astonishing rapidity, that even the telephone and phonograph have already largely ceased to command special attention, while the public mind is anxiously waiting for the announcement of the next wonder in the order of scientific progress.

At such a time it seems to me eminently proper that a Conference of State charities should be held in connection with the meeting of the American Social Science Association. One of these suggests a grand purpose, while the other seeks, by the application of scientific analysis and scientific methods to the problems of human society, to so systematize and formulate educational, moral, political, and religious forces, as to be able to calculate with reasonable certainty what will likely be the result in any given case. Of course we cannot hope for very rapid progress in a field of study so complex. And yet it is difficult to see why sociology may not be reduced to a science as readily as meteorology, — a science which, a few years ago, was scarcely dreamed of as a possible realization. But now no one doubts that a little more experience in gathering facts in this important field of investigation will more than double the practical results already attained. And may we not hope that similar success will follow patient labor in your department of work? Already your associations have accomplished much good; but what has been done is only a promise of what is to follow. When definite and trustworthy statistics can be had from all our social, political, and religious movements, from all our institutions of learning, and from all our public charities and prisons, it seems to me that it will then be altogether within the range of possibility to construct a social science which cannot fail to be of incalculable benefit to the suffering world.

Doubtless all these matters will receive earnest and intelligent consideration during your present meeting. And should your deliberations lead to a better understanding of our relations to one another, and especially our relations to the poor and unfortunate, surely then your work should receive the hearty commendation of every good citizen, and your Conference be numbered among the beneficent agencies for the amelioration of the condition of mankind.

Were it not that I do not wish to trespass upon your time and patience, I would like to make a few suggestions as to some features of your work. But I can claim your indulgence only while I refer to one or two matters which seem to me of the very greatest importance..

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OHIO. (Term of Office, Three Years.)

R. M. Bishop, Governor, President, ex-officio; John W. Andrews, Columbus; R. Brinkerhoff, Mansfield; Joseph Perkins, Cleveland; Carl Boesel, New Bremen; Murray Shipley, Cincinnati; Rev. A. G. Byers, Secretary, Columbus.

RHODE ISLAND. (Term of Office, Six Years.)

George I. Chace, Providence, Chairman; William W. Chapin, Providence, Secretary; James M. Pendleton, Westerly; Thomas Coggshall, Newport; William H. Hopkins, Providence; Job Kenyon, River Point; Lewis B. Smith, Barrington; Alfred B. Chadsey, Wickford; Stephen R. Weeden, Providence.

PENNSYLVANIA. (Term of Office, Five Years.) 1

G. Dawson Coleman, Lebanon County, President; Heister Clymer, Berks County; William Bakewell, Pittsburg; A. C. Noyes, Clinton County; George Bullock, Montgomery County; Francis Wells, Philadelphia; Mahlon H. Dickinson, Philadelphia; Diller Luther, M.D., Reading, Secretary; Andrew J. Ourt, M.D., Philadelphia, Statistician.

ILLINOIS. (Term of Office, Five Years.)

G. S. Robinson, Sycamore, President; J. C. Corbus, Mendota; J. M. Gould, Moline; J. N. McCord, Vandalia; W. A. Grimshaw, Pittsfield; Rev. Fred. H. Wines, Springfield, Secretary.

WISCONSIN. (Term of Office, Five Years.)

Andrew E. Elmore, Fort Howard, President; William W. Reed, M.D., Jefferson, Vice-President; Hiram H. Giles, Madison; Rev. H. C. Tilton, Janesville; Charles H. Haskins, Milwaukee; Theodore D. Kanouse, Secretary.

MICHIGAN. (Term of Office, Six Years.)

Charles I. Walker, Detroit, Chairman; Charles M. Croswell, Governor, exofficio member, Adrian; M. S. Crosby, Grand Rapids; Uzziel Putnam, Pokagon; Rt. Rev. George O. Gillespie, Grand Rapids; Henry W. Lord, Detroit, Secretary.

CONNECTICUT. (Term of Office, Five Years.)

Benjamin Stark, New London, Chairman; Samuel F. Jones, Hartford; Dr. H. W. Buel, Litchfield; Mrs. Jennie P. Hoyt, Stamford; and Miss Lucy Alsop, Middletown.

Six of these State Boards of Charities are represented in the Conference, as follows:

Massachusetts, by Dr. Allen, and Hon. Moses Kimball.

New York, by Mr. W. P. Letchworth, and Dr. Hoyt.

Rhode Island, by Dr. Job Kenyon.

Ohio, by His Excellency Gov. Bishop, President; John W. Andrews, 5 Murray Shipley, Gen. R. Brinkerhoff, and Rev. A. G. Byers, Secretary. Michigan, by Uzziel Putnam, and Henry W. Lord, Secretary.

Illinois, by George S. Robinson, President.

Other delegates representing States, kindred boards, associations, and institutions, are also present, as follows:

!

C. S. Watkins, Davenport, Io., representing the governor of Iowa.
Dr. John H. Callender, Nashville, Tenn., representing the governor of
Tennessee.

Carroll D. Wright, Reading, Mass., delegated by the governor of Massachusetts.

Rev. J. L. Milligan, Allegheny City, Penn., Chaplain of the Western Penitentiary of Pennsylvania.

Prof. Francis Wayland, New Haven, Conn.

F. B. Sanborn, Concord, Mass., Secretary of the American Social Science Association.

Charles F. Coffin, Richmond, Ind.

Mrs. Louisa R. Wardner, Superintendent of Girls' Industrial School, Cairo, Ill.

Rev. F. Merrick, President Board of Trustees Girls' Reformatory, Delaware, O.

Mrs. Dr. John Davis, Cincinnati Orphan Asylum.

Rev. J. Rothweiler, President of the German-Methodist Orphan Asylum, Berea, O.

