Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/619

 PUBLIC CHARITY AND PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY 605

another part of the city, there to receive aid again, instead of being legally prosecuted. In addition to this the superintend- ent of the circuit was overburdened with a lot of unnecessary clerical work, which would have been far better done by profes- sionals. All this led to a falling apart of the several circuits, to dissimilarity and inequality in the application of the poor laws, carelessness and lack of control in the business manage- ment, and together with these all of the other evils which are wont to result from careless and planless charity : money was often squandered on people who were either unworthy or not in need ; worthy poor, who were too backward to apply to the independent helpers for aid, were neglected ; poor judgment was often shown in giving money instead of provisions, or alms instead of work, or in supportingthe parents instead of placing their child in an orphanage or other institution, etc. Spite of all this it must be said that in Hamburg the system of honor offices rests upon such venerable traditions that the sense of responsi- bility, in many cases, was very strong, and the abuses were not nearly so great nor so numerous as might have been expected. Nevertheless the grievances were sufficient to convince all judi- cious minds of the absolute necessity of a thorough, energetic reform. This view was very materially advanced by the publi- cations and assemblies of the German Society for Poor Relief and Philanthropy, which, like the National Conference of Char- ities and Correction, seeks to disseminate correct principles of poor relief and philanthropy.

DR. E. MUENSTERBERG. BERLIN, GERMANY.

(To be continued.)