The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-23
Probation Officer Jeffrey
Tells of the Important
Results Accomplished
POORHOUSES IN
BAD CONDITION
Children Living in Filthy and Degrad-
ing Homes Help and Some Sent to
State Observation-Disclosures Extended
to 622 Prisoners.

State Institutions-Parole Extended
to 622 Prisoners.
RUTLAND, Jan. 23.-One of the fea
lures of the third annual Vermont con
ference of charities and corrections
which opened here today was the ad-
dress b. William II. Jeffrey, secretary
of the Vermont board of charities and
probation and state probation officer
He reviewed many decreasing eases
which have come to his attention in
his official work, both in families in
poorhouses and in one Russian Gree k
orphanage in Windsor county. Some of
his statements were in the form of pitt
full stories Of priyation and suffering.
The following is a summary of his re
port of the activities Of the board
For the first six months of the exis-
tcncc Of the board, we took under our
custody and care q children, and pro
Nided temporary or permanent homes
for them. Upon our petition, 10 chill
dren were sent to the Vermont Indus
trial school, seven to the state school
for feeble minded at Brandon. Fifty
roorhouses have been inspected. In
several very serious conditions have
been found, which in nearly every i'll
stance have been relieved. large
number OF places have been investi-
gated involving some 200 children. who
were living III homes 80 filthy and de
grading as to seriously endanger their
future, and in nearly every instance
the conditions have been corrected or
materially improved. We now have in
our files PAL eases of this class for in
igation.
On January /, 1918, the overseers Of
the poor reported that they were Civ
ing aid TO 3,239 persons. and that 1914
are under l6 years Of age. Seventy four
are fecble-miuded men, % are suffering
from venereal diseases, - from tuber-
oulosis ana from epilepsy. These fig
urCg cover 2i2 of the 246 cities and
towns of the states.
One OF the moss serious problems
that confronts the board. and one that
seems TO seriously interfere with our
work, is the lack of provision for a
shelter or receiving home, place to
which we may take children for the
our custody, and where they remain
pending an investigation of applicants
who are Offering a home This is much
to be desired and in fact practically es-
sential to the development of com
plete policy Of child care and protec-
ton.
During the existence of the board we
have received many applications from
persons offering homes for children
which we have been wholly unable to
consider. because we had no children
available, III q condition that would
warrant Inc STATE in placing them. |
am very glad to be able to say that a
movement is now under way which
promises apeedv solution Of this prob.
lem through the generosity of our peo.
pie.
When the present law was enacted
creating the board Of charities and pro
hatlon 1t took over the work which was
being done by the probation commission
and the ii county probation officers.
On January ] 1918, we had go per
sons out OF prison on parole, or upor
probation by the courts,-622 person,
who have been found guilty of some
Nllhtt INA HuNe bptn committed TO tn
carc "nd custody of this board witt
the hope that We can materially aSsis
them in regaining an honorable plac,
| IN society and in becoming useful an,
! desirable citizens. That many Of thes
| are feeble minded ana large humble
| detective there ran be no doubt. On
! PRISONS, our rcformatories. as we'll n
"ur I'm houses get large humble
from the fccblcmindcd class and from
those who were dependent and neglect
eel children.
80 far aS possible we study eaci
ease carefully, aud cudeavor to rende
such 5ubstantial positions, hoardin,
places, ana give counsel and advice.
Hon. Eugene \. Foss, governor 0
Massac huSctts, at a session of th
American Prison association ut Indian
aFolis said: Let me add in all Sc
rlousnc"3 that the managers OF nv ow
sAups aud fartorica make a more eff
Gent and intelligent sorting and recla
nation Of scrap metal than the. law
have generally made of the living mo
and women that have been thrown upo
the scrap heap OF our iails and pri,
ona
For the three fiscal years prior to tn
enactment of this law. probation alon
cost Vermont $50 ,9729s or $7,424.33
L.