252

TWENTY-SECOND NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHARITIES

the reports indicate that the practice is a common one, though, as Rev. A. W. Clark, of the Omaha Associated Charities, says, "In the majority of cases those who send the paupers away do it with the plea that they are not their own citizens."

The correspondents unite in denouncing the practice. Mr. Raymond, of Cleveland, says, "You cannot be too emphatic in denouncing such a course: the practice has been long continued, and is steadily increasing." Dr. Post, of the Detroit Charity Association, says: "It is a bad practice and productive of much trouble and injustice both to the pauper and to the communities where they are sent, and increases the difficulty of improving the pauper's condition, and especially that of the children, if he has any. Remaining where they belong, and where their circumstances are thoroughly known, they can be more satisfactorily cared for." Dr. Trusdell, of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society, says: "The practice cannot be too emphatically condemned except in the cases where there is satisfactory assurance that friends will care for them elsewhere." Ayres, of the Cincinnati Associated Charities, says: "It appears to me a vicious practice. It is based on selfishness, and is wholly contrary to that humane spirit which takes an interest in every man or woman with whom it comes in contact." Secretary Grout, of the Indianapolis Charity Organization Society, says that the practice does not prevail in Indiana. Mr. McGonnigle, of Pittsburg, says: "Pennsylvania is to-day suffering from paupers shipped from Eastern and Western States (especially, Western). Ordinarily, these persons are weak-minded; and it is many times almost impossible to secure any definite information and data concerning their former place of residence."

Dr.

(2) In answer to the second question, as to the shipment of paupers from States to which they do not belong to other States in order to get rid of them, the testimony is less positive. The practice prevails to a considerable extent where paupers are found in transit from State to State. The usual practice seems to be to forward them in the direction in which they are travelling. Some of the correspondents point out the fact that this practice aggravates the evil.

(3) In regard to the third question, as to the facility with which indigent people travel from one State to another by the use of public charities and private organizations, several of the correspondents point out the fact that it results from lack of proper investigation, and

1

that, if the rule were rigidly applied, that no paupers could be sent from the State boundary until careful investigation was made, both locally and at the point of their destination, this evil would stop of itself. Others think that the railroad companies are too free in granting "charity rates." Mr. Clark reports that, "since the organization of the Associated Charities in Omaha, it has not been so easy for such people to pass this point as it had been previously." Dr. Post reports that many families are by these means kept moving from place to place, and that it begets bad habits and encourages a roving disposition. Mr. Grout reports that indigent people travel with ease through the State of Indiana. Mr. McGonnigle says: "There are a large number of persons travelling over our State continually, on some pretext or other, who have received transportation from various towns or cities." He thinks that this practice is not quite so extensive as it was formerly. In Pittsburg applicants for transportation are offered almshouse board until their application can be investigated. The result has been a great decrease of applications.

(4) With reference to the coming of foreign emigrants, who elude the authorities at the seaboard, into the interior States, most of the correspondents report that they have no definite information. Mr. Clark mentions only one such case at Omaha. Dr. Ayres says that a few have been found in Cincinnati, but have been promptly returned to Europe through the authorities in New York. Mr. McGonnigle says: "This community has been troubled to a great extent with paupers shipped from foreign countries. Many of them. have been inmates of almshouses in foreign countries, and have been sent here on the pretence that their friends here will care for them. In many instances their friends cannot provide for them, and they are turned over to the department of charities." He adds, "There

is no doubt that this is a very general practice, and there seems to be no difficulty in the parties eluding the authorities at the seaboard." Mr. McGonnigle cites seven specific cases.

(5) In reply to the question, What remedies would you suggest for the evils connected with interstate migration, so far as there are any? Mr. McGonnigle believes that the State authorities ought to unite in an effort to secure national legislation. Mr. Raymond, Dr. Post, Mr. Grout, and Mr. McGonnigle think that travelling paupers should be sent back in the direction in which they came.

Dr. Ayres

and Mr. Clark (and perhaps Miss Starr) think that there should be exceptions to this rule. Dr. Ayres says, "The authorities first sending the pauper sometimes exercise intense cruelty in sending sick and destitute persons, and especially widows and deserted women with little children, from town to town instead of to their desired destination."

