Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-21

Mealtime Conferences
One group of State officials spoke al
the "Mealtime conferences at the Au-
gusta House at noon and al the \. NJ,
c. A. in the evening, at both OF winch
Gov. Milliken presided. and another
group was heard at the conferences az
the Cnive-salist vestry at noon and al
the Augusta House in the evening"
where Hon. {. S. Stetson presided.
or the first mentioned group Miss
Gertrude Z. Hall, Phi. D., special IN
vestigator for the State department
OF charities and corrections. was the
first speaker and her subject was
state Aid to Dependent Mothers
She mentioned as d defect in the IAN
! a clause which, she said. limited hnaa-
cial aid so strinsently that by its pro-
vision a mother without means canno
live on it, while if the mother has
means she is not destitute and there
fore is unprotected by the law. The
law should allow more discretion on
! the part of the authorities, she believ-
ed.
Secretary James f. Bagiey of the
! board of Charities and Corrections, also
! spoke briefly regarding his depart
ment'S activities.
DR.. T. Z. Hardy. chairman of the
board Of trustees of the State sana-
| forums at Fairfield and Hebron, De-
scribed the work Of these institutions.
The patients, he explained, paid for
their treatment according 10 their
means, and there is no discrimination
oooycn 80 tho Sizo Of tho foes in the
medical treatment given. Since the He
bron sanatorium was taken over by
the State the per capita cost has been
! reduced from SIG to $12 despite the fact
| hat the cost of most everything used
| i in the treatment but fresh air has
doubled in cost.
Miss Gertrude l.. Mcdonald, super
;nterdent of the State School for Girls,
described the methods of caring toI
and educating the juvenile delinquents
| under her charge. She cautioned the
town officials against committing lee
! ble-minded girls TO the institution aud
advised professional advice IN cases
Of doubt as to a girls mental conditlon'
| Many very comely girls Who can care
for themselves after a fashion are III
reality feebIe-minded, she SAID. MISS
Mcdonald told of the training given III
! household duties and in ordinary school
| studies. and of the opportunity Tor
| more advanced study given those OF
| special aptitude.
Councillor George w. Norton spoke on
the subject stat Aid TO Dependent Sol
diers" He explained the general prtn
ciples to be observed in determining
4 -. =, ' ara ontittDl 20
the aid and said that it is the purpose
of the State to lean toward the side or
mercy and justice. He said that the law
does not provide for aid of dependents OF
! commissioned officers and that Warrant
| officers in the navy. while technically not
of this classification. should be regarded
as such in the administration Of the law,
as they receive liberal salaries.
Gov. Milliken took part in the discus
sion tina followed and admonished the
avn officials not TO let any dependents
ABLY for pensions through paid solicitors.
OF the other group Deputy Insurance
Commissioner Ivan f. Lang was first to
be heard, speaking on Fire Prevention
The subject, he said. IS one Of great pa
triotic as well as practical importance.
Destruction by fire is the most serious
kind of waste. he said, because there Is
no salvage. Even though insurance com
pensates for the monetary loss. the mate
rial destroyed is not restored. Careless
ness is responsible for a large part of the
fires occurring in the State. he said.
In reply to a query raised at the after
noon session. Mr.. Lang defined the dis
.ipctiap ba+waap tho og;na nc tra ~
and fire warden. hi former is an office
required BY law to be established in ev-
cry town. The holder OF the office has the
duty of inspecting fire conditions, ana
acts under the direction of the selec.-
men and the State insurance commission
er. The fire wardens' field of duty. he
explained, is the u~norganized townships.
Hon. John A. Roberts, commissioner or
Agriculture, stated that a few years ago
the work Of the state agricultural depart
ment was wholly educational. Now the
scope OF the departments work it greatly
b%roadened. Inspection is one of the i'm
portant functions. he said. Commissioner
Roberts told the assessors that the work
of the department came in touch with
theirs in two or three ways. He told OF
tne department StCrESSlul UBtI against
the browntail moth pest and the cam
paign against the gypsy moth, which he
predicted would have successful results
in the near future.
The San Jose scale was also men
toned as a parasite which is giving
the agricultural department concern.
He asked the town officials to coop
crate b: taking preventive measures
before the pests make Roadway in their
communities. The destruction Of nests
he particularly urged. The work of
the bureau Of weights and measures
was referred to as an important di-
vision of the department. Mr.. Roberts
recommended that the towns pay their
local s~ealerS salaries sufficient to make
il worth their while to cooperate with
the State department.
An interesting Of the fertilizer prob
lem now existing developed at the close
of Mr.. Roberts address. Several
queries regarding alleged authorizations
We're answered by the commissioners.
Glen w. Starkcy, State superintend-
ent OF schools. described the work Of
his department as being largely Of a
business nature. The various sources
from which school funds are derived
and for which the funds are