i8 Anderson William Clark 



In other words, had we as many persons in the poor asylums in 

 proportion to the population as ten years ago, we should be sup- 

 porting seven hundred more than we are at a .cost of $70,000. 

 So the net results of the study of conditions and the enactment 

 of laws to meet those conditions, together with proper supervi- 

 sion, have resulted in the annual reduction of about $500,000, 

 just in this one phase of public charities. The reduction in 

 pauperism and misery no one can measure."^ 



No other state claims so much on the side of economy. It 

 is generally conceded that a board of control which gives close 

 attention to financial details and which purchases supplies in 

 large quantities, for all the state institutions, in an open market, 

 saves the taxpayers of the state many thousands of dollars 

 annually. 



SUCCESS OF ADVISORY BOARDS 



In the four states mentioned, the advisory boards of state 

 charities are among the oldest in the country, and have generally 

 been recognized as the most successful. On this account they 

 have served as models for other states. No one can doubt the 

 good results which have followed their work. These good re- 

 sults can not be measured. The nation has been lifted to a higher 

 plane by them, and the whole civilized world has been instructed 

 and inspired to greater efforts in relieving distress and in bet- 

 tering social conditions. The question arises How can we account 

 for this marvelous success ? It is accounted for on two grounds : 



First — The advisory boards mark the first great step in the 

 direction of centralization and supervision of state charities. 

 Before they were created the many state institutions had local 

 boards of trustees without supervision. Almost any kind of 

 supervision would be better than none. The kind offered in these 

 boards, of state charities proved so successful that many leaders 

 in charity and philanthropy have concluded that they are not 

 susceptible of improvement. They fail to see that these boards 

 have served their purpose and that the time has come for the 



' Proceedings of Natl. Con. of Charities and Correction, 1902, p. 146. 



374. 



