The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-02
STATES SOCIAL PROGRESS

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 The reports made by Hastings H. Hart, ot the Russell Sage Foundation, on the condi- ton of social institutions in Alabama four years ago and now show in 8 striking way what may be accomplished when enlightened public sentiment sets to work to remedy eviis which retard states development and re- fleet on it's ability to make suitable provls- ions for it's dependents. Dr. Hart says eIn the past four years Alabama has ad- vanced from the rear rank to the front rank of the states of the union in her social progressp That is high praise, indeed, put he takes up each suggestion made oy nm after survey of Alabama in 1918, under taken at the request of Governor Hender- son. and proceeds to show, step by step, how these recommendations were carried ou'. He has recently completed a second survey and the gratifying improvements he oo- served caused him to make the statement ouoted above The credit for this progress is given to the governor, the legislature, state officials, the press, the clergy and the great body of Alabama citizens who have responded generously to the needs of the states institutions.
 In his report in 1918 Dr. Hart declared that all the state social agencies, with the exception of the board of inspection, were hampered by lack of funds; the insane hospitals, the Confederate soldiers home, the industrial school for boys and the trsah- ing school for girls lacked the money and equipment K to give the service for which they were intended. The condition of
 had and thoro was no state provision for the feeble minded and epileptic. The annual ap- propriation for the state board of health was small, while the appropriations for public education were considerably lower than the average of the United States. Pub lie highways were also neglected and littis was being done with state aid to extend the road system. Most of the road builoing was limited to the larger towns and cities
 Many of the improvements to which Dr. Hart calls attention in his second report, headed "An Amazing Forward Movement" are already known to the people of Alabama. By strengthening the tax assessment laws additional funds have been obtained for state institutions. The people have voted a $25, 900, 900 bond issue to build good roads, and the sentiment for road building is now so strong, it is safe to assume that a backward step in that respect will never again be taken. Allowances for public in- stitutions have been largely increased by the legislature, in d number of cases being doubled for each inmate Hospitals, schools and eleemosynary institutions have been improved by the erection of new buildings and the renovation of old ones, $270,000 has been appropriated to found a colony for the feeble-mlnded, there has been a great change for the better in the treatment of convcts and the Kilby prison is pronounced a model penitentiary. A child welfare de- partment sas been established and is dolng good work.
 These are not all the progressive steps made by Alabama, but they are some of the more important accomplishments referred to in Dr. Hart's report. The fact that so much has been done in only four years is indeed a credit to the state. It shows thai the people of Alabama are living up to their responsibilities as citizens of the common wealth. What has already been done should serve as an inspiration for future achieve ment.