Rev. Thomas Lee, Superintendent of the Cincinnati Bethel.

Rev. Dr. F. S. Hoyt, editor "Western Christian Advocate," Cincinnati, O.
Prof. E. B. Andrews, Lancaster, O.

Prof. J. D. Peasely, Superintendent of Schools, Cincinnati, O.

Dr. John Davis, Cincinnati, O.

Dr. T. A. Reamy, Cincinnati, O.

Rev. W. T. Moore, Cincinnati, O.

Rev. R. R. Willing, Cincinnati, O.
Hon. Joseph F. Wright, Cincinnati, O.

/ Elizur Wright, Boston, Mass.

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Mrs. C. H. Dall, Boston, Mass.

Rev. Dr. J. M. Walden, Cincinnati, O.

Rev. L. Allinger, Cincinnati, O.

Rev. P. P. Pratt, Portsmouth, O.
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At a later session of the Conference, the Business Committee reported that there should be eight standing committees appointed to report to the next Conference, in 1879, namely, committees on 1. Insanity, 2. Public Buildings for the Dependent Classes, 3. Dependent and Delinquent Children, 4. Penal and Prison Discipline, 5. Statistics, 6. Medical Charities, 7. The Prevention of Pauperism, 8. Legislation. It was voted to constitute these committees as follows:

1. INSANITY. —Dr. Pliny Earle, Northampton, Mass.; Dr. W. W. Reed, Jefferson, Wis.; Henry W. Lord, Detroit, Mich.; Rev. F. H. Wines, Springfield, Ill.; Dr. J. P. Bancroft, Concord, N.H.; Dr. J. A. Reed, Dixmont, Penn,

2. PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOR THE DEPENDENT CLASSES.-F. B. Sanborn, Concord, Mass.; R. Brinkerhoff, Mansfield, O.; G. S. Robinson, Sycamore, Ill.; Edward C. Donnelly, New York, N.Y.; Dr. A. J. Ourt, Philadelphia, Penn.; Rev. Aug. Woodbury, Providence, R.I.; C. S. Watkins, Davenport, Io.; Rt. Rev. George D. Gillespie, Grand Rapids, Mich.

3. Dependent and Delinquent CHILDREN. — William P. Letchworth, Buffalo, N.Y.; Mrs. William P. Lynde, Milwaukee, Wis.; Mrs. L. C. Wardner, Cairo, Ill.; Murray Shipley, Cincinnati, O.; Mrs. Clara T. Leonard, Springfield, O.; Charles F. Coffin, Richmond, Ind.; *Mrs. H. C. Dickinson, Robert D. McGonigle, Allegheny City, Penn.

4. PENAL AND PRISON DISCIPLINE. A. J. Elmore, Fort Howard, Wis. ; Rev. J. L. Milligan, Allegheny City, Penn.; Thomas S. Wilkinson, Baltimore, Md.; Rev. A. G. Byers, Columbus, O.; Dr. Elisha Harris, New York, N.Y.; Albert Clark, St. Albans, Vt.; R. J. McClaughry, Joliet, Ill.

5. STATISTICS. - Carroll D. Wright, Boston, Mass.; James O. Fanning, Albany, N.Y.; William A. Grimshaw, Pittsfield, Ill.; Dr. E. M. Snow, Providence, R.I.; C. D. Randall, Coldwater, Mich.

6. MEDICAL CHARITIES. — Dr. P. S. Conner, Cincinnati, O.; Dr. J. N. McCord, Vandalia, Ill.; Dr. Harvey Jewett, Canandaigua, N.Y.; Dr. Charles P. Putnam, Boston, Mass.; Dr. Charles E. Cadwalader, Philadelphia, Penn. 7. COMMITTEE ON THE PREVENTION OF PAUPERISM:

8. LEGISLATION. -Rev. A. G. Byers, Rev. J. L. Milligan, and F. B. Sanborn, the three Secretaries of the Conference.1

REPORTS FROM THE STATES REPRESENTED.

The ten States represented in the Conference then made Reports on the charitable work therein, as follows, Illinois by Mr. Robinson, Ohio by Mr. Byers, Iowa by Mr. Watkins, Indiana by Mr. Charles F. Coffin, Pennsylvania by Mr. Milligan, New York by Dr. Hoyt, Connecticut by Prof. Wayland, Rhode Island by Dr. Kenyon, Massachusetts by Dr. Allen, and Michigan by Mr. Lord. These Reports, as since revised by their authors, are the following:

ILLINOIS.- BY MR. ROBINSON.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen, The condition of affairs in the State charitable institutions of Illinois remains much the same as when report thereof was made to the last Conference by Dr. McCord. The legislature of our State meets biennially; no session was had last winter, and there is therefore no new legislation to report. Neither has there been any change in the membership of our Board.

The financial supervision of the institutions subject to inspection by the Board is, perhaps, more thorough in Illinois than in any other State of the Union. This work is done in our office, where a complete set of books is kept, upon which every bill and voucher of all the institutions is entered. The original bills are filed with us; every bill is examined, the exact condition of the institutions is shown every quarter, and a statement is furnished to the press for publication. Under this system we are able to report a steady improvement in their financial management and condition. Not a quarter has passed for some time without a perceptible gain in the way of diminished expenditure, relatively both to income and to the number cared for.

The number of inmates reported April 1, 1878, was 2,640, or four hundred more than one year ago, an increase of about eighteen per cent. The annual cost of maintenance in our institu

1 The persons whose names appear in italics in the above list having declined to serve, the Committees at present consist of those whose names appear in Roman letters. In the large Committee on the Prevention of Pauperism, each sub-committee representing a State was authorized to fill vacancies and add to its number, and each of the six committees first named has the same power. The names marked * have so been added.