St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
An Important State work.

An Important State Work.
1.-THE Board Of Charities and Proba-
ton has inspected seven poor houses,
attended to forty three child cases,
investigated ten families where the
surroundings were immoral or de-
grading and returned six paroled
prisoners who were on probation to
confinement" This is the brief re-
port Of the activities of the secretary
of the board, w. II. Jeffrey, given in
the report of the states work for the
month of November. 1t is 4 modest
statement of an important work the
state is performing under the law
passed by the last legislature Let
rs look at the different lines Of work
done
The inspection of seven poor
houses is important because it re-
veals the actual condition of the poor
being cared for by communities in a
community NOISE. Some very dis
cfeditable conditions have been found
in these Vermont institutions so sell
dom visited by the public. No word
as to what was found in these seven
cases has reached the public but we
know that in some poorhouses vermin
have been found. half witted persons
OF both sexes, some afflicted with We
nereal disease, have been found as
soclating with each other and unsani-
tary conditions in some instances.
The correction of these conditions has
heen seriously undertaken by Secre-
tafy Jeffrey.
q Forty three child cases have been
handled. This means that number of
children were existing in unfavora BILE
conditions, some without homes, some
taken care of at institutions unadapt-
ed to the care Of children and some
treat their wards humanely--in each
case children growing to manhood
and womanhood under conditions
that develop viciousness, sourness and
ciiniihality. 1t is the purpose Of the
secretary to correct these conditions
and get these unfortunate boys and
girls placed where their better traits
can be developed.
Ten families where the surround
ings were immoral Or degrading were
Investigated In other words places
that should be homes instead OF
moral pest holes have been looked
into and the heads of these places
made to- understand they must rectify
conditions, cease their immoral prac-
tfces and. conduct themselves accord
ing to the rules of decency or be con-
fined in some institutions where they
will be legally restrained from such
degrading practices.
The return of six prisoners who ha6
been paroled shows that the state i.
watching the people it has given the
Opportunity to reform themselves ant
who have failed to live up to the
terms of their liberty.
Each one of these branches of thu
work is important and forms a par
Of the work the state is doing t.
eliminate vice and i'll treatment a
moflg the. unfortunate children of tn,
state. The appropriation for all o
this important work is only $4,000
ana Is pitifully insufficient. Undoubt
eddy when the secretary of this ;boart
rnales his biennial report he will Civ,
the public facts that will show tn,
Necessity and wisdom of appropriat
ing more money for saving the chill
drer Of the state before they ar
'hopelessly lost and to prevent thei
neglect until they become crimina
charges of the state Mr.. Jeffrey i
engaged in one of the most importan
state. undertakings and is quietly &C
complishing good results for our fut
ure citizens,