The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-10-06
HUGHES AND SOCIAL WELFARE


other governor the Empire gave aid and
Hughes those combating poverty
disease crime and the other helped and
arreachng legislation for the and protection of the
poor defective the delinquent He compelled humane
intelligent performance of public duty toward all those
dependent upon the dealt with by public officials.
who watched Hughes during his Albany be-
impressed with the fact that the main ingredients of his
makeup firm nsstence upon holding the rights of the humb
person hatred of selfish exploitation This motive
present when he signed the bills crbg loan sharks controlling
halls restricting the sale of cocaine and other habformng
drugs regulating midwifery guaranteeing safe milk supply
teng sailors New York Iarbor and in boradng houses strength
the supervision employment and prohibiting white
slavery His manhood rebeed for example, against the odood
ed exorn of from the sometimes rates high
200 and 300 per cent o the amount borrowed.
As would be expected chldlabor legislation found
support in his first and repeatedly thereafter.
Housing Health Reforms
Acquainted with the housing conditions under which millions of
the people of the forced live Hughes epoued
the reform against attempts
landlords to relax the statutory regulations AS he about the
state Governor Hughes also helped along the ntubercuO
sade His followed in 1908 the
elaborate law for the treatment and prevention of this
supplementary statute of the authorized the building
county hospitals for tuberculosis patients To him the health of
people vital matter
When Legislature pass authorizing the
appointment of unpaid commission study the congestion pop
uaon the East Side of New York City
he went ahead and named including opponents
social justice Mrs Florence Kelley John Mitchell Rabbi
Stephen S. Wise.
Penal Reforms
In his first message he advocated probation system
which deals with offenders without institutions
should be strengthened In most of the then having probation
officers the operations of the system unsatisfactory
York City and elsewhere there were serious abuses.
In 1908 the Governor special message Legislature
urging the creation of special commission investigate
mend the best of correcting fragrant shortcomings evils
the operations of the LAWYER criminal New York City,
and Rochester where 100000 persons annually aagned
Growing out of the work of this commission era
City The Inferior Courts Act of 1910 reoganized
special sessions and chlds of metropolis
tic relations courtshe provided for by
stauewere established These have
seeking support from their deserving hess husbands
diona chdren courts with improved methods of procedure
an extra night court created The building up
fent probation system also insured Judges prohibited
from being political eaders needed reform The ngerprn sys
tenn introduced the adult provided
administrative changes intended prevent mscarrages
justice and to promote the kindly and practical
of offenders
Still another step the passage of law authorizing
the appointment New City board of nebrety This act
incorporated the subject the
and curative treatment of drunkards
Mention be made passing three laws
pertaining to the field penaog which stand
assets to the Hughes administration One amendment
books did with the former practice cOnvng children of
crimes the adults and thereby relieved child denquens
this stigma Another required complete separation of all
youths under p older prisoners The indeerm
mate sentence extended all Ons except
murder in the first degree Those formerly sentenced to life i'm
Tor second degree murder made eligible for parole
10 give more careful consideration the
pursonment separate parole board the state
prisons.
Among special Investigations during his govenohip
were those OF the State Commission inquire
welfare of aliens the State Commission methods of inferior
criminal courts and the State Commission inquire into
ployers' liability and the of unemployment
Here have picture of Mr. Hughes peoples governor
Rightly did the charity and welfare workers look
upon him as of their number With breadth
sympathy with vision that reached background causes with
constructive mind and with enthusiasm for justice
rnor Hughes contributed perhaps
TO the Improvement OF the lot of the weak and the
|
The Augusta Herald looking everything going aktmg
sts the dollar should he saved today because fifty
cent article ~
Being kept out of has New York State already