CHARITIES AND CORRECTION, The National Conference of. An annual con vention of social workers which originated with an invitation extended by the American Social Science Association to different State boards of public charities, the delegates from which met in New York city 20 and 22 May 1874. It was found at that time that the members of the various States' boards which deal with public charity in the United States were desirous of a better acquaintance with each other and that they could meet together and discuss the questions in which they had a common interest with mutual profit and en couragement. It also appeared that a consid erable number of persons not officially con nected with the public charities were desirous of attending such a meeting and were both competent and willing to join in its debates or to contribute papers which should be the fruit of special research or long experience. An nual meetings were established and in 1893 rules of procedure were published, giving a definition of membership requirements • and a fee of $2. In 1897 the fee was raised to $2.50. In 1903, a special class of sustaining members was created in addition In 1916 the regular membership fee was raised to $3. The mem
bership averages 3,000 and annual conferences are held in different cities throughout the na tion. The permanent headquarters are at 315 Plymouth Court, Chicago, Ill. The history of organized social service and reform in the United States is revealed in the steady growth of this dignified and powerful association, and its usefulness is shown in the manner in which every branch of scientific social effort in America may be turned to the solution of all its main practical problems•, practical applica tion rivalling theory. Each year larger and extending issues have been attacked with con fidence, a recent conference dealing with na tional measures to prevent unemployment, the abolition of alcoholism, the promotion of social programs and State policies in the treatment of the insane, feeble-minded and defective criminals. The quarterly 'Bulletins' and the annual (Proceedings) constitute an encyclo pcedic storehouse on the social and charitable reform efforts of the United States. Consult Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 43d Annual Session) (Chicago 1916 and previous volumes back to 1874).