at the bottom of conditions which would S. courage less ypainstaking official. He rarely found together. natural kind ness and a rigid undefective instinct. Contact with misfortune and want has not hardened him neither has it soft ened him to that point where he is willing fn ha ip1nOSad mon