civilization. It grows daily upon the public confidence. It will go forward to completeness. It has within it the elements of a perfect state of society.

3. General recognition among families, as far as it is understood, of the pivotal idea of our Society, of providing industry for all able-bodied applicants for aid, rather than alms.

4. An increasing feeling of self-respecting independence among our citizens themselves who are engaged in this work; a consciousness of ability to protect themselves and their families from national tramps, paupers and criminals hitherto regarded as hopeless debris of , our great floating population.

5. A mutual acquaintance and helpfulness among people engaged in widely different forms of benevolent work; a striking of friendly hands to fdrm a cordon of strength around the weak and ignorant and neglected.

6. The co-operation of the District Commissioners, the Metropolitan Police, and the general officers of the district government.

7. A general hopefulness, before unknown, concerning the future of the now dependent and dangerous classes; a perception of the dawn of a new day of brotherhood among men.

DIFFICULTIES:

Some of the obstacles we encounter are entirely national, and require a moral revolution throughout the country, for their removal; others are common to all cities engaged in reforms. Chief among the first class may be enumerated:

1. Entire legislative jurisdiction over this District by the Congress which, during eighty-three years, though besought with eloquence, logic, prayers and tears, has not found the time nor inclination to provide for this District a tramp law, a law to protect children- from cruelty, a girl's reform school, a prison for women, an inebriate asylum, a blind asylum, a school for imbecile and Eauper children, and other needed legislation demanded y public sentiment here and in every enlightened community.

All of these ship-wrecked classes are forever on our streets. Anywhere in this country, excep4, in the capital of the United States, the citizens could prevail upon their local government to provide for them suitable shelter and care. (As an illustration of present District laws, the penalty for the seduction of a young girl is a few pounds of tobacco, to be awarded to her father to compensate him for care during her illness.)

We continue to present to you these national difficulties, because they are always with us, we are unable to cope with them, and a word from this National Conference of Charities and Corrections to the Congress, would be to each member of that body, a voice from his constituents.

2. The enthusiastic and absorbing devotion of many excellent people in churches and charitable institutions and organizations, to the special forms of benevolence in which they are engaged; their*unwillingness to admit their liability to imposition or mistaken charity, or any need whatever for the existence of our organization; which they consider in some manner designed to supplant their efforts.

3. Exactly the opposite difficulty from other churches, institutions and organizations who freely turn over to us for permanent care, their especially obnoxious cases, and habitually direct those needing temporary assistance to the Associated Charities. This class (No. 3) is more difficult to deal with than No. 2, because they are perfectly satisfied with their superficial view of our mission, and insist that if we do not "take care of people" we are " of no use/' and " had better dissolve/'

4. The great floating population from the well-to-do classes of every land under the sun, who scatter coins and clothing among vagrants, with lavish hand, undoing our hard labors, and leaving beggars fat, impudent and lazy, for us to reform.

5. Lack of manufacturing establishments to furnish employment to the great number of men and women (chiefly disappointed office-seekers), who will not leave Washington, are not strong enough for domestic service or other hard labor, but could support themselves and families and benefit the community at lighter employment. Enterprising young capitalists do not locate in Washington. When they retire from business and want a beautiful home, or an honorable appointment they come to rest, or to operate political wires.

WORK OF THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.

Owing to the difficulties above enumerated, the work of the District of Columbia Associated Charities has not been so exclusively devoted to organization of existing charities and to examination and registration, as in other cities. We have been compelled to administer temporary relief, by degrees winning the good will and intelligent comprehension of existing charities, so that the number relieved by us greatly diminishes as the months roll on. In some subdivisions this has ceased entirely, and only employment is provided, applicants for other forms of relief being appropriately referred. The fourth and sixth subdivisions have united to establish a Foster Home, Day Nursery and Kindergarten for the care of the children of working women. The fifth subdivision has established a Woman's Work Department, for the manufacture of clothing and domestic articles; and all of the thirteen organized subdivisions have appointed friendly visitors, opened registration offices and commenced the educational work of investigating causes of • poverty, helplessness and vagrancy.

