the very front rank of civilized communities in respect to the enforcement of law, the punishment of crime, and the care of the diseased and unfortunate. But I have long thought, and am more strongly impressed with the idea since I have been personally connected with the administration of our public institutions, that we have hardly made a beginning in the direction of the reform of criminals and the prevention of crime.

We punish crime, and by its punishment gain much for the peace and security of society in the deterrent influence of punishment; but too large a percentage of those discharged from our penal institutions go directly back to vicious associations and criminal practices. Too many convicts are serving a second and third term in our penitentiaries to warrant the claim that they are, to all, places of penitence and reform. Their discipline is good; the inmates are kept at healthful occupations; they are liberally supplied with books and other facilities for improvement. Yet much remains to be done; and your organization is one through whose aid we hope to reach a solution of this question: How can a State which is rapidly growing in wealth, and population and intelligence check the growth of crime? What treatment shall we employ to keep down the criminal class, which comes from so large a proportion of our convicts, especially in our larger cities? What can best be done to prevent crime, and what is the best plan for the punishment and reformation of criminals? Your work is a labor of love and pity for the unfortunate. Your reward is a consciousness that you have, to some extent, restrained crime, reformed the vicious, and dispelled the clouds which gather upon the human intellect, and dethrone reason. Your efforts to do what your hearts, directed by superior knowledge of your special work, tell you is your duty, are as great and as profitable to the public as are the efforts of any class working in the interest of society.

The special classes for whose good you labor, and in whose behalf you appeal to the State, are not at your back with powerful voice controlling the agencies of party politics and the public press, if their cries for help are not heard and answered. In a popular government, and especially in a State having such an organic law as we have in Illinois, there are imperative reasons why the public should be thoroughly informed about all the charitable institutions of the State. Their maintenance and support absorb a very considerable portion of all moneys raised by taxation for State purposes, and they are the first object of attack by the

false economist, who seeks to make political capital at the expense of the unfortunate classes, - the insane, the mute, the blind, the feeble-minded, for the amelioration of whose condition you labor. Those of you who are connected with State institutions, and who have to give an account of your stewardship to the public, find a very important part of your duties in presenting to the people and especially to their legislative representatives — the condition, wants, and necessities of your institutions.

In this State we make no standing appropriations. Every General Assembly, composed largely of new material, has to address itself to the task of investigating all the charitable institutions of the State. Many men of very wide and general information come to the Legislature, there to learn for the first time in their lives the extent and variety of the charities which the State supports, as well as the extent and variety of the causes of that disease and misfortune which make such charities necessary. I am glad to have this opportunity to say, what perhaps has only a local application, that there has been a great deal of unreflecting and unkind criticism about the time consumed, and consequent delay of legislation, because of the necessity that members of our Legislature should thoroughly investigate these institutions, in order to act wisely and advisedly. This criticism has been made of the legislators in their visits to the public institutions, and of the trustees and superintendents of the institutions in their visits to the Legislature. Under a system like ours, which properly guards so zealously the people's money, I do not know how we can get along without the intercommunication between the Legislature and the public charitable and penal institutions. The duty of caring for the unfortunate classes of the State is no longer questioned. The dictates of humanity and the interests of society alike demand it. However heavy the burden may become, it is universally recognized as a proper one, and nowhere is it more cheerfully assumed than it is in this State.

We look to you for suggestions how to perform this great duty. And we look to you for such economic methods as will give us the fullest returns for the money which we are ready to expend. When you have told us how best to care for the insane and for the criminal, those afflicted with mental and moral disease, you have only begun your work. When we call a physician, we ask for something more than a palliative treatment. We want to eradicate the disease itself; a permanent cure; and so, in the

State, we shall not reach the highest civilization that perfect development of which I believe the human race is susceptibleuntil we can discover and remove the causes of disease and crime. The State must, in self-protection, punish the evil-doer, irresponsible as he may be from want of education or opportunities for selfsupport and improvement, the same as nature punishes the ignorant violation of her laws, or as surely as she punishes the wilful disregard of them.

You, ladies and gentlemen, who, with patient labor and scientific method, have made the subject of the care and management of the public charities one of the recognized learned professions, must take the lead in the work of the investigation and removal of the causes of misfortune and crime. In this investigation nothing which influences human society, nothing which affects human welfare, is foreign to your discussion. With a firm conviction in the possibilities of the human race for improvement and advancement, I believe your labors will have the reward of the grateful plaudits of an intelligent public, the thanks of the afflicted and those to whom they are near and dear, with the consciousness that you have done something that will entitle you to be enrolled in the book of gold among the names of those that love their fellow

men.

WOMEN ON BOARDS OF CHARITY.

