Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-15
NEW LAW MAKES
WOMEN ELIGIBLE
FOR OvERSEERs
And They Will Be Good Ones,
Too, Says Charities Aid
Secretary.
PAUPERISM PROBLEMS
DISCUSSED IN CONFERENCE
Costs Twice as Much to Die in
East Orange as in East
Newark.

AT the Public Library today a joint
meeting of the State Charities Aid and
Prison Reform Association and the
overseers of the Poor of New Jersey
was held TO discuss the recent law that
was passed entitled, An act for the
;9ttlement and relief of the poor
This law provides that the overseers
of the poor and the charitable
organizations of any municipality or
district must cooperate and wor,: to-
gether as far as possible. In view Of
the new legislative attitude, this meet
ing in Newark is designed to bring the
two classes OF charitable workers to-
sether.
Mr.. Joseph P. Byers, secretary of the
association. spent the greater part of
the morning reading the long statute,
interrupted OF intervals by remarks,
grave and otherwise, on the part of the
interested roomful OF listeners.
The new act, going into effect July 4.
presents some materially different pro-
visions from those OF the present law.
These il was that the joint meeting
IVES summoned 10 consider. The over
seers present We're from all the munich
palities near Newark. as we'll as many
from the southern part OF Ii State.
Law Makes Womcn Eligible.
Females of full age shal be eligible
for appointment for overseers," read
Mr.. Byers. land It's bound TO come"
he laughed, Just as inevitably az the
rising of the sun"
"will they make good asked an
oyerseer quickly.
THEY certainly VIII" emphatically
returned the secretary, The right
woman viii make "a splendid overseer
of the poor. She Will be better than
the wrong man, at any rate"
In a rapid7fre discussion OF the
tramp question, brought abou by the
reading OF the law, Mr.. Byers said;
IL you send the tramp to the work
house and make him work that will
end the problem for good
1T would was the dry response
from some one In the audience. They'd
al commit suicide!"
After the reading of the law had
been finished, a general discussion of
various sections Isued. J. r. Weir,
jr., of Asbury Park. made an attack
upon those he termed the rum SELL
ers." He advocated that the convic-
ton of any man for the illegal sale OF
LIQUOR be followed by a fine of SIS or
$50, to be paid over to the overseer OF
the poor In whose Jurisdiction the Of
Tense occurred.
BurinI Prices Vnry.
This was followed by an energetic
consideration of the cost of the burial
of The prices varied consid-
erably. from SIS in East Newark e
s35 In East Orange. In the plan an
allowance of only $40 is made for the
interment of the pauper The new law
under discussion provides for coopera-
ton between the overseers of the poor
and charitable associations; a care
fully kept book of records covering
each case of Indulgence. which is a new
regulation. making the penalty for i'm
proper entries or willful alterations s25.
Among the sixty-five present were
the following women prominent in
charitable work: Miss frances Day,
general agent Of the state Board of
Children's Guardians; Miss Swartz, of
Elizabeth; Miss Anita Grish, secretary
Of the Associated Charities, Jersey
City; Miss Zip S. Falk, secretary of the
League for Friendly Service, Bloom
faeld; Mrs. Minnie Richenburg. matron
~ Bloomfield Town House.