Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 292, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1920 — C. B. STEWARD MAKES REPORT [ARTICLE]

C. B. STEWARD MAKES REPORT

■WAS DELEGATE TO STATE CON* FEEENCE ON CHARITIES . | AND CORRECTION’ I Charles B. ‘steward, who was the [1 Jasper- County delegate to the state ■conference on Charities and Cor[lrection, at Terrs Haute last week II made a very interesting report to | the county commissioners, copy of ■which is given below: II To th© HeMrabl© Board of Com ■ miseioa©rs ©f Jasper County, m l i> ! Gentlemen: —J have the honor to {report that pursuant bo your aoI pmntment as delegate from this ■ county, I attended the meeting of I the State Conference on Charities land Corrections at Terre Haute be* I ginning on November 14th and atI tended all the sessions of the coaIference. . . I The Conference was attended by lover 500 delegates and addresses 1 were delivered-by the moot promiInent authorities in the various lines lot work under consideration. I Evans Woolen of Indianapolis was I elected President of the Conference I and the place of meeting for the I next conference was fixed at MunIcie; the time to be selected by a I committee appointed for that purP«*«- •

I The proceedings, addresses and I discussions are being printed and it lie not possible in a report of this I kind to more than touch on the I more important featuAs of the reI forms advocated and methode considered. ‘ h Probably the most important sub*, ject before the meeting was the matter of Child. .Welfare and the lax manner in which the laws are enforced by many Jdvinile Courts was strongly condemned. Courts for the trial of girl delinquents, presided over by woman judge and using women, juries were recommended. Able speakers of extended experience emphasized the fact that juvenile courts and public institutions could nOt make a bad child good and it was agreed that better results j could usually be secured by permitting the child to remain in the > home, under proper supervision and making needed improvement m its environment. The abolition of the jail exciyt ■ as a j>lace for the detention of prisoners awaiting trial was urged and, the confinement of insane P«»om iin jails characterized as a »Uc of ! barbarism. The penal institutions for convicted criminals and hospitals and insane asylums for the mentally unbalanced were suggested as being more appropriate than the county jaiL \ Conditions in reference to me care of the wards of the state in the various penal, correctional and charitable institutions were shown tone improving but many instances were dted in which improvement could still be made. The fee system of the management of croW wm sharply criticised and its abolition recommended. The truancy problem was discussed in all its pbasta and a .committee was appointed to draft amendments to the present laws* which would extend their powers and make them more effective. 4BMtfon of the conference was interesting and inrtructive and the published reports which will be distributed soon, deserve a careful on the smecta under, consideration are entitled to recognition in num* having afforded opportunity Ito attend these meetings, andjrer —'. WlgraL-.-h© ♦ Yours rewtectfully, CHABLES ?. STEWARD. a 3? a.-.- • a ‘