Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-20
EFFORT. TO HELP
 PAUPERS OF NORWICH
Want to Understand Local Conditions Better-Address by pr. E. w. Capen of Columbia.

The Mems class of Broadway church had about 15O men at its session in the church auditorium Sunday at noon, many from the Mems classes of other churches having responded to the .inVi- tation to hear Edward Warren Capen, Ph. D., of Columbia speak upon the topic A Comparison of the Philanthro- pic Problems of Connecticut and Japan. pr. Capens address resulted in plan for a future meeting to discuss the conditions of aid to the poor of this city.
 B. P. Bishop. leader of the class. ex- tended a welcome to those present. af- ter prayer had been offered by Rev. c. A. Northrop. city missionary of the United Workers. Mir. Bishop said that Dr. Capen's address would be in line with the study which the Broadway Mems class was conducting.
 Dr. Capen presented his subject in an informing way by comparing Japanese city of 50000 population with Norwich, which is about half that size. In year in the Japanese city there had been 125 persons who had been public charges at a cost of $l,300 while in Norwich there had been 5S1 at a cost of about $14,000. This counted in almshouse inmates, outside poor re- lief and hospital relief. He explained that in Japan they are much more sue cessful in making the relatives sup port poor members of their family. and if these can't do it then the people who live on the same street as the pauper are called on, then the village gives help. and after that the general government, thus greatly reducing the number dependent on the local com munity. Politics seem to be almost eliminated from the matter of poor re- lief in Japan.
 In one year the general government had taken care of 17,5S2 adults at a cost of $96, 900 and 2.000 foundlings at q cost of S20,000. This in a population of forty million. which is much more than Connecticut. Ten years ago Japan had started an emergency fund for meeting big emergencies like earth quakes big fires and famine. to all of which it is subject. In 1905-06 the To- cal governments paid in sS5000 to this fund. the general government $155. 900. In the same year $500 000 was paid out of the fund. The Japanese generally arrange that the charity given shall be paid for in some way.
 Dr. Capen spoke of the work done through charitable institutions, for which he said the initiative had gem erally come through Christian infiu- ence. They have orphanages which are carefully conducted, fifty-five homes for eX-convictS whose records show that about two-thirds of those who enter are reclaimed from the con- avict life: reformatories for juvenile Of- lenders that show equally good results, and very fine hospitals In all these the best work is under Christian infu- ence. Not much work is yet done in Japan for the epileptics and feeble minded
 One of the sad things about Japan is that the west is responsible for some of it's serious problems. such as the slums and the problems of factory operatives. Homes for factory girls are being started and doing very valu- able work. There are. also night schools. One difficulty which the Jap anese have encountered has been the multiplication of private institutions which were inefficient. but they are trying to weed these out and giving support only to the worthy.
 He said one weakness in the Con necticut philanthropic system was in allowing the county homes to grow into large institutions. instead of mak- ing them merely temporary receiving homes for the children. He thought it was 8 bad thing to subsidize hospi- tals az the state did. paying lump sums instead of passing the amount on the number of people to be supported. As the ideal way to care for the poor he suggested a compromise between the western idea of one central institution for each state and the town control as in vogue in Connecticut His plan was