In the debate on Mrs. Lowell's paper, opportunity was given for Mrs. Arthur Smith of Chicago, in behalf of the Illinois Social Science Association, and of the Industrial School for Girls at Evanston, to urge the appointment of women on Boards of Public Charity. She alluded to the fact that Mrs. Lowell, whose paper had been read, is a member of the New-York State Board of Charities, having been appointed by Gov. Tilden in 1876. The Illinois Social Science Association, like the parent Association which first called together the Conference, was seeking the best means to prevent pauperism and crime, and for this purpose desired to have women represented on the State Boards of Charities.

Mrs. Roberts, secretary of the Indiana Social Science Association, spoke of the efforts of her Association to secure the appointment, in Indiana, of a State Board of Charities, composed of four men and two women; but the effort was not yet successful.

Mrs. Lynde of Wisconsin, who was for five years on the Board of Charities of her State, made a statement of the circumstances

leading to her appointment on the Board.

She indorsed Mrs.

Lowell's paper, and said that the jails and poorhouses were the great nurseries of vice and crime. The number of illegitimate children that came from the poorhouses was very large; and only women could detect many of the defects in poorhouse management. It was essential that there should be women on State Boards, and as inspectors of prisons, jails, and police-stations.

Mr. A. D. Hendrickson of Wisconsin said that his State had been the first to place a woman on its Board of Charities; and Mrs. Lynde was that woman. He favored the placing of women upon State Charity Boards, because their influence reached much farther than that of men, especially in the domestic departments. Mr. Hendrickson related that he was superintendent of the Reform School at Waukesha while Mrs. Lynde was on the Board of Charities, and had ample means of observing the extent of women's influence in such affairs. Referring to the decrease in the inmates of Wisconsin prisons and reform schools, he explained it by pointing out the increased number of industrial schools. The reformatory institutions decreased crime, and these institutions could be conducted best by women.

No action was taken on the request of Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Roberts.

VOTES AND ASSIGNMENTS.

The Report of the Committee to fix the place of the next Conference was read, recommending Cleveland, O., and authorizing the President and Secretaries to fix the time. The Report was adopted, and it was so voted.

On motion of Dr. Hoyt of New York (Mr. Kanouse of Wisconsin in the chair), it was unanimously Resolved, "That the thanks of the Conference are hereby tendered to Mr. F. B. Sanborn, of the American Social Science Association, for his untiring and disinterested labors in its organization, and the arrangement of its proceedings."

It was voted, That three persons be appointed as a Publishing Committee, with full powers for editing the Proceedings of this Conference, and that the cost be assessed upon the Boards of State Charities and other subscribers, in proportion to the number

1 It is proper to mention that Mrs. Lynde was present at the first Conference of Charities in New-York City in May, 187, as a member of the State Board of Wisconsin, and took part in its organization and debates.

of copies taken. The committee to consist of Rev. F. H. Wines, Rev. A. G. Byers, and Mr. F. B. Sanborn.

The following Resolutions, offered by Rev. A. G. Byers of Ohio, were adopted:

1. Resolved, That the President of this Conference be requested to present at the opening of the next year's session an Address upon the work of the year, including Legislation and Administration.

2. Resolved, That the Committee on Legislation and Administration be changed to a Committee on Criminal Law and its Administration.

On motion of Rev. F. H. Wines, the following Resolution was adopted :

That the several Standing Committees be requested to formulate propositions, as far as possible, respecting the subjects considered by them, to be submitted to the next Conference for its action.

On motion, the employment of a stenographer in 1880, and the matter of printing in 1879, were ordered to be brought before the several Boards of Charities, who are to report at an early date to President Brinkerhoff.

Mr. Letchworth of New York offered the following Resolution, which was adopted:

Whereas, the Conference of Charities for the United States is about to conclude its sessions for the year 1879; therefore,

Resolved, That this Conference desires hereby to express its cordial thanks to the proprietors of the Grand Pacific Hotel for the hall so liberally placed at their disposal; to the citizens of Chicago for numerous favors and generous hospitality; to the Chicago press for daily reports of its proceedings; to the railroads which have granted concessions to delegates; to the Illinois State Board of Charities; and especially to the efficient Secretary of that Board, Rev. Fred. H. Wines, to whose thoughtfulness and kindness the success of the occasion has been largely due.

CLOSING COURTESIES.

An invitation to visit the Old People's Home, at its annual reception, Thursday evening, was extended to the Conference by the President, Mrs. S. Gibbs; also to visit the Industrial School for Girls at Evanston, and the St. Xavier Benevolent Institution. Before adjourning to attend the Social Science reception, Mr. F. H. Wines, being called upon by the Chairman, said he had never known a Conference so full of good will, brotherly kindness, and every pleasant feature, as had been the present one.

The