Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-05

| Charities
During the past few years there ha'
been throughout the country a marked
awakening along all lines pertaining tC
the care and welfare of the dependent
dcmective and penal classes. To this cal
Pennsylvania has responded in manner
that should arouse the pride of every
citizen.
| During the past four years she has
| placed upon her statute books legislation
looking to the betterment of undesirable
| conditions. Proposed drafts of statutes
| are being considered for submission to
the General Assembly. covering practi-
cally every phase of the care, detention
and reformation of the weak, defective,
unfortunate and erring.
During this period increased accommo-
datons for the insane have been pro-
vided at Fairview and Rittersville; and
additional buildings have been erected at
Polk and Spring City for the care of the
of buildings to care for the constantly in
creasing number of these two classes of
unfortunates, large sums of money have
been appropriated for the purpose of
making them comfortable The last ses-
sion of the General Assembly provided
for the erection of home for inebriates,
a women's reformatory, and a home for
feeble-minded women.
The Juvenile Court Act has been eX-
tended, I'm order to make this already
useful legislation more effective; and the
powers of the Board OF Public Charities
. have been so Increased as to enable it to
give better and closer direction and super
vision over the important matters coming
under its jurisdiction.
Many Of the laws governing the care of
the dependent delinquent, and penal
classes were passed years ago, when con-
ditlons were entirely different from those
existing today. Amendments were made
from time to time as necessity seemed
to require, until now, taking them to-
gether, there are hundreds of statutes
relating to these different subjects. In
my message to the General Assembly of
1918 1t was recommended that, In order
to correct this condition commission
be created to examine into these subjects
and to report a comprehensive plan for
their improvement. Accordingly. the COM
mission was appointed, and will report
the results of its deliberations and con-
cluslons at an early date.
Shall the helpless be cared for?" Is no
longer debatable question-it must be
done. Pennsylvania never hesitated a
moment in answering this question, and
she has answered 1t with liberallty
which no other State can rival. During
the last four years Pennsylvania has
given sl1,OO0.0O0 for the sick, INDECENT and
helpless in private hospitals and homes;
Sl.169,0O0 to those in semi-State tnstitu-
tions. which Includes the blind and deaf;
and Sl5.60OOOO to State hospitals for the
care and maintenance OF the INDECENT
insane. weak-minded and sick. This does
not include more than $5,OoO.oOO given TO
the Department of Health for the care
of those suffering from tuberculosis, and
$5OO'oOo for buildings to shelter them.
Agriculture
The great mining and manufacturing
interests of this State have brought TO
the door OF the Pennsylvania farmer a
market unsurpassed for everything pro-
dueed upon the farm.
Pennsylvania's Department of Agricul-
ture compares favorably with like de-
partments In other States, This depart
ment exercises close supervision over the
agricultural interests-by extending agrf-
cultural knowledge, by educational work.
and by protecting farmers and other cit
liens OF the Commonwealth from possible
fraud on the part OF manufacturers and
dealers in commercial fertilizers, COM
mercial feeding stuffs, linseed oil and
farm seeds. The Division OF Farmers
Institutes carries its work into every
county of the State by holding Movable
Schools or Agriculture and Farmers In
stitutes. delivering lectures and giving OBJ
Ject lessons and systematic instruction
upon all subjects relating to successful
farming domestic science and the im-
provement Of rural conditions generally.
The number OF persons receiving instrac-
tiOn In these Movable Schools and Farm
ers' Institutes has been increasing. reach
ing last year more than s03Ioo0, the larg-
est attendance IN any year since the be-
ginning OF the work. Special instructors
and demonstrators have gone through the
State giving practical demonstrations In
soil Improvement, dairy and animal indus
try, poultry production. drainage. water
supply vegetable and fruit growing, home
sanitation, household. economics, etc.
Livestock
Notwithstanding the fact that the live
stock OF the State ID valued at $3.50, 600 900,
We are compelled 10 depend upon the
markets of other states for horses 70 do
our WORK, ana for oatsle. sheep. swine and
poultfy for our food supply. PennsyIFa-
MA should furnish 4 aurplus Ia this line
ana nz anIe q export rather than import
anima ana tbeli valuable ana necessary
nfqdpeiei ana. g that end rs Institutions
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