The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-23
CONFERENCE DOWN
| ON THE FEE SYSTEM
Resolutions Adopted at After
noon Session
CHILD'S BUREAU BILL
brought Out Need of Careful Rec
ords and Uniform System
of Statistics

Resolutions were in order at the after
noon meeting of the Conference on Char
tiles and Corrections. The fee system
in Alabama was roundly scored, and the
legislature petitioned to abolish the sys-
tenn of hiring convicts to private corpora
tions
Resolutions indorsng the establishment
OF national department of public
health, and the child's bureau bill now
before Congress- were adopted. and final
ly the thanks of the convention were
extended to Birmir CHAM for her hospi-
tally.
THE Juvenile Delnquents' and the
Homeless and Neglected Child" problems
were the topics of discussion at the after
noon session. Legislation must never
precede education was the unanimous
sentiment expressed by several speakers.
In reference 10 the juvenile court law
it was shown that the county officials
do not want to observe The law. because
there is no provision made for fees. "Po-
lice men and public officials are not to
Lame for the careless handling of the
law, because they need education on tho
subject" said Judge N. B. Felgin. T5e
denounced the commercializing of chill
dren, especially boys. The discussions
were pointed and interesting
Mrs. c. B. Spencer's paper was a fea-
ture of the conference. She dealt with
the institutional and child placing meth
DDS for dependent and neglected children.
Til -
records in childran's institutions. DR..
Alexander Johnson of Indiana spoke on
Child Placing" and Maurice Willows
of Birmingham dealt with the Importance
of a uniform system of sta ,stics The
resolutions committee reported the fo,-
lowii resolutions which were unani NOUS
ly adopted;
1--WE give most hearty Endorsement to
the movement for The establishment of
a national department of public health,
the head of which shall be a member OF
the cabinet of the President of the
United States"
Resolved, That the executive commit
tee of this conference take immediate
steps to have the report on Public
Health given by DR.. T. D. Parlxe at the
Presbyterian church on March 81. printed
and placed in the hands of the general
secretary for distribution
LAS under conditions there are no avail
able statistics regarding the child later
than those gathered 10 years ago. we
feel that the children of the nation are
equally as important as the elimination
of the ticks that destroy cattle and the
cholera amongst the hogs.
Therefore, be it resolved, That the
Alabama Conference of Charities and
Corrections indorse the bill entitled, The
Children's Bureau BILL now before Con-
gress, and ask that the senators and rep
resentatves of Alabama use all possible
influence at the present session of Con-
gress to have same passed"
Resolved, That the State Conference
of Charities and Corrections strongly
recommend that the system now prevelant
in this state of the leasing or hiring out
of convicts to private persons or public
corporations be abolished and that all
laws of the state be so amended as to
prohibit the exploitation of the convicts
for state gain.
I'VE recommend that the more enlight-
ened system now in vogue in other states
be adopted.
I'VE further recommend that the
prenlcious fee system now existing be en-
tirely abolished and that all officials be
placed on q salary basis, as we believe
1t to be a source of great hardship to the
prisoners and of strong temptation to
those who derive monetary benefit there
from.
I'VE also recommend that all youths
under Is years of age detained by state
institutions shall be required to devote
a reasonable number of hours of the
labor period of the day to acquiring an
elementary education
Resolutions of Thanks
"Whereas the Alabama Conference of
Charities and Corrections has just con-
cluded its second annual meeting in the
city of Birmingham, and
whereas. This meeting has been most
successful in the quantity and quality of
the work accomplished, be 1t
Resolved, That this conference extends
its thanEs to all who have aided in max
ing its meeting a success; to the Birming
ham Chamber of Commerce for the use
of their auditorium for our daily meet
ings; to the pastor and congregation of
the First Presbyterian church for the
use of their building for our mass meet
ings; to the officers of the Country club
for the use of the club house for our
reception; to the band of the Alabama
Boys Industrial school for the music fur
nished on that occasion; to the ministers
and physicians of the city who have
given us their active support and CO.
operation; to the daily papers for the ex-
tended notices and hearty Endorsement
they have given our proceedings to DR..
Alexander Johnson, DR.. Charles Minor
and Miss Jean Gordon for the interest
sympathy, advice and inspiration they
have given us in our work: and to the
Birmingham public for those acts of
courtesy, collective and individual. which
have added so materially to the harmony
and success of our meeting.
MRS. J.. j. HALEY, Ch'm'n.
LEMUEL b. GREEN,
DIR. j. T. SEARCY. a
rs.--a~~U IJr~waes Jasued