The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-12-28
JEFFREY DEFENDS
WORK OF CHARITY
DEPARTMENT
Speaks Before WOman's
Club at Meeting
In Newport

Before a very interested and ap-
preciative audience of the Wo-
mans Club last evening William
H. Jeffrey of the State Board of
Charities and Probation, gave a
talk on the work of the Board and
the valuable results of the proba-
ton and parole and, what was of
especial interest to the ladies, the
caring for and placing Of children
who are taken from unfortunate
conditions.
Mr.. Jeffrey had a manuscript
with him, though he was not con-
fined to notes, but explained that
as he had been in Newport before
and hoped to come again, he just
wanted to be sure to tell the same
story.
Mr.. Jeffrey told the ladies that,
as voters this work was their bus
mess. He said he did not have to
be converted to equal suffrage, he
had always believed in it, he was
born that way. He also related
that when a small boy he got a
good whipping from stern
grandfather, because he asked why
grandma did not go to town meet
ing too as she knew lots more than
grandpa"
The speaker of the evening was
William H. Jeffrey, Secretary and
Executive Office of the Board of
Cbo,-;+;oe, opJ Droho +;op IIir cub
ject being "The Board Of Charities
and Probation, Its Work and Its
Cost"
He first reviewed the activities
of the Board, probation and pa
role; poorhouse inspection; gener-
al supervision Of poor relief; the
administration of Mothers Aid or
pension law; giving medical surgi-
cal and hospital aid TO physically
defective children where parents
are unable to do so; the bringing
of petitions in Juvenile Court for
the disposition of dependant, neg
lected and delinquent children; the
investigation of cases of the fee
ble-minded and the bringing of
petitions for their commitment to
the State School at Brandon; the
investigation of reports as to de
tendency, cruelty and neglect of
children and the care of such de-
pendent and neglected children as
are committed to it by the courts
of the State.
A rather surprising statement
was made by the speaker when he
disclosed that for the biennial
term ending june 1922, the total
for the administration of these ac-
tivities has amounted to about 3-4
of one per cent of the expenditures
of the State Government.
He warned the people that as
Vermont is small, both as to popu-
lation and income, no problem
should be brought to the State
that can be handled in the COM
munity where it arises.
Speaking on probation and pa
role he called attention to the fact
that on June 80 there were 123
more persons serving time at
Windsor than there were ce:ls in
which to confine them and attrib-
uted to this cau1e the rapidly in
creased number VINO were liberia
ted upon probation.
Mr.. Jeffrey called attention to
the fact that since the establish
ment of his department the per
annum per capita cost for the care
Of probation and parole had been
reduced nearly $400 and that il
the new probationers committed to
his care during the biennial term
had been sent to the prison at
Windsor and served only one year
each it would have cost more than
$4,000 to the tax payers. 1t costs
$320.32 to care for a person in
prison, $12.52 to care for him I'M
der probation.
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