The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-05-02
Massachusetts Pro batio n
Official Addressed Audi
ence Last Evening
RED CROSS HELD
STATE CONFERENCE
Plans for Coming Vermont
Campaign Were Dis
cuSSed

Before about 80 persons gathered al
the State House in Montpelier Wednes
day evening, Herbert c. Parson of Brook
line, Mass. secretary of the Massachu
sets commission on probation gave an
address. Judge J. +. Weeks, director OF
state institutions, was among those pres
ent and asked Mr.. Parsons some ques.
tions concerning FOUNDERS following
the address
Mr. Parson discussed the probation law
since it became effective in Massachu-
sets nine years ago, the first year 10000
having been placed on probation, while
last year 10000 were given that oppor-
tunity. He stated that the expense last
year was 1927 200, while the appropria.
ton in Vermont for the same work this
year is $4,000. His address was given
largely from the point of Investigation
of each and every criminal and his crime
before sentence is imposed, which is diff
ferent from that of the Vermont proceed
ure and showed the improvement in the
conditions. Many points he brought ont
are those which have been in the Yer
mont proba ton law for the last 10 years,
and longer than the Massachusetts law
has been in effect,
He stated that 100000 eases are nves-
tigated by the probation officers in Mas
sschusetts each year; the two homes in
that state for predetermined have $500
inmates. and he has found that % per
cent of the crime committed is by feeble
minded and that il is a mistake to send
these to the penal institutions. Restora
ton of property before probation is the
process in his state and the courts have
SO changed in nine years that they have
the probation officer even recommend the
penalty in most cases. He has found
the largest per cent of rescued persons
from crime have been those who are
convicted of major offenses The EN- |
ployment bureaus want probation per
sons; even the hotels will engage them |
before they will engage their help from
the regular employment agencies because
they realize that these persons have an
obligation to the state as well as to /
themselves, He said no court should |
impose a sentence on a child without I
treating that case first in the parental /
fashion by talk outside the courtroom /
and without persons present He would
have female probation officers but the
legislature of his state at least does not
agree with him. He believes all female /
cases should be handled by woman
The meeting held Wednesday after
noon in the executive chambers at the
State House by the executive committee
of the Red Cross and the county chair
man of the war fund campaign was at
tended by about 20 persons. James
Jackson, Bernard Trafford and Fred
Monroe of the Boston Office of the Red
Cross spoke explaining the work that
has been done by the Red Cross and the
need of money for the coming expenses
They explained how the campaign will
be made and during the afternoon re-
moved from the minds of some of those
present the idea that the Red Cross OPP
posed the war chest funds, although they I
lid not seem to encourage the movement ,
much because they felt the loss of the
enthusiasm was great. c
One of the interesting features of the '
Meeting was the announcement that the I
lone service committee, of which Z. c. Y
Mower of Burlington is chairman, has b
,een doing great service. This com G
nittee i'll confidential manner looks t
fter the interests of the families of r
hose soldiers who have gone into service o
nd have helped 100 families, while they h
ave given advice to 200 more families c
which they do not list as those helped t
my family, member of which has gone