It was ascertained that many who asked for employment the first year, have since that time had permanent work, the interest of citizens in this matter having been awakened. It was also learned that many were already employed, but were chronic malcontents, always desiring change; whereupon the fifth subdivision declined to assist anyone in obtaining household service who had never remained in a good place a year or more.

CO-OPERATION OF EXISTING CHARITIES.

It is the desire and recommendation of the District Commissioners that all of the public and private charities of the District shall adopt the plans and methods of investigation, registration and industry in use in the subdivisions of the Associated Charities, and that they shall co-operate with our Society in every possible manner.

The recent publication by our general board of managers of a chart of District Charities, has done much to instruct each of the charities concerning the work of the others, and to bring them into intelligent harmony with our Society. Many kind messages accompanied the information they gave us.

All essential facts concerning the government, district and private institutions and organizations may be gathered from this chart, a copy of which will be sent to anyone who may desire it, upon application.

By Mr. Dawes, of Milwaukee: The Associated Charities of Milwaukee is of very recent growth. Since the last annual meeting there has been a very creditable advance. Among the most important things, perhaps, that I can call your attention to, among others, has been the organization of District Conferences. The city has been subdivided and committees of visitation and labor have been appointed in each district. They are in successful working order at this time and have been for months in most of the districts, and in others not so long. Another thing has been the appointment and setting to work of a paid agent, who devotes his whole time to investigating cases that needs that sort of thing. Several benevolent schemes have been started, but a several months' absence from the state and a recent return to it, has not allowed me to keep specifically posted, and I cannot give the details. But I can assure you that associated charities are growing in favor with the people of 'our state. It is difficult to make them understand what the nature of associated charity is. They associate charity with the idea of Alms Houses, and old clothes, etc. The most important work we have done was in the direction of stopping giving to the same persons from many sources. We have found in the city of Mil waukee that' the same persons have been receiving aid from many different sources, when in many cases they were riot entitled to aid at all. We have used such methods of stopping this as have been described by the gentlemen in this meeting. We have that same system of cards and it has resulted in a great saving in the amount of relief given out.

REPORT OF THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR ORGANIZING

CHARITY.

BY DR. J. W. WALK.

Part (1). "A brief statement of the work of our Society, the progress made in it thus far, the discouragements and difficulties encountered, the means employed to overcome them and the outlook fot the future."

The city of Philadelphia is coterminous with the county of the same name. It includes one hundred and thirty (130) square miles of territory, and has a population of upwards of nine hundred thousand (900,000).

There are within its boundaries several hundred charitable societies and institutions. During the decade from 1870 to 1880, pauperism rapidly increased, and themagnitude of the evil, at last, awakened public attention, and led to a great popular uprising for its abatement. The Charity Organization Society was formed in the summer of 1878, and has thus been in existence five (5) years. Its objects were declared to be:

1. To reduce vagrancy and pauperism, and ascertain their true causes.

2. To prevent indiscriminate and duplicate giving.

3. To secure the community from imposture.

4. To see that all deserving cases of destitution are properly relieved.

5. To make employment the basis of relief.

6. To elevate the home-life, health and habits of the poor.

7. To prevent children from growing up as paupers. By bringing about co-operation among all Charitableagencies.

By a system of registration to prevent imposture.

By securing thorough investigation and the most suitable action in all cases.

By obtaining from existing charities the precise help needed; or,

By giving relief when immediate help is needed, and when all other sources fail.

By a system of visiting which shall substitute friendliness for alms, and inspire to thrift, self-respect, and better modes of life.

By careful study of the causes of pauperism, and of the best methods of dealing with destitution and degradation.

Its work was inaugurated in the central wards, and has since be§n extended so as to cover the entire city. The Society now has a central office and twenty-three (23) district offices. The working plan is as follows:

(1.) Districts. Each district comprises a ward (or* when the wards are small, two), has an office within its boundaries, and is under the direction of a local board of directors, usually numbering twelve (12), composed of ladies and gentlemen resident within the district, and chosen annually by .the members of the Society residing in the district. They elect a Superintendent, who .receives a salary from the central treasury of the Society, which is, however, in many cases supplemented by payments f torn the treasury of the district board. His duties are, in general, to investigate and report for decision, to a committee of the district board, all applications for relief. He is assisted by a corps of volunteer visitors,.