erection of several new jails under care of United States marshals. A law was enacted by the last Congress a few days before its close, by which the United States courts in the Territory are much changed. Instead of one judge there are now three. Where heretofore we have had one district, with three places to hold court, we have now three districts, with a total of thirteen places where the United States judges hold regular terms; and in addition a Supreme Court has been established. But this is not all. The United States commissioners are now justices of the peace with final jurisdiction over misdemeanors. Thus the change is being made which will more thoroughly enforce law, while in 1896 the vicious system giving courts in Texas and Arkansas exclusive jurisdiction over felonies committed in Indian Territory will cease. But the increased jurisdiction now conferred on the United States courts in Indian Territory has required a change in the United States marshal's offices, and henceforth each district has its own marshal. This will secure greater vigilance, and will introduce changes in the jail system. At each place of holding court new jails are in contemplation; but they will be simply hold-overs, as all prisoners convicted of felony are sent to Detroit.

Charities are at present largely unorganized. The orphan asylums are maintained as heretofore, but there is nothing for the benefit of the needy white people. With the changes which are hoped for, whereby political privileges will be granted to white residents, the charities will be looked after; but until such time nothing can be accomplished.

IOWA.

BY MRS. F. A. MILLARD, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

Our legislature, which was in session a year ago, passed only one bill except that providing for a new insane hospital — bearing upon the work of charities and correction,- that authorizing the trustees of the industrial schools to let the inmates out on parole.

Bills to create a State Board of Charities and county boards of guardians for children, to punish heads of families who refused to support those dependent upon them, to amend the tramp law, and to authorize county boards of supervisors to send habitual drunkards to a Keeley Institute at county expense, all failed to pass.

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The general indifference in the State to the principles of scientific charity and correction is, I believe, gradually giving way to a more progressive view of these principles. I think I may also venture to say that the experience of the winter of 1893-94 in emergency relief work in various parts of the State has taught us a lesson in the wise administration of relief, by which we profited in the winter of 1894–95.

The bill of the last legislature providing for a fourth insane hospital committed Iowa to the policy of State care for the insane. When the new buildings, which are to be erected according to the most approved plans, are ready for occupation, there will be room in the State institutions for all our insane.

KANSAS.

BY SUPERINTENDENTS OF STATE INSTITUTIONS.

Kansas has two insane asylums, with a united capacity of 1,475 patients. The number present Dec. 31, 1894, was 1,539, kept at an annual cost of $151 per capita. The institutions have been seriously damaged by political manipulation. The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb had 230 pupils Dec. 31, 1894, kept at $169.50 per capita.. Kindergarten work and oral work have been introduced. The Institution for the Education of the Blind had 86 pupils, kept at a cost per pupil of $204. In this school the quantity of milk has been doubled, the use of tea and coffee has been diminished, and calisthenics have been introduced, to the great benefit of the pupils.

The law governing the Soldiers' Orphans' Home has been changed so as to admit all dependent and neglected children. The sum of $91,800 was appropriated for buildings and improvements for this purpose, thus placing Kansas abreast of Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The home contained 129 children Dec. 31, 1895, kept at a per capita cost of $144.

The Asylum for Idiots and Imbecile Youth contained 97 inmates June 30, 1894; and there were 228 applications still on file. I I boys in this institution have been subjected to castration as a cure for masturbation. This step was taken after exhausting every other means and on consultation with three eminent surgeons. The superintendent reports "a very marked improvement in nine of them mentally and all of them physically."

The Industrial School for Girls contained 98 inmates Dec. 31, 1895, per capita cost $139. The Reform School for Boys contained 211 boys June 30, 1894,-a very small number relatively. The State. Soldiers' Home contained 289 men Dec. 31, 1894. There has been a marked increase in the population, owing to the hard times.

The State penitentiary contained 942 convicts July 1, 1892, employed largely in mining coal. It is expected that the new State. reformatory at Hutchinson will be opened July 1, 1895.

KENTUCKY.

BY SUPERINTENDENTS OF STATE INSTITUTIONS.