Dr. Ayres says: "To prevent interstate migration and a continuous transportation of paupers, I do not see any practical legislative remedy except the suppression of the public funds for this purpose. Of course, if one State does this without the others, it becomes the dumping-ground of its neighbors. I am inclined to think that if the public funds were cut off, private aid in most instances would be sufficient for the sick and destitute. I believe that the city of Brooklyn has had no public transportation for some years."

Dr. Ayres suggests further, "Is it not possible that much good could be accomplished if a circular letter were addressed to all public authorities, urging them: (a) to send no persons away who properly belong to them; (b) to send only clear through to the destination, and after the applicant has been carefully examined, with letters from the point of destination, when practicable; (c) urging all railways to be far more careful relative to free transportation of tramps, as well as half-rate arrangements with city and town authorities for the alleged destitute?"

Mr. Raymond says, "The indigent person on the tramp will only cease his tramping when a work order, and not a railroad ticket, is given him." He says, "I am beginning to believe that the only way out of the trouble will be for each State to enact laws that will compel the tramp to work at road-making on the roads, they to be housed at stations erected or rented by the State, and then given work under the supervision of the State overseer, payment to be made in board, lodging, and some money; the pay, however, not to be sufficient to tempt men to put in their time at this kind of work." Miss M. E. Starr, of Burlington, suggests: "Through investigation and classification into those believed to be habitual vagrants or tramps, commitment to House of Correction, with indefinite sentence; those who are believed to be capable of such training as will make them independent members of society at large to be trained industrially; those believed to be capable of support only under constant guidance to be placed in farm colonies; those unable to

wholly support themselves to be partly relieved and partly supported by their labor."

Mr. Clark summarizes the situation as follows: "I confess that this phase of work, as it has confronted me here in Omaha, has been more difficult than anything else; and, as you will see by my answer to your questions, I do not have any very strong convictions as to handling these problems. I think we must get along the best we can, dealing with each individual case as it rises on the broadest principles of justice and righteousness. Cases of consumption and other cases I would help on to a better climate "

This correspondence does not touch upon the question of interstate migration of criminals. Naturally, there is very little information available on this point. The Prison Wardens' Association made the effort some years ago to establish a central registration bureau, whereby all criminals should be registered by the Bertillon system, and it would become possible to trace the movements of those discharged criminals who are recommitted; but this effort failed for lack of sufficient co-operation. It is well known, however, that habitual criminals drift from State to State. There is no bar to the free migration of criminals. Habitual criminals, when they become known in one State, usually seek a fresh field of activity, where they are not known to the police and the prison authorities.

As a result of this inquiry, I am convinced that it is impossible to reach the case by State legislation, for the reason that uniform legislation cannot be secured.

What is needed is a federal law to regulate the migration from State to State of paupers and dependants. Penalties should be imposed for sending paupers from one State to another except where they had a residence or had friends who are responsible for their care. The law should declare what constitutes a legal residence within a State, and federal officers should be designated to decide the questions arising under it.

Training Schools for Nurses.

THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF TRAINED NURSES IN HOSPITALS.

BY LINDA RICHARDS,

SUPERINTENDENT BROOKLYN HCMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.

Miss Florence Nightingale, in a letter read at a meeting recently held in London for the purpose of raising a fund to enable St. Thomas' Hospital to open wards, now not in use, says: "May I venture to call attention to the moral effect of such wards upon the patient's future life? The men cease to swear, the women learn habits of decency, order, and cleanliness, which may be carried out at home. The children hear good words, perhaps for the first time."

These are the words of a woman whose judgment is universally respected, whose life has been spent in devising means for the improvement of hospitals for the sick poor. Much of the good ac complished by her is the result of work done by training schools for nurses connected with these hospitals. She has carefully watched the effect produced by these schools, and speaks from actual knowledge when she makes this statement.

Miss Nightingale speaks of the work done in Great Britain; but have not the training schools of America produced the same results?

To enable us to decide this intelligently, we must compare our hospitals at the present time with the same hospitals before the organization of training schools. We will take first one well known. to many of us, Charity Hospital on Blackwell's Island, a visit to which, before the organization of the training school, made one heart sick. Untidy wards filled to overflowing with discontented, neglected-looking patients, who received the little attention given.