Imperial Valley press., 1929-06-21
R0TARIANS HEAR
FINE ADDRESS ON
SOCIAL. WELFARE


Declaring that crime and de
linaueney cost the state of Cahfor-
MIA approximately $75,Oo0.o0o an
nually, exclusive of many items
which might justly be charged
against them. Mrs. Anna l.. Saylor,
director of the state department OF
social welfare, and member of
Cover nor Young s cabinet, gave a
splendid address Yesterday at the
meeting of the FL Centre Rotary
club on the work which her depart
ment is doing throughout the state.
The indifference of the average
citizen to this startling loss and an
almost equal indifference toward
attempts to overcome it, were blam
ed by the speaker for the alarming
increase i'll crime and delinquency
The nation as q whole spends IL
times annually ON criminal institu-
tions that il spends for education,
Mrs. Saylor said, and only in recent
years has concerted effort been
made to cut down the enormous loss
in money and manpower, health and
happiness, caused by crime.
Mrs Saylor made a splendid ex'
PLANTATION of the aims OF probation,
asserting that it is by no means IL
be considered as coddling erimin-
ais, as often probation is stiffer
punishment for offenders than if
they went to prison. She added,
however, that indiscriminate pro
baton is not desirable. Ea, h ease
should be studied individually ard
no man granted probation until his
record has been checked up to 81
whether or not .me would be likel J
to make good if it is extended Ia
him.
The speaker stressed the need FOR
county social welfare work, stating
that only n county welfare boards
exist in California. Social welfare
work, which operates parallel with
probation, demands trained workers
and much detail investigation. At
present there are different proha-
ton laws in each county of the state
and Mrs. Sayloc asserted the best
results can onk be obtained by a
law that will be uniform through
out the state.
Grave abuses of county hospitals
and other institutions were related
by the speaker. who said these
abuses cost the counties large
sums of money, much of which
could be avoided b. having trained
social service workers.
The recent social service survey
in Imperial county was explained by
Mrs. Margaret P. Pratt, of the
state department of social welfare
who made the survey. She adyoca.
ted the establishment of a county
social welfare department as The
solution of many evils.
Mrs, Margaret Search also briefly
explained the work of the social vel
fare department, and cited the de
velopment of Imperial Valley as a
parallel along which welfare work
can be developed
Charles E. Pitzer acted as chair
man of the day and arranged the
program.
Visitors included in addition to
the speakers already mentioned
Judge A. c. Finney, Probation Gift
Ger +. d. Griffin, Supervisors Romeo
Smith and Dave Veneill, Mrs a. $.
Carr, Los Angeles; Mrs. II. V Gray,
Imperial; Mrs. NJ. f. Stanfield, Cal
exico; Mrs. A. c. Ferguson, Holt
vile; W. o. Blair, Cahpatria; Dis
trict Attorney Elmer Head; Chester
b. Moore, Los Angeles; Fred Huston,
Brawley, and p. w Walker.
Visiting Rotarians included Curtis
Williams, Los Angeles; Arthur Good
win, Bell; d. P. Choisser, Argyle Ne
Lachlan and Henry Zurcher. Calex-
leo; c. w. Clark, Brawley; j. II.
Engle and Dale Cooper, Holtville.