classes were organized in the University Settlement Society, Chrystie Street House and the Greenwich House with varying results. It was the object of the study class to give a brief statement of what government is, why it is, the origin, and various forms of government, and the outline of the United States civil government with particular reference to the individual citizen's specific relation to government. The Secretary gave thirty-three talks at settlements during the winter. The Auxiliary is co-operating with the civil service reform committee of the New York State Federation of Women's Clubs, and the Secretary has been made a member of that committee. Circulars have been sent to all the New York Clubs urging the club women to introduce the "Primer" on the Merit System" into the public schools, and many hundred "Primers" have been given by the Auxiliary for that purpose. Efforts were made to organize Women's Auxiliaries in Texas, Florida, and Pittsburg, but were unavailing. Literature has been supplied to civil service reform committees of Women's Federated Clubs in California, Texas, Florida, Virginia and Tennessee, and loans from the reference library have been made on several occasions. The Auxiliary is not called upon to undertake any active legislative work, either in defending the civil service law in New York or in urging its extension, as the Association has entire charge of that activity. Letters of protest were sent to Governor Dix denouncing the contemplated exemption from examinations of eight supervisory factory inspectors; to Mayor Gaynor protesting against the corrupt appointments to the fire prevention bureau; and to President Taft requesting his veto on the fice-year tenure clause for civil appointments contained in the legislature, executive, and judicial appropriation bill. We are glad to note that the cause of civil service reform, for which we are all working, had successful results in these three instances. The Executive Committee wrote to the Board of Trustees of Cooper Union advocating that the course in civics be made compulsory for all students attending that institution, and received a courteous reply to the effect * * * that "compulsory instruction in civics in classes of General Science Night Course was tried from 1900-1908, and in the opinion of the Faculty and students was not a success and was dropped as a requirement Elective courses in civics were instituted which have been since continued. These courses have not had the attendance and entire success the Trustees desire, and it is their hope that measures will be adopted in the near future to extend their influence and increase the numbers reached." After the announcement that President Finley, of the College of the City of New York had planned to open special courses for municipal and federal employees who seek advancement, the Executive Committee sent the following letter to Dr. Finley over the signature of the President: "President JOHN H. FINLEY, College of the City of New York. "DEAR SIR-As an organization whose aim is the advancement of the public good, permit us to offer our congratulations and commendation to you for the establishment of classes in the City College for the purpose of training men for the public service. "It has been the opinion of the Auxiliary that the government should provide training for its civil employees, as well as training for the military and naval branches of service. And we view with pleasure the recent steps taken by you toward this end. "Respectfully, "MARY JAY SCHIEFFELIN, President." In a few days Dr. Finley's reply was received: We "DEAR MR. SCHIEFFELIN-I cannot tell you what encouragement your congratulations have given me. have only begun, really, to look in the direction of such service. I hope that within the next week a certain action will be taken by the City which will give physical basis for a serious undertaking to fit men for the direct service of the City. "Cordially yours. "JOHN H. FINLEY." At the seventeenth annual meeting of the Auxiliary Mr. Richard Welling spoke on the subject of the "School State," or "School City"-forms of self-government which the School Citizen's Committee is introducing in the schools, and Mr. Hebberd, Secretary of the State Board of Charities spoke on the "Hospital Helper Situation in New York City" and "County Overseers of the Poor." Mr. Hebberd asked the Auxiliary to urge upon the Board of Estimate and Apportionment the need for a larger appropriation for the hospital helper service, in order that a better type of help could be procured, and efficiency and economy be maintained. Because of the meager wages offered, only the lowest type of men and women accepted these positions, and they were not only a source of expense to the city because of their inefficiency and frequent desertions, but often a menace to the patients with whom they came in contact. The Auxiliary appealed to the City Visiting Committee of the State Charities Aid Association for their opinion and the results of their investigation in the matter and found that the committee was waiting for the completion of a report and recommendations to be suggested by an investigating committee of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. The Auxiliary is glad to report at this time that the recommendations suggested by the investigation committee appear entirely satisfactory to the City Visiting Committee, unless they should not prove to be so in actual operation, and that these recommendations, placing the hospital helper service upon a suitable basis will go into effect on January 1st. Mr. Hebberd also requested the Auxiliary to urge that the County Overseers of the Poor, of which there are thirteen on the unclassified list, be placed on the classified list. The Auxiliary found that the State Charities Aid Association is making a thorough investigation of each almshouse, and contemplates having a bill introduced into the legislature which shall make mandatory the classification of County Overseers of the Poor. It will be part of the coming winter's work to watch the progress of the classification of the county overseers and superintendents of the poor and to urge the matter in so far as possible. A large portion of the past three months has been spent in the preparation of the third edition of the "Bibliography of Civil Service Reform and Related Subjects." The material is ready and the book is about to be published. It is five years now since the previous edition has been issued and there is considerably more material to add under the old headings. Several new headings, with a view to enlarging the scope and usefulness of the Bibliography have also been added. As the former edition has been of value as a reference book on civil service reform and the civil service to all Civil Service Reform Associations and Auxiliaries, it is hoped that the third edition will prove to be no less-and the New York Auxiliary is glad to report to the League the accomplishment of this work. Mr. Samuel Dauchy of Chicago presented a resolution calling for an inquiry concerning the attitude of senators and congressmen toward the merit system with a view to presenting results of such investigation to the public. On motion, it was ordered that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Resolutions for action. Τ SECOND SESSION. State Normal School, Thursday afternoon, December 5. AT 3.00 p.m. the League reconvened at the State Nor mal School. Mr. Walter H. Cheever, President of the Normal School, presided. President Charles W. Eliot delivered an address. AT THIRD SESSION. The Athenæum, Thursday evening, December 5. T 8.00 p.m. the League reconvened at the Athenæum. Dr. Duncan McGregor, private secretary to Governor McGovern of Wisconsin, delivered an address.1 General Frederick C. Winkler of Milwaukee delivered an address.2 Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte delivered an address.3 President Charles W. Eliot delivered the President's annual address.* AT FOURTH SESSION. Club Room, Hotel Pfister, T 11.00 a. m. the League reconvened, President Eliot Mr. Samuel Y. Nash presented the report of the Committee on Nominations, as follows: |