PAGE REPORTS ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS For DepenDENTS AND DELIN- 95-143 114-129 3. Insane Criminals in Asylums, by Walter Channing, M.D. 4. The Construction of State Prisons, by Rev. A. Woodbury. 129-142 143-144 • 155-156 5. The Children's Aid Society of New-York City, by J. W. Debate on the Papers 2. Prevention in Some of its Aspects and Woman's Part in it, 4. The Care of Girls in Reformatories, by Mrs. L. R. Wardner. 178–189 THE PREVENTION OF PAUPERISM. II. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF CHARITIES, HELD AT CHICAGO, JUNE 10–12, 1879. OPENING SESSION. THE Sixth Annual Conference of Charities convened in the Ladies' Ordinary of the Grand Pacific Hotel at Chicago, Tuesday, June 10, 1879, and was called to order at ten A.M. by the President, Hon. G. S. Robinson of Illinois, President of the Board of State Charities for that State, who made the following address, opening the sessions : Ladies and Gentlemen, This is the sixth annual meeting of the Conference of Charities. Hitherto its sessions have been held in connection with the American Social Science Association; but to-day, for the first time, it assembles as a separate and independent organization. I regret that on this occasion we shall be deprived of the presence and counsel of several able and distinguished gentlemen of that Association, who have been accustomed to meet with us; but can assure you that, although absent in person, yet in feeling, in sympathy, and in hope for our success, they are with us. I feel confident, however, that those who are present have come here with a determination to do their whole duty in the great work not only engaging our attention, but the attention of thousands of other philanthropic men and women throughout the land, and that our deliberations will result in more active, united, efficient efforts to mitigate the sufferings of humanity. The work in which we are engaged, the subjects we have met to discuss, the plans to be carried out, and the results we hope to accomplish, should command the attention of every good citizen. The administration of our public charities is a subject of vital importance to our people, viewed not only from a humanitarian, but from a financial standpoint as well; an imperative duty, from which we cannot shrink if we would, and would not if we could. How to administer them successfully, wisely, and economically, is a problem not easily solved. How to alleviate the sufferings of our unfortunate classes, to support and maintain them in a proper manner without overburdening our people, thereby causing a reaction in public sentiment detrimental to the wards of the state and the nation; how to attain the best practical results in dealing with the evils of pauperism, crime, and insanity, and especially how to lessen the number of their victims, are questions of paramount importance, which should challenge our earnest and serious consideration. It affords me great pleasure to meet so many distinguished ladies and gentlemen from this and other States engaged in the beneficent work of ameliorating the condition of the unfortunate, of devising the best and most economical means for that purpose; to meet you here in this beautiful city of Chicago, this great commercial and manufacturing metropolis of the West, situated upon the western shore of Lake Michigan, in one of the richest and best States of this Union, in the heart of the best country on the globe; the industry, enterprise, intelligence, and charity of whose citizens are unsurpassed, and whose hospitality has not only become proverbial but wide-spread as the nation itself. It is to such a city and such a people I feel authorized to extend to each and all of you a cordial and hearty welcome. Mr. Henry W. Lord of Michigan moved, and it was voted, that Mr. F. B. Sanborn of Massachusetts, Rev. A. G. Byers of Ohio, and Rev. J. L. Milligan of Pennsylvania, act as Secretaries until a permanent organization is effected, and that the President appoint a Committee, consisting of one person from each State represented, to arrange business and nominate permanent officers for the Conference. The following Committee was then appointed: Henry W. Lord, Michigan, Chairman; Dr. Pliny Earle, Massachusetts; W. P. Letchworth, New York; R. D. McGonnigle, Pennsylvania; Dr. J. C. Corbus, Illinois; M. D. Follett, Ohio; C. S. Watkins, Iowa; Thomas T. Taylor, Kansas; John P. Early, Indiana; A. E. Elmore, Wisconsin. Mr. S. S. Richie of Ohio moved that the Secretaries act as a Committee on credentials of delegates, which was agreed to. The Secretaries reported as follows on the official boards existing in the United States, and the representation of these boards and other organizations in the Chicago Conference : There are at present in the United States nine State boards or commissions charged with the general oversight of charitable work in the States where they exist. These boards, named in the order of seniority, are, 1. The Massachusetts Board of State Charities, established in 1863; consolidated with the State Board of Health in 1879. 