The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-05
SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS DISCUSS C|TY'S PROBLEMS Many Speakers Think Activ- ities Should be Under City and County Supervision LACK OF FUNDS IS
 PRESSING AS EVER Ward and Barber Speak for City. President Uses Unique Compari-
 son in His References to
 Associated Charities
Ry MRs. SIDNEY M. rl11.MAN

meeting of the Social workers Thursday at 12:90 o'clock, the idea being to carry
 out rlan, proposed by the executive | board, to have the Social workers meet the first Thursday in each month for a 1 luncheon at which will be discussed topics of social importance.
 About 20 members in all were present
 and while the meeting was very plea sant in its social feature, the work was consid- cred seriously and with interest. Much of jest as well as profit devei- oped. one member, who trembles to be quoted, fearing lest his remarks be under
 stood as the opinion of the entire Social Workers association, said that the first work tho social workers should undertake was to find husbands for the unmarried female social workers of the associa- tion's membership. The meeting was called to order by the president .Judge Murphy, and after stating the reason for the meeting and the object and desire of the association. he introduced Mir Carl Milan as the next speaker and asked him to preside.
 MT. Milan opened the discussion as to What is the part of the municipal or county government in administering re- liefg' Mir. Milan said he could sneak for the benefit of institutions under mu nicipal government, as the public library was such an institution free from politics and absolutely free for the people He said every person in the community was entitled to say what should be done in the l library for it's greatest good. He stated | his 0n0i0n m, ba ct,l,t op being handled by the government. saw ing that institutions should be handled di- | rec!y through the city government and | have complete maintenance through the city. Relief organizations are also for communities to handle. The social well fare of the city should then be under di- l rect supervision and maintenance of the city government He stated that Fred erick c. Howe. an authority, bases his ob- servation on work of the kind already be- ing done in some cities of the United States and Europe
 Dr. Newfield Speaks Should the Associated Charities be taken over by the governments? was the next subject, but in the absence of MT McGrath 1t was omitted. Dr. Newfield was the next speaker. He said he heartily concurred with what was said by MT. VU1lfIn .dS LO tUt necessity OI EOcIdllZa- tion of activities and that work of this na- ture was more in evidence every day. "It Is a historical development" said Dr. Newfield. What was formally named charity is now governmental work, as the public schools and the library, and this is found good. as no worker would be reactionary enough to go back to pri- vate school and private libraries This is progressive development, and private in- dividuals will still give to the public in stitutions. He spoke of the playground movement of Birmingham having been started by individuals and the fine work of Birmingham in taking it over as municipal activity.
 q believe" said Dr. Newfleld, that no private institution should be allowed, un- less under the supervision of the city. A welfare board should be again formed and with the social workers act as a clearing house for semi i-public institutions and all institutions maintained and supervised by the government
 MT. Shapiro was introduced as the next speaker and with the possibility of his serving the city as commissioner his re- marks were listened to with interest. 'sEvery human activity breaches the gospel of service; civic righteousness is on the ascendency; individual problems are community problems" said this speaker. Social justice is supplanting charity.
 
 private agencies should be conducted by the municipality. For instance. personal hygiene is individual but health is com munal."
 The city should. have a vital active and potent welfare board, is MT. Shapiro's opinion, and all agencies that the city government now maintains should be so- cialized and gradually the private insti- tuition be taken over by the municipality, then will social justice take the place of charity
 Ward Is Called Upon MT. Ward, president of the city com missioners, was then called upon. He said when you speak of community well fare 1t is like he felt when MT. Bryan began to speak of the great war-where
 will he tackle it and where wind up. He said the social workers were beginning at the wrong end; their one great hope
 should be to get MT. Shapiro to change his mind about the tax question. And then MT. Ward proceeded to still harp on
 me daughter" and brought up the eter-
 nal poverty question of the city He
 said, for instance, taking over the Asso- eiated Charities was like giving two babies to young couple living in one room on very small means They want ed them but they didn't have the money to care for them. He recommended that
 each social worker make his or herself
 a committee of one to raise revenue for the city,
 The next speaker. MT. Arlie Barber. said
 he came to hear and not to talk. How
 ever, he stated that he had great hopes
 and plans for municipal specializing He
 said. T am a socialist and proud of it, and one of the reasons I am socialist is came to the conclusion that the day
 must come when charity is no more, the
 measure of every man or woman's re-
 ward, whether freely given or forced,
 must be that man or womans need, no
 more and no less.
 1T contend" he said. that social justice
 shall come first, charity and all palliative and remedial measures are not lasting; we give our time to things that look so
 necessary but are small. My every en-
 deavor shall be. during my term of of
 flee, as far as possible, to put my ideals
 into practice. Equalization of tax forces and the development of municipal owner ship-everything- ng-should be in the hands
 of the people"
 Other Speakers
 Mir. Turner was the next speaker, and
 missioner. MT Turner spoke of the city court as a great community work, and that as a social agent 1t should be valuable asset. He said that under his service 40 per cent of the prisoners had been paroled
 Mrs. Searight spoke next, and said the question is not twill the city help but how?" She stated there was no broader field for social service work in Alabama than the city court and the police de-