that every time that a child apparently not less than sixteen years of age, and having no relation or other person to take reasonable care of him, is brought before the recorder, and cannot be sent to an industrial or reformatory school, the recorder may send the child to an institution, or place him out as an apprentice or as a domestic servant, or may confide him to a respectable person until he has reached the age of eighteen years.

This will be an exceedingly important piece of legislation whenever a Children's Aid Society is formed.

ADVANCES IN PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.

In the domain of private philanthropy the principal advances during the last few years have been made in Montreal by the establishment of the following societies: Victorian Order of Nurses, for district nursing; Charity Organization Society; Park and Playgrounds Society, which hopes to establish several model playgrounds in small public squares during the coming summer; and a Decimal Stamp Savings Fund. An urban sanatorium for consumptives is being projected by a number of physicians, with promised financial assistance from several sources.

STATISTICS.

The report of the inspectors of prisons and asylums for 1900 (1901 report not yet published) indicates that the total population in district prisons for that year was 4,753 against 4,626 for 1899. This figure includes both those awaiting trial and those serving sentences for minor offences. It does not include the penitentiary population.

In the five reformatory schools, three for boys and two for girls, there was a grand total of 259 against 228 for 1899. Cost of maintenance, $34,945.70.

In the industrial schools, for the younger children and the less hardened older ones, there was a population of 304 against 354 for 1899. Cost of maintenance, $20,603.41.

There were 2,953 patients supported by provincial and local authorities in the three insane asylums. In 1899 the number was 2,911. The cost of maintenance in 1900 was $321,979.

The percentage of cures to admission for the three institutions are given as follows:

The inspectors caution against too sweeping generalizations upon. the above table, wisely indicating that there are too many disturbing elements to admit of any comparison of the efficiency of the different institutions or of the work of any one of them in succeeding years. The Verdun Asylum in its report lays special stress upon the moral influences toward cure brought into play by amusement and occupation. The percentage of workers among the inmates in this institution is placed at 65 49-100 per cent. It is 58 per cent. in St. Jean de Dieu.

IV.

State Supervision and Administration of Charities and

Correction.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

Recent reports from nearly all the states give the following noteworthy news touching this topic.

In New York State last year, we recall, the governor recommended the abolition of the State Board of Charities and the creation in its place of a board of three, two of them busy state officials ex-officio, with one new salaried officer; but the measure, early introduced in the legislature, met with wide-spread and effective opposition, and was dropped. This year the same executive proposed that the boards of managers of all the state hospitals for the insane and of all the state charitable institutions be abolished, the powers of the managers of the eleven insane hospitals to be vested in the State Commission in Lunacy, and the powers of the managers of the thirteen charitable institutions to be vested in one state superintendent of charities. The insane hospitals were already under the sole supervision of the commission, almost under its control, the hospital attorneys being appointed by it, and no repairs or improvements or estimates for supplies and expenditures being made without its approval. The charitable institutions, if under the control of one man, would still be subject to the supervision of the State Board of Charities. The one man would be recommended by the board to the governor. For each of the institutions or hospitals local boards of visitors would be appointed to make frequent visits and reports. The objection of the governor to the existing system was, briefly summed up, that it resulted in waste of money and unnecessary duplication of institutions and officials. To the suggested changes strong opposition was made by representatives of a number

of prominent charitable agencies, under the lead of the State Charities Aid Association. The opposition claimed that real economy would not result from the change, and that boards of managers for the various institutions and hospitals were of the greatest value, representing much intelligent and faithful service for the inmates and the public. The plan of the one official to control the charitable institutions was dropped, but that for the complete control of the insane hospitals by the Commission in Lunacy was made a law. A board of visitors has been or is to be appointed for each hospital. The office of "Fiscal Supervisor of State Charities" was created, in whose hands are placed the power of control over the expenditures of the state charitable institutions and the State School for the Blind and the Elmira Reformatory, which had been exercised through a bureau of the state comptroller's department. The supervisor is to hold office for five years, and be paid $6,000 yearly, besides necessary expenses. His duties include careful examination into the physical condition and financial management of each of the institutions twice a year at least, with reports to the governor twice and to the legislature once a year. Monthly estimates for expenses must be submitted to him, and he may revise them. He may arrange with the boards of managers for purchase of staple articles by joint contract. By the same law creating this supervision each board of managers of these same institutions, in addition to its duties as previously prescribed, is required to inspect its institution by a majority of its members, and make a detailed report in duplicate to the governor and the State Board of Charities at least once a month. Also, plans for unusual repairs or improvements at the state charitable institutions and the School for the Blind must be approved by the governor, the comptroller, and the president of the State Board of Charities, or two of them.

In Virginia a provision of the new constitution changes the method of managing the state hospitals for the insane. Each of these institutions has been under the general control of a board of directors, consisting of nine men appointed by the governor by and with the consent of the Senate, the terms of office being three years, three going out every year. These boards had the power of appointing the superintendent, assistant officers, and employees of their respective hospitals. The new constitutional law provides for a board of three for each institution appointed by the governor, their

terms of office being six years. Each board has immediate supervision of its institution. The boards of all the four hospitals constitute together a general board of control. They serve without pay. The general board appoints the superintendents, the special board appoints the assistant officers, the superintendents appoint all the employees of their respective institutions. The terms of the officers have been increased from two to four years. A commissioner is provided for, to be selected by the governor for a term of four years. He is ex-officio chairman of the general board and special boards. His duty is chiefly to give a general oversight to the finances, expenditures, and to see that the accounts of the various institutions are kept according to some uniform system. These changes were made with the aim of removing the affairs of the insane hospitals as far as possible from partisan influences. In Alabama the second hospital for the insane, whose establishment was authorized last year, to be for the negro insane, has been placed very naturally under the board of trustees who have been administering well the first state hospital.

In Maryland the Board of State Aid and Charities has made its first report to the legislature. This board was created chiefly to take the place of the hurried hearings by the legislative committees on applications of institutions for state aid. The hope was that it might be able to bring about some true economy. Its report, suggesting on the whole a decrease in institutions aided and in the total sum appropriated, showed little effort to get at principles which might govern action and little discrimination based on thorough knowledge of institutions. It was empowered to visit, and given a secretary and enough money to do much educational work had it been so disposed. Its members were men of prominence and affairs, but they had given comparatively little thought to details of charitable work. Their report was practically disregarded, no institutions being dropped from the list of former beneficiaries and fourteen being added, with an increased sum total. In North Carolina the board of three examiners, provided for by law last year, will this autumn begin their work of reporting to the governor and assembly on the financial management of state institutions, the disposition of the last appropriations, and the immediate needs.

No state "board of control" has been established during the year. The Minnesota board took office August 1. There has been