Evening journal., 1909-12-04
CONFERENCE
OF CHARITIES
Need Of q New City Hall an
UppermOSt Topic at the
Opening Session
TALK OF CHICAGO'S
JUVENILE COURT

Wae continued throughout today, Al
tonight's session Judge Mckenzie Gle
land. Of the Municipal Court Of Chi
oago, will make an address on THE
Success of the Juvenile Court and Pro-
baton System in Chicago" Judge
Cleland has achieved fame for the
manner in which he has handled ju-
venile cases.
The attendance at last nights meet
ing was not so large as 1t should
have been; but the audience was COM
posed largely OF city officials. promi-
nent club women, doctors, and clergy
men, and the discussion after the
speeches developed into a spirited. but
thoroughly good -natured heart-to-
heart talk. aptly termed by Miss Mary
A. Mather. a genuine, old fashioned
town meeting" The Rev. II. w
Wells made the opening prayer.
The Rev. DR.. IT. w. Kellogg, pre-
siding, gave the opening address. He
defined the Associated Charities as all
constructive philanthropy organized
under cooperative methods and under
central control. He compared old
time relief with present scientific phil
enthropy showing how causes and re-
NEEDLES and prevention were sought
nowadays for the public III Of poverty,
The movement is passing the exper-
mental stage and is gaining friends,
espec ally among the wealthy. The
wealthy men Of Wilmington show con-
fdence n the local society. The so
ciety cares for the needy in three ways.
First, needy persons and families are
reached second, prevention OF dupr
eating Of benevolence and exposing
frauds; third, making the people helped
independent. Since charity was or
ganized in indianapolis, the poor tax
was reduced from $4,000 to $4,000.
In this conference all interests were
blended. juvenile courts. child labor,
womens wages health OF the city. and
so on. The best was none too good
for Delaware.
Tells Of City Hall.
The city Hall was discussed by the
next three speakers.
y. l.. Banning. President OF City
Council. described its past condition,
built when the nation was legally ten
years old, in the country town of Will
mington, II appeared an extravagantly
large and well-equipped building, on
the fashionable residence street, Mar
ket street. The police force was one
man and he had plenty OF spare time.
At present only three departments
find room In the City Hail. the rest
are in Sixth street Offices. The mayor
and council are fairly well OFF, but the
, municipal court is badly cramped for
, room. The police headquarters are in
! adequate in the superiative degree.
y There are ninty-four officers and no
city has a finer, more eflcient, police
department Prisoners are crowded
!. and homeless are turned away on win
i, ter nights. The Council will have no
s money until next June. anxious as Il is
10 remedy matters. The raising OF
money by bonds was suggested once
, before. but was and would be now,
distasteful TO the citizens. IL gave the
speaker pleasure to state that the san
itary conditions would be Immediately
improved. In conclusion Mr.. Banning
expressed his satisfaction that the off,
cials had chance TO explain their
attitude to the citizens, thinking Il
would clear away much recent mis-
understanding OF the councils proceed
ings.
Sanitary Conditions Bad.
DIT. u. w. Howell, President Of the
Board OF Health. said the sanitary con-
ditions Of the City Hall were almost
unbelievable. He described a prison.
ers reception. There are two tiers Of
cells, on two corridors. six feet in
, length. Artificial light is always nee
essary. The floors are cement, porous
I and poisonous through age. The only
ventilation ia a single window OPEN
ing on the space between Mullins
store and the city Hall. The toilet
I system is unsanitary, and fills the cells
Z and rooms above with foul air
[ In the basement. where the home
o. less are sheltered. 20 to 70 men a night
L sleep on the cement floor, with their
Y shoes and socks on the steam pipes
e poisoning the air where police officials
n remain all night IA the room above
There IS practically no ventilation IN
the officers room. and the odor is I'M
bearable. DR.. Howell was pleased "a
state that the plumbing would be made
sanitary. He did not think in ths
8 moneyless condition OF the Council, II
was fair 10 force complications by de-
handing all reforms Immediately,
q Women Prisoners.
d Police Matron Mrs. r. NJ. Wogar
touched the heart Of her hearers, az
she read a paper by Police Matror
o Mrs. Mary White and herself. upon the
j. conditions for women prisoners. Hel
ef|AWAA NRANN A4ANNANA 90 EAAN rdlu nHI exc
a periences were too numerous and sad
b and ridiculous 10 make public Hei
u greatest wish was that people would
% employ women after they left prison
y Abandoned by everyone. a life Of
d crime was all that was left 20 them
= She followed them into the outer worlc
H. all she could. but the situation seemed
u hopeless. There were AS womer
n prisoners last year. an increase OF SO
IN prison for every crime IN tn,
~ calendar. 90 OF them for drunkenness
h All women and children, colored ant
\, white. had to be kept in one room
~ fourteen feet by eighteen feet-some
\. times day or two.
Tells Of Workhouse.
IA Former Judge~J Frank Bail. rpeal,
re ing Tor the workhouse trustees OF thei
"a eight years experience, paid a higa
OF tribute TO Mrs. Wogan's faithfulnes
NJ and efficiency IN his opening words.
The trustees labored through II
Legislatures 20 get the bill passed IA
the workhouse. They had two object
.ho In view, the financial benefit 70 IN
ne county and the betterment OF the IN
- mates.
~ The trustees in eight years had ha.
A. the building destroyed by IRE. had
IA mob within the walls. and gained Il
,nt enmity Of both political parties, b,
Il they were proud OF their results.
~ aaaHn