that those in charge were aware of duty and were worthy stewards in the performance of them.

I have appended to this report, brief descriptions of the various county instiutions to which I call your attention. I assure you that they are not as complete as could be made, but I did not desire to be too lengthy in regard to them. I have tried to be careful in offering criticisms, so as not to needlessly offend, but to state the truth in plainness and fairness. In case of doubt I have always given those in charge the benefit.

If I am permitted at some future time to make another examination of these places, I may have more courage to condemn where now I passed by in non-committal silence. Those institutions that are described as bad will receive future attention as soon as time will permit. The utter lack of appreciation of the needs in a few of the county institutions by those officially responsible for their deplorable conditions is often the source of a desire that your Board be given authority to forbid the use of such buildings in their present conditions, and that the non-observance of the injunction would be punishable by a heavy fine, imprisonment, or both. But such a power might be abused and work hardship and injustice to many officials who are often creatures of conditions and circumstances.

CHILDREN'S HOMES.

There are 43 Children's Homes owned and controlled by counties, one belonging to two counties, and 8 Homes are owned and controlled by incorporated associations and are caring for dependent children for a contract amount each per week. In addition to these there are many denominational, fraternal, and benevolent Homes, especially in the large cities. I hope to present a complete roster of these Homes in the Bulletin during the next year.

As a class, the Children's Homes of Ohio are the best equipped county institutions. By this I mean that the buildings are in best condition and repair, arrangements are convenient, and modern conveniences are found to be the general rule rather than the exception. The worst conditions usually are found in Homes that are reconstructed residences. The Homes with very few exceptions show evidence of good housekeeping. In some there has been a carelessness in not keeping the buildings repaired and painted. Such economy usually bears a high rate of compound interest. The majority of the Homes report less children during the past year. A few report an increase. With present demands for children, coming from good private homes, and, if a special visiting agent were appointed to find homes, as permitted by laws, there is no valid argument for an increased enrollment over previous years.

There are still problems in our Children's IIomes that need solution, and, perhaps, certain legislation. I do not feel competent after one year

of observation to offer any recommendations, and ask to defer them until another year when I hope to be able to offer some defined conclusions in regard to them.

INFIRMARIES.

These institutions seemed to constitute the second class in regard to facilities for meeting the purpose for which they are conducted. Many of them are model institutions with appliances, as some say, better than found in the average residence. But as in cities, so in institutions where many people occupy a limited area, conditions are different. The problem of keeping the premises in good sanitary condition, free from danger of plague and conflagration, and in a condition fit for habitation during the next decade must be partially met by providing proper sanitary appliances, sewage facilities, safe systems of heating and lighting, and ample water supply for all seasons and occasions. Many of our county infirmaries are not so provided. Further, it is a cause for regret to note that in some instances the officials do not realize the pressing needs of the institutions in their care, or, if they do, they are not over-zealous in meeting their responsibilities. In a few instances the buildings and premises do not show the marks of care. The inmates are often charged with being careless in their habits. This is true in most cases, but if one institution can be kept neat and clean, why can not another, which has no worse class of inmates and no less facilities at hand, be in as orderly condition, showing everywhere the evidence of good housekeeping?

Too many of our infirmaries are allowed to become ill-fitted for occupancy by a continued neglect to keep them in repair. It is possible to keep them in good order, as one of the oldest buildings in the State is today in such condition, due to constant attention, that it will be of service for many years to follow.

Public opinion is gradually changing and the old "poor houses" are gradually giving way to better substitutes. By comparison with records made thirty years ago there has been a notable advance made in the management of the infirmaries. Better men are in charge. Buildings have been made fit for habitation. This is due in part to the persistent efforts of the Board of State Charities to correct these evils by advice, by criticism, and by legislation.

I cannot close this part of my report without reference to the keeping of children in the infirmaries of Ross and Hamilton counties in direct violation of section 931c of the Revised Statutes of Ohio. Although in separate rooms of the infirmary buildings, yet they are in daily contact with the adult inmates who do not present a very high standard of character.

In Greene, Pickaway and Hocking counties the children are in sep

arate buildings on the infirmary farms. Perhaps, this is no violation of law, but is such an arrangement the best?

COUNTY JAILS.

In general our county jails are places of detention and punishment. With only five exceptions, the prisoner awaiting trial spends days in idleness with the inmate serving sentence. The exceptions are in those counties where no persons are sent to jail to serve sentence, or where the sheriff keeps the inmates in isolation. The vital questions in regard to this general practice are: Shall the confirmed criminal, while awaiting trial, be allowed to teach the arts of crime to such of his companions in confinement as are less acquainted with such practices, and shall men and women be punished (?) by being sentenced to food and shelter without labor? Some provision should be made to compel counties to provide. either workhouses or some means of employment in connection with their county jails. The latter plan is being pursued at the county jail located at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is said to be fairly successful as a punitive

ineasure.