The three hospitals for insane at Lexington, Lakeland, and Hopkinsville, have a united capacity of about 2,000 patients; but the hospitals are overcrowded. The legislature appropriates $150 per capita for each patient instead of $135 as formerly. The legislature of 1895 appropriated $65,000 for new buildings at Hopkinsville and Lakeland asylums. The Institution for the Education of Deafmutes has a capacity of 300. The number of inmates Dec. 31, 1894, was 227. The Institution for the Education of the Blind has a capacity of 140, and contained 130 inmates, kept at an expense of $230 each. The Institution for Feeble-minded Children at Frankfort has a capacity of 250; and the number present Dec. 31, 1894, was only 104. The State penitentiary at Frankfort has 1,188 cells, and contained Nov. 30, 1894, 1,156 prisoners. Kentucky has no State juvenile reformatory; but the city of Louisville maintains a House of Refuge, which has a high reputation.

BY MICHEL HEYMANN, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

The statistics of the several State and city charitable institutions remain virtually the same as last year.

A bill for the creation of a State Board of Charities similar to that of Ohio was introduced in the last legislature. After being considerably amended, it passed the Senate, but was rejected by the House. We shall try again next year. Several bills for the protection of dependent children have passed.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has done much good work. Abandoned and ill-treated children have been protected, and placed in good private families, asylums, or in the Waifs' Home.

The Conference of Charities (a misnomer) has relieved as many poor persons as their limited means have permitted. This conference, which is unsectarian, was started in 1881; and the constitution contains all the advanced principles of modern charity,registration, friendly visiting, etc. However, these principles remain theories; and very little practical effect has been obtained, owing to the lack of sympathy with this noble work.

It is proposed by a few zealous members of the Association to put their shoulders to the wheel, arouse the public spirit, and start seriously a charity organization, such as exists in other large cities.

Some friends of this movement are in favor of inviting one or more of the eminent men of the National Conference of Charities and Correction to address the citizens of the Crescent City, and make them acquainted with the objects of the Conference.

Let us hope that the Twenty-third Annual Conference will be held. in New Orleans; and I do not doubt a moment that, as a consequence, the charities of Louisiana will be revolutionized, and that our dear State will soon take rank among the foremost in the field of charities and corrections.

MAINE.

BY MRS. L. M. N. STEVENS, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

Maine has made some advancement in charitable and correctional work during the last two years.

The managers of the Maine Industrial School for Girls have planned the erection of a third building, in order to afford better classification and to carry out more fully the family plan. The Reform School for Boys has also been improved along the same line.

Maine has its share of homes and orphan asylums for children, among the best of which is Good-will Farm, a home for boys, on the cottage plan. A new cottage has been built recently.

Undoubtedly, the child-caring work in its most improved method is carried out by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union through its department of "Securing Homes for Homeless Children." Dur

ing the last two years a large number of children have been temporarily cared for, and have been placed in good permanent homes. by adoption.

Recently there has been established at Newport a home for disabled soldiers and their wives.

Not much advance has been made in prison reform. Efforts to secure a reformatory prison for women have repeatedly failed. While there are but 4 women in the State prison, others are in the jails without any special reformatory influences. There are now 159 men in the State prison. Two years ago there were 125.

In some of our cities there are excellent associated charities, notably in Portland and Bangor. At the latter place the society is comparatively new, but does most efficient, systematic work.

There has been within the last year a slight increase of pauperism in the cities, largely due to an influx of foreigners of an objectionable character. With their drinking habits and their inability to find work, or their disinclination to perform it, they add largely to the pauperism in Maine.

There has been some advance in regard to the care and treatment of the insane. At the hospital in Augusta efforts are being made to do more for the patients in the line of diversion and in judicious manual employment. Musical agencies have been increased, likewise reading material and out-of-door amusements. The last legislature appropriated $150,000 for further provision for the insane, and directed that a committee should be appointed to attend to the erection of an institution for the insane, to be situated in Bangor.

The State of Maine aims to care well for its dependants, delinquents, and criminals, but is not so alert as some of the larger States in adopting some measures and plans which would undoubtedly be for the best good of the State. I refer specially to a State Board of Charities and Correction. I hope such may become established in the near future.

Maine is the youngest, the largest, the cleanest, the most healthful, the most conservative, and the most modest of the New England States. Her territory is so extended that local boards for her charitable institutions are deemed more effective than a State Board though all of her institutions are open to State inspection.