The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-25
(Contlnued from Page Five)

and other general charges and we feel strongly that greater net results may be obtained from the disbursement of the moneys contributed by the public bodies, together with the gifts of the generous people, If in some directions there were greater concentration of ef- fort.
 Competition for Sympathy
 Not only so, but the duplication of societies or institutions leads to a cer- tain amount of competition, one against another, for the sympathy and the gifts of the public. and the money which is subscribed IS not consequently distributed upon any ascertajned or scientific basis of results accomplished, or upon the basis of the urgency and extremity of the needs to be supplied, but may be said to be influenced to some extent by the skill and urgency and popularity of those who solicit these gifts, which we submit, is not for the best interest of benevolent work through the district
 We are impressed with the efficient character of the work which is being done as d whole on slender and generally made duate means by devoted men and women supported in their trying work by high en- thusiasm and personal consecration. Be- hind these good men and women who are
 
 wards reclamation. development and con- servation comes the service of other gen erous men and women giving their time to the solicitation of money, in addition to their own personal gifts, and some measure to the voluntary oversight and of these institutions. We have a large degree of confidence in the be- lief that if the various institutions receiv- ing public money in this county could be federated together so as to remove the possibility of any spirit of competition for funds of emulation in results to be achieved. the dynamic force which is at present behind humanitarian work in this district would be very effective.
 I've find that rescue and reclamation work among women and girls has been carried on, for example by not less than four separate institutions: the state home at East Lake, which cares for the younger girls, the Salvation Army Rescue home which handles women and all maternity cases. These two institutions are well es- abolished and doing what we regard as a highly efficient work with inadequate resources. The home at East Lake is not d charge on the city or the coun- ty. except pro rata with the proportion of cases which may be sent there It is open to receive girls needing its care from any part of the state of labama and should be provided for either by a larger state appropriation or by contri- buttons from every county availing itself of the facilities of the home. The prem ises now occupied are entirely too small for the work that is being done and the lack of dormitory accommodation is dis tressng.
 Efficient Management
 We regard the management of this home and it's supervision as highly effi- ripuf- The a iS SaexinU fa oI1- tain, either by q state appropriation or by private contributions, the ownership of farm where the girls may be more isolated. guarded and helped to become as they may. self-respecting and useful members of society. The Saliva tion Army home, at Thirty second street and Avenue E, is doing an efficient work and Is also cramped for room the prem ses occupied having been purchased with private contributions and being quite in- adequate. This institution handles num- erous maternity cases and has not such accommodations as it should have. It Is deserving of a larger measure of support than it has yet received, as it plays a distinct part in the movement for the up- lift of our city by the abolition of the social evil
 Tn addition to these two institutions a small number of cases have been handled in the past by the Volunteers of America at Rising, and by the Ark of Refuge. at tached to the Pisgah home
 'The number of cases so handled by either institution has not been, in our opinion, sufficient to justify the exist ence of separate work along this line. and we recommend that no appropriation be made to either of these institutions for this specific class of work, but that all such cases be referred to the East Lake home and the Salvation Army home. thus allowing the Volunteers of America and the Pisgah home to con centrate upon other lines of work. We recommend that all maternity cases arising at either of the aforesaid homes be referred to and handled at the Hill- man hospital
 There have also been overtures made to us to support the opening of two other rescue homes in different parts of the city, on behalf of organiza tions which are not at present represented in the city. In each case we have declined to give such recommendation, being gov erned by the reasons heretofore stated
 We find that there are from six to eight different organizations drawing pub lie funds which are touching work of one kind or another with children. This Is comprehensive subject, embracing both white and colored. and both infants and young children and adolescents. It IS difficult to say without further study what steps can be taken here, as some of the children's work is hardly separa- ble from the care of adults. This may be stated as to woman with infants and young children cared for at the Saliva ton Army home or by the Volunteers of America. The family being the unit of our civilization. we cannot recommend any step in the nature of separating chill drsn from their parents, except for ob- vious and necessary protection against physical or moral danger Then again, he children's work is subdivided as be- ween those who are delinquent and under 'estraint and those who are merely de- pendent and being cared for.
 Visited Many Institutions
 ''Wc~ have visited the following insti- ,utions which are caring for children; The Orphans home at East Lake, the Mercy home, the Salvation Army home, Volunteers of America, Neighborhood house. the Holy Innocents hospital, and he Children's Aid society, attached to he Juvenile court, and have vet to visit .he Boys club, and the Colored Day nursery on Avenue c.