Many of our jails are old and insecure as well as unsanitary and dangerous to health on account of faulty architecture. As many of these buildings were erected before the Ohio plan was conceived and before the influence of the Board of State Charities was recognized in the construction of new jails, some of these structures seem to have been built upon the theory of strength only, and not with any regard for the natural laws of health. As a rule, the jails erected within the last fifteen years have been scientifically constructed as regards safety and sanitation, but frequently all the efforts which have been put forth to secure a well arranged jail have been defeated by the carelessness of management. In many jails, admirably designed for the isloation of prisoners, the sheriff permits them to spend the time in common without any restriction whatever.

There seems to be a possibility of an injustice being done to a prisoner who has been sentenced to serve a term of one year or more at one of the State penal institutions. The laws of Ohio authorize the sheriff to remove him within thirty days to the institution to which he has been committed. This law permits the sheriff to keep him fully thirty days to the sheriff's profit because he receives a stipulated amount per day for prisoner boarded. It is argued that the thirty days allowed is to the prisoner's advantage in that a new trial may be secured within that time or other stayals of the execution of sentence may be made, but in case the prisoner committed makes no effort to secure a new trial and so states the case to the court by which he was sentenced, the court should order his removal to the penal institution within a very limited number of days. The Attorney General has recently ruled that the sentence of a convict does

not begin until he reaches the institution to which he has been sentenced. It can readily be seen that a sheriff with mercenary motives could extend the time during which the convict sentenced to imprisonment for one year is deprived of his liberty from twelve months to thirteen months. To what extent prisoners are being kept at the county jail after sentence I cannot state, but several observations have leed me to believe that this law is liable to abuse and prisoners made to suffer as inferred above.

STATISTICS.

As a considerable part of the office work deals with the statistics, it would be entirely fit to present herewith a summary of the information gathered concerning the various institutions. This is impossible at this time for the reason that considerable time is required to compile the tables after the reports are once on hand, and that there is considerable delay in securing all reports after they are due. The State institutions do not. report until after the 15th of November, and at present writing several of them are still due.

There is considerable difficulty in securing accurate reports from county institutions. Section 656 of the Revised Statutes says that they shall give such information as the Board of State Charities or its Secretary may require, but there is no penalty provided for the inconvenient delays which characterize certain of our institutions. Some of our State Boards are so fortunate as to have legislation in their favor to the extent that any person who refuses to give or inexcusably delays required reports is liable to a fine. It sometimes seems that such a provision in regard to the Board of State Charities would be an exceillent incentive for prompt

ness.

It is my purpose to preface the statistical tables with a digest of their contents and make special reference to any peculiar conditions which are contained therein. This will tend to make the tables serviceable and will also call attention to any serious defects as well as worthy progress in the institutions.

Although the copy for our report for 1902 has been in the hands of the State printer for ten months, we have not been favored with the printed matter. Even though the statistics for this year were complete at this time, it would be impossible to make comparisons with last year's statistics on account of this delay.

REGISTRATION OF INMATES OF INSTITUTIONS.

The Board of State Charities of Indiana has for many years been securing a monthly report from the State and county institutions, giving the name, age, sex, color, social conditions and other data in regard to

all persons admitted therein during that month. They also have similar reports giving information concerning discharges, deaths, paroles, indentures and the like. It has been found that this system of registering, which has been generally complied with by all institutions, provides the means for much sociological study. It is not possible to find out all the desired information in regard to all inmates of institutions, but that which is given and known affords abundant material upon which to base scientific study of sociological problems about which this Board is concerned. It seems to me that the adoption of such a measure by this Board would be of much value in future years, but in order to conduct this work it would require the services of an additional clerk who would give the most of his time to the proper classification of these reports.

For this purpose I recommend that an appropriation be requested from the General Assembly to provide for this department.

NEW BUILDINGS.

During the year several new buildings have been constructed. Further description of them is found in the statements concerning visits to county institutions. The most important buildings erected have been the 20th Century jail of Summit county, in which are found many admirable features; the infirmary building of Perry county; additional infirmary buildings in Paulding county; new Children's Homes in Clinton and Pickaway counties. All of these structures are well built and conveniently arranged, showing the present-day progress which characterizes public insitutions. Several additions and improvements have been made in other insitutions putting them in much better shape than before.

OFFICE EMPLOYES.

On April 1, 1903, William T. Henderson, who had served as statistical clerk of this Board since September 30, 1893, resigned in order to accept another position. Miss Neva M. Jacques, stenographer for the past five years, was advanced to fill the vacancy and Miss Margaret Martin, who had served on several occasions as extra clerk, was selected as stenographer. Both of these ladies have given most efficient service, but there is still enough to do for the employment of an additional clerk, especially for the work outlined above.

Thanking you for the kind assistance which you have rendered from time to time and for the forbearance shown towards mẹ in my first year's efforts, and hoping in the future to be able to serve you with greater efficiency, I hereby submit my first annual report.

H. H. SHIRER,

Secretary.