2. The New York State Board of Charities, established in 1867. 3. The Ohio Board of State Charities, established in 1867; re-organized in 1876. 4. The Rhode Island Board of State Charities and Corrections, established in 1869. 5. The Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners of Public Charities, established in 1869. 6. The Illinois Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities, established in 1869. 7. The Wisconsin State Board of Charities and Reform, established in 1871. 8. The Michigan State Board of Corrections and Charities, established in 1871. 9. The Kansas State Board of Charities, established in 1875. A special organization has existed as a State board in New York since 1847, -the Commissioners of Emigration. There is also a State Prison Commission in Massachusetts, and in Connecticut. The present officers and members of the State boards are as follows: MASSACHUSETTS. (Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charities. Term of Office, Five Years.) Moses Kimball, Boston, Chairman; Henry I. Bowditch, M.D., Boston; Nathan Allen, M.D., Lowell; Charles F. Donnelly, Boston; Edward Hitchcock, M.D., Amherst; Albert Wood, M.D., Worcester; Robert T. Davis, M.D., Fall River; John C. Hoadley, Lawrence; Ezra Parmenter, M.D., Cambridge. [Dr. C. F. Folsom, Boston, Secretary; Dr. H. B. Wheelwright, Newburyport, Superintendent of Out-door Poor; S. C. Wrightington, Fall River, Superintendent of In-door Poor; F. B. Sanborn, Concord, Inspector of Charities. These four officers are not members of the Board.] NEW YORK. (Term of Office, Eight Years.) William P. Letchworth, Buffalo, President; John C. Devereux, Utica, Vice-President; Mrs. C. R. Lowell, No. 120 East Thirtieth Street, New York; Theodore B. Bronson, No. 20 West Twentieth Street, New York; Edward C. Donnelly, Manhattanville, New York; Ripley Ropes, No. 40 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn; J. H. Van Antwerp, Albany; James Roosevelt, Hyde Park; Samuel F. Miller, Franklin, Delaware County; Edward W. Foster, Potsdam, St. Lawrence County; Martin B. Anderson, Rochester. Ex-officio members: The Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Attorney-General. Dr. Charles S. Hoyt, Albany, Secretary; James O. Fanning, Albany, Assistant Secretary. 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; M. D. Carrington, Toledo; 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, Providence; Lewis B. Smith, Nayatt Point; Alfred B. Chadsey, Wickford; Stephen R. Weeden, Providence. PENNSYLVANIA. (Term of Office, Five Years.) Mahlon H. Dickinson, Philadelphia, President; Heister Clymer, Reading; William Bakewell, Pittsburg; A. C. N. Noyes, Westport County; George Bullock, Conshohocken, Montgomery County; Thomas Beaver, Danville, Montour County; James A. Biddle, Philadelphia; Diller Luther, M.D., Reading, Secretary. 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; J. H. Vivian, M.D., Mineral Point; Charles H. Haskins, Milwaukee; Theodore D. Kanouse, Watertown, Secretary. MICHIGAN. (Term of Office, Six Years.) Charles I. Walker, Detroit, Chairman; Charles M. Croswell, Governor, ex-officio member, Adrian; M. S. Crosby, Grand Rapids; Rt. Rev. George D. Gillespie, Grand Rapids; E. H. Van Deusen, M.D., Kalamazoo; Henry W. Lord, Detroit, Secretary. Edwin Knowles, Sabetha, Chairman; C. E. Faulkner, Salina, Secretary; A. T. Sharpe, Ottawa, Treasurer; J. L. Wever, M.D., Leavenworth; Gen. T. T. Taylor, Hutchinson. [The Massachusetts Prison Commission, as re-organized in 1879, consists of five members, who hold office for five years: its Secretary is not a member of the Board. The present members are: Thomas Parsons, Brookline, Chairman; Charles O. Chapin, Springfield; William Roberts, Waltham; Mrs. Mary C. Ware, Boston; Mrs. A. C. Johnson, Boston; William F. Spaulding, Secretary. i |