THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY 845 



in a supervision which shall secure the remedy of whatever abuses 

 exist, and the inauguration of a well-organized administration; but 

 in furnishing the instrument of this administration with the most 

 successful modes of management; in studying and making known 

 new methods, especially in the sphere of insanity and of disease, as 

 well as of the protection of children; and in general in elevating 

 poor-relief and charity to a higher stage. And as the bounds between 

 public relief and private charity have never been completely denned, 

 there enters, side by side with the activity of the government, a very 

 active private propaganda waged by the great charitable societies, 

 and also by societies confined to the several departments of charitable 

 effort. Here belong the English Poor Law Conferences, an 

 annual assembly of those who administer public relief, to take 

 council on all questions to which poor-relief gives rise; and also 

 the Congres national d' assistance publique et de bienfaisance privee 

 in France, and the Congresso di beneficenza in Italy. In 

 Germany it is the German Association for Poor-Relief and Charity 

 which, during its twenty-five years of existence, has, in the most 

 thorough manner, discussed all questions that appertain here, and 

 has exercised an extraordinary influence on state legislation, on the 

 control of poor-relief in the cities, and on the development of private 

 charity. In the United States, the National Conference of Charities 

 and Correction and the State Conferences possess an equal import- 

 ance. Very real service is also rendered by the Charity Organization 

 Societies and the State Charities Aid Association. International 

 congresses for poor-relief and charity have been repeatedly held, for 

 the most part in connection with the world's expositions, such as in 

 1856 in Brussels, in 1857 in Frankfort on the Main, in 1862 in London, 

 in 1889 and 1900 in Paris, etc. At the international congress held in 

 Paris in 1900 it was decided, through the appointment of a standing 

 committee, that an international congress should be convoked at 

 intervals of five years. The next will take place in Milan in 1905. 



In this connection there is still one point that deserves attention. 

 The distinction between public and private poor-relief rests on the 

 fact that the one is regulated by law, and the expense, coming out 

 of the means of the rate-payer, may be contested; while private 

 relief is voluntary, and is administered out of voluntary contribu- 

 tions. Nevertheless, the difference between public and voluntary 

 relief is not so prominent in practical administration as theoretical 

 considerations would lead one to think. Moreover, in countries 

 of which voluntary poor-relief is characteristic, the civic authorities 

 place very considerable public means at the disposal of those who 

 manage this voluntary relief; while, on the other hand, in the poorer 

 communities of Germany or England the public relief falls far short 

 of the demands made upon it. Moreover, the prevalence of voluntary 



