Putnam patriot., 1915-06-11
PROTESTS ATTACK. ON INSTITUTIONS.
Orphan Asylum Head, Combats
 Feeling Against Work.
YEARS RECEIPTS Ss1,7l2
Burton Mansfield Reports Over ss,ooo In Lesaeies-Miss Tyler Presents Annual Report 10 Board
 of Managers.

New Haven.-Combau the anta- gonistic attitude of some promoters of social reform toWat institutional life. Miss Lima K. PnaRs. president of the New Haven Orphan Asylum, in her address at the annual meeting of the asylum, held st the United church here, declared tlat the work Of institutions is being Appreciated by enthusiasts in their zeal to further work which actually does not conflict with institutional work. but deals with rather different problems. Miss Phipps said: We need. | think. as a board of managers to go on record in a protest concerning what may be called a trend of feeling in some quarters against institutional work. Beyond doubt, there are few insti. tutions for children, which are posi- lively bad; there are certain mum. Der which are less than the best which have not grown with the times or reached the highest ideals. But let us reverently say Thank God as we think of the many, the majority, which are meeting the needs of a great company of children in a splen- did. far-reaching fashion. Such in, stitutions as that noble one at Hast. fngs-on-the- Hudson under pr. Reed. CT. and in our own state the Hartford Asylum. the Watkinson Farm School and others. With these it is quite permissible. knowing our own ideals and what we are accomplishing, to include our own.
 combats Recent Criticism.
 'Why. because of few failures should all asylums he placed under ban? There are flaws in every sys tenn for the care of dependent chil dren, for it goes without saying that nothing can take the place of good normal home. It is apparent that the placing out system. as a system, Is open to evils and dangers; the wid. ows' pension plan, even its friends acknowledge, has many objections and problems, and reaches but a small number. More than all, we know full we'll the woeful conditions in many child's natural home. Many a mother is unfit to care for her child and many a foster home is unfit to receive a child"
 Plans for Committees.
 Miss Phipps also spoke of the bet ter work which might be done at the asylum here if committees and sub committees were appointed to interest themselves in certain phases of the asylum life, and said that it was her plan to appoint such committees for work, beginning next September. The decision to allow the children to re. main at the institution after reaching twelve years. was also announced, and the hope was expressed that many might be educated to fill the posi- tiens in life fer which they showed adaptibility.
 The report of the treasurer, Miss Josephine Newton, showed that the total receipts for the past year were $31 ,71255. of which nearly s2o,000 was from the endowment. Deduct ing the expenses of the year left a balance on hand of $3,7S3.S4. Burton Mansfield, reporting for the trustees, said over $S.000 in legaeies had been added to the fund during the past year.
 Year of Good Health.
 Miss Eleanor Tyler. in presenting the report of the managers, among other interesting things said: We have received all sorts of applications for the adoption of children from the asylum, but never before had we had a request from Yale student for little sister. What was our astonish- ment last fall when a Yale freshman applied for little girl, saying his parents were very lonesome since he left home and needed her. He was told that the application must come from his parents, and he left, greatly disappointed, and we heard nothing more from him" The health of the children during the year had been especially good, Miss Tyler said. and stated that Dr. Wheeler, the attend ing physician had declared that there had never been so little sickness dur ing his service thereof thirty-one years.
 An unusually interesting synopsis of the educational plan followed in state institutions. was presented. It is said that in the near future some thing akin to the Gary school system will be inaugurated. the object being to prepare the inmates for useful careers in the world. Boys and girls alike will be taught some trade that will provide them with a means of livelihood
 Pastor Claims